Released in 2008 and directed by Sean Dillon, "The Craving" is a low-budget horror flick about five youths who get stuck in the desert after a crazy hermit disables their van with a shotgun. The hermit is the least of their problems, however, as an unknown creature of the night preys upon them.I've been watching a lot of barely-a-budget independent horror flicks lately, many with the identical plot as this one (e.g. "Delirium" & "Feeding Grounds"), and "The Craving" is noticeably professional by comparison. Despite a couple cases of dubious photography, the filmmaking is adept enough to pass for a theatrical release, at least a drive-in release—the cinematography, cast, acting, script, editing, gore effects, creature effects, etc. No-budget horror flicks usually have sub-par women and actors in general, but the first act showcases Lesley Paterson as Jeannie and she's Prime A all the way (I'm not referring to the dark-haired girl, Diane, who has a top-nude sequence right out of the gate and who's decidedly average by comparison).The low-ratings for "The Craving" are inexplicable because it delivers the goods for what it is in all the requisite areas noted above.The movie runs 99 minutes and was shot in Desert Center, California.GRADE: B

1st watched 8/24/2011 --(Dir-Sean Dillon): Mediocre horror flick that was obviously made on a very low budget, but does keep you interested for a lot of the movie. The movie is basically about a monster that comes out at night and feeds, but also has a scent that makes those around it high and wanting it to be there despite the evil and death that it brings. This is definitely an interesting twist on the typical eat-em-up and kill'em flick, but there isn't enough consistency in the direction of the film to make it tight. There is your typical sex happening at the silliest times(and too often), like when the couples are afraid for their lives, and occasional bad dialogue – especially when one character is told to "be strong" too many times by too many characters. These things definitely give you the feeling that the director needed more help than he was given money for. Despite this, the movie has good camera work, sounds and effects surrounding the monster and he does a good job of not revealing it's looks 'til the very end of the movie. There is definitely hope for the director, Sean Dillon, and I will be keeping an eye out for what he does next. A watchable film, with unfortunately too many faults but maybe a promising director's early work.

A group of college students find themselves stranded in the desert while embarking on a cross country road trip to the Burning Man Festival. Come nightfall a vicious predatory monster comes out searching for a meal. Director Sean Dillon, working from a tight and compelling script by Curtis Krick, relates the gripping story at a steady pace, builds a substantial amount of suspense, makes excellent use of the arid and remote harsh location, and adroitly creates and sustains a grimly serious tone that becomes more increasingly bleak and hopeless as the narrative unfolds towards a surprising downbeat conclusion. Moreover, Dillon further spices things up with a few bits of ghastly gore, a nice smattering of bare female skin, and even a dab of sizzling soft-core sex. The startling moments of bloody'n'brutal violence pack a pretty potent punch. The sound acting from the able non-star cast rates as another major asset, with praiseworthy contributions by Grayson Berry as the decent, likable Brian, Jesse C. Boyd as easygoing druggie Scotty, Anselm Clinard as the surly, hot-tempered Troy, Wallis Herst as the sassy Diane, Lesley Paterson as the gutsy, sensible Jeannie, and Jason Kehler as a folksy ranger. Krick's crisp widescreen cinematography gives the picture a pleasing polished look while his shuddery score hits the shivery spot. A worthwhile low-budget indie fright film.

The tiresome shortcut plot is once again used in this clichéd desert horror flick about a group of young adults on a road trip in their van(yawn)to the Burning Man festival. Yes, all of what I described has been duplicated multiple times in the past so originality vacates the premises rather quickly. Some wacko feeds this creature dogs and may just get a chance to nourish the flesh eating monster with humans instead when the van loaded with amorous teens come driving down his dirt road. So therein lies the plot, you can now fill in the blanks rather easily. The kids get lost, of course, find the nutcase who shoots their van with a shot gun leaving them stranded, stuck at his ramshackle abode until they can figure out a feasible plan to get themselves out of their current predicament. The driver gets in a scuffle with the hick lunatic, shooting the maniac in the process. The crazy's pick-up truck doesn't start, they are scared out of their wits, and worse yet a monster lurks somewhere in the darkness. The usual includes swearing, make-out sessions, tits, entrails, bickering back and forth, heated exchanges, the blame game, drug use, guys with their shirts off exposing their sculpted bodies for the ladies, cell phones and vehicles that don't work, and murky nighttime sequences where we can hardly see anything. The creature which tears apart it's victims while eating them ferociously is never fully seen. Most creative aspect to the movie is that the creature emits a nasty aroma that seductively addicts those who smell from it too long! Despite the overuse of the isolation theme, even something as mediocre as THE CRAVING uses it at times effectively, maybe because the desert setting helps, because you can feel the piercing sun, not to mention the fact that those lost are unfamiliar with their surroundings.