RATING: A

Sunrise Films presents a Media Team/Bodacious Films production. Directed and edited  by William Bagley. Produced by William Bagley, Matt Dodd, Tim Reis, Julian Smith, and Luke Michael Williams. Written by William Bagley and Scott Hawkins. Cinematography by Alex Allgood. 

Stars Chris Mayers, Haley Leary, Julian Smith, Levi Burdick, Michelle Lamb, and Hamid-Reza Benjamin Thompson.

A couple discovers their new HOA is about to be the least of their problems in this wild and hilarious horror-comedy from filmmaker William Bagley.

Lucas and Jenny have moved from a city apartment to their first home in the suburb of Gruber Hills. Jerry is the Homeowners Association President who introduces himself and invites them to the annual Equinox Party. Lucas is excited but Jenny has reservations. That is until they meet their neighbors Ted and Annette. Annette and Jenny hit it off immediately and the neighbors also include Leslie, Dylan, Marcus, and others. 

However, Lucas and Jenny soon learn that there is a reason why it is called the Equinox party. It all started with a hole in the ground a mile away. Jerry warns everyone that witches, zombies, a werewolf, and the leader known as the Stick Man will arrive to wreak havoc. At first, Lucas finds it as an initiation prank. However, Lucas soon learns it is for real and now, he and Jenny are in for a night they will never forget. 

For a very long time, there has been issues with HOAs and their strict and at times, B.S. rules that have drawn the ire of both its residents and even people who watch HOA videos, angering them. However, this horror-comedy from William Bagley, may make you realize that not all HOAs are completely negative. As a matter of fact, the HOA is the least of Lucas and Jenny’s problems despite the fact that Chris Mayers’ Lucas looks all happy go lucky while Haley Leary’s Jenny seems to be uninterested at first. 

Julian Smith is hilarious as HOA President Jerry, who comes off as totally nerdy and a stickler to the rules but also seems to be reliable to warn everyone about the monsters. Tordy Clark’s Leslie is also hilarious as Leslie, a resident whose activities and lifestyle make her go insane and even affects Jerry thanks to some special “cheese sticks” just as the monsters attack. Levi Burdick’s Ted seems to be reliable and helps Lucas in their of need as a big brother. However, none of that compares to Hamid-Reza Benjamin Thompson’s insane McScruffy, who is a psychotic animal who thrives on killing the monsters. 

The creatures are a blast to see. The witches throw lasers that make victims instantly explode. The werewolf is tough as hell. The Stick Man is scary as hell. And to top it all off, the zombies are martial arts experts and in a hilarious scene, Leslie attempts to get in on the action only for her to doze and pass gad. But in the spirit of Inside Out, we get to look in her head in the end credit scene about what she wanted to do and it looks great! 

Hold the Fort is fun, wacky, wild and loads of fun as a horror-comedy. While most HOAs are annoying as heck, this is one HOA I would gladly love to be a part of!