Most horror films end in a bloodbath. Few characters are safe from the hacking and slashing the genre is known for, save for one specific group that has so far managed to remain unscathed: the ones who have to clean up the mess. This is why the concept of 11th Hour Cleaning is so intriguing. A group of four crime scene cleaners is called to rehabilitate a home that has just seen a murder-suicide, a case of a husband and father alleged to have slaughtered his wife and children.
Because it is right before the holidays, these four cleaners are the only ones on call. They decide to put aside their personal differences (two employees are having marital issues, the other two have recently broken up) in order to ensure the suburban home is rid of any sign of this gruesome act. It is only once they enter the home that they realize it has been housing a malevolent supernatural force - one that won’t let them leave.
Filmmaker Ty Leisher, also the founder of Exit 44 Entertainment, the production company behind 11th Hour Cleaning and many other low-budget horror projects, presents audiences with a mixed bag for his feature film debut. The film starts off pristine, but gradually devolves into more and more of a mess, sort of like – well, you know, a crime scene. The performances work well, but unfortunately not well enough to warrant rooting for the survival of any of these characters in the end. The unseen villain follows a set of wishy-washy rules that the characters constantly remind viewers of via clunky expositional dialogue. Even when the stakes are meant to be high, the film can often feel like just as much of a chore to get through as the work its characters are doing.
Ty Leisher's admiration for slow-burn horror is apparent and it shows that his heart is in the right place. He seems to have committed his professional life to spearheading independent horror projects, which is commendable, to say the least. However, the end product of his first directorial endeavor is so muddled in melodrama and plot contrivances that it becomes hard to recommend. If only he had had someone come in at the last minute to help clean it up. This is an optional purchase for any media librarian’s horror collection.
What ages would this film be suitable for?
Mature scenes and some gruesome violence warrant 11th Hour Cleaning suitable only for mature audiences, ages 17+.
What public library shelves would this film be on?
This film could be found on horror shelves, specifically those sections dealing with supernatural forces or character drama.
What type of college/university professors would find this title valuable?
Horror or film studies professors could possibly use 11th Hour Cleaning as a strong example of contained location horror or occupation horror.