1989’s Dark Heritage deals with the aftermath of a violent thunderstorm in Louisiana.

After the thunder has rumbled and the lightning has flashed and all of the rain has fallen, several dead bodies are discovered in the wilderness near a mansion.  Why are the bodies out there?  How did they end up dead?  Are they connected to the reclusive Dansen clan, a once notorious family that may not even exist any more?  Bearded reporter Clint Harrison (Mark LaCour) is sent to find out!

Dark Heritage is an example of one of my favorite genres, the low-budget regional horror film.  Dark Heritage not only takes place in Louisiana but it was also filmed in Louisiana with a cast that spoke in genuine Louisiana accents.  It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the majority of the crew was from the state as well.  This is not one of those films where the South is represented by the mountains of California.  That brings a certain amount of authenticity to the production and that authenticity can make up for a lot.  This film captures the true atmosphere of Louisiana at its most humid and gothic and there aren’t any yankees around to ruin everything.  That’s always nice.

At the same time, Dark Heritage also wears its low-budget on its sleeve.  Sometimes, it’s effective.  A sepia-clad vision of a ghostly member of the Dansen clan entering the mansion and motioning for the reporter to follow him is far more effective than it has any right to be.  The horror genre is one of the few genres that actually benefits from grainy cinematography and dark lighting.  There are other times when the amateurishness of the production is definitely a distraction.  A scene towards the end where a man threatens Clint with a gun is so overacted by everyone involved that it actually becomes rather humorous to watch.  If the most intense scene of your horror film inspires laughter instead of a racing heart, it’s definitely a problem.

The film itself is loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft’s The Lurking Fear.  Just as with the original story, we get an extended sequence of an underground chamber that is full of some genuinely creepy monsters.  That said, the film’s plot is often not that easy to follow, both because of the illogical actions of the characters and also some genuinely poor sound recording that makes it difficult to follow the conversations.  This is a film where Clint first goes to the mansion with two companions.  When those companions disappear, Clint is told that he is now a murder suspect.  Clint’s reaction is to go find someone else to return to the house with him.  Surely he knows that if that person also dies while visiting the house, he’ll look even more guilty.  I mean, that would only make sense, right?  Why not just stay away from the house?

Dark Heritage has a lot of atmosphere and it even manages to give us a few memorable and creepy visuals.  That said, it’s ultimately done in by its low-budget and its often incoherent plot.