Watch Cadaverella

Cadaverella is a dark comedy horror movie from 2007, directed by Timothy Friend. The film follows a young woman named Cindi, played by Megan Goddard, who is living in poverty and constantly belittled by her cruel stepmother and stepsisters. Cindi's only friend is her deceased father's pet rat, whom she talks to for comfort. After losing her job as a janitor, Cindi discovers an advertisement for a mysterious underground club, where the guests are willing to pay to watch a live action stage show. Desperate for money, Cindi decides to audition for the club and is thrilled when she's chosen to perform in the next show. However, she soon discovers that this show is not only bizarre but also deadly.

The show involves a twisted retelling of the classic fairytale, Cinderella. Cindi is forced to portray the titular character against her will, alongside performers who play her stepsisters and stepmother. The entire show is performed with a creepy and horrifying twist, showcasing the dark side of each character.

As the unscrupulous club owner continues to push the boundaries of the show's horror, Cindi finds herself increasingly aware of the true intentions behind the performance. As she tries to survive the twisted elements of the stage show, she also finds herself falling for the club owner's right-hand man, Prince Charming, played by Ryan Seymour.

At the heart of this film is the theme of abuse and trauma. Cindi's character development gradually peels back layers of her past trauma, as she deals with her traumatic upbringing at the hands of her stepmother and stepsisters. Her character seeks redemption and independence through the show, but ultimately learns that true wealth and happiness cannot be bought with money alone.

The performances in this movie are excellent, particularly from Megan Goddard who portrays Cindi with a perfect combination of vulnerability and strength. Ryan Seymour as Prince Charming is charming and engaging while Santiago Vasquez as the club owner is suitably sinister.

The film's creative team has done an excellent job of building a dark and twisted world that manages to be both visually stunning and repulsive. The makeup and practical effects are particularly strong, contributing to the film's haunting atmosphere.

On the other hand, the pacing of the film is somewhat uneven, with the first act taking longer than necessary to establish the premise. Furthermore, despite the excellent makeup effects, the actual horror elements of the show are not particularly scary or gory, which may disappoint horror fans.

Overall, Cadaverella is an interesting take on the classic Cinderella story with a dark, twisted twist. The film uses horror and comedy elements to deliver a message of hope and redemption, and is carried by a strong central performance by Megan Goddard.

Cadaverella is a 2007 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 9 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.5.