In 2023, filmmaker Jeremy Rudd directed, wrote, and produced a 50-minute slasher horror short film called “Die’ced”. Almost immediately ideas sprang up for a feature length version. Rudd brought back many of his original cast members and crew, added about 25 minutes to the runtime, and with the help of horror distributor Dread, has made and released what he is calling “Die’ced: Reloaded”.

“Die’ced: Reloaded” shares some obvious similarities with the first Terrifier movie. It was made on a limited budget. Most of that budget went toward the gloriously gory makeup and effects. And for much of the film the story can feel like an afterthought. But for the most part it knows what it wants to be – an exceptionally brutal slasher set in the 1980s and made in a style reminiscent of the 1980s. In that way it succeeds. “Die’ced: Reloaded” would feel right at home on VHS in the horror section of a video rental store.

Rudd kicks things off with a fitting introduction to his big baddie, Benjamin Newman (played by Jason Brooks). When we meet him, Benjamin has spent the last 17 years in an insane asylum after brutally butchering his family. Diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, Benjamin believes he is a kid and finds childlike joy in killing. And for reasons never explained (but to make him a little creepier), he wears a ghastly mask made out of a paper plate.

A few miles away in a Seattle suburb, a high school teen named Cassandra (Eden Campbell) lives with her brother Tommy (Collin Fischer) and their father (Nigel Vons). The siblings have had a rough go since their mom up and left them. The mystery around their mom’s exit is something the movie could have built up better, and it’s begging to be explored further. As it is, it’s a plot point that doesn’t get much attention until it’s too late.

On October 31st (because what better time to have a killing spree), Benjamin gruesomely slaughters his doctor and nurses before venturing off to the above mentioned Seattle suburb. Once there he breaks into a house, murders its owner, and then steals their scarecrow costume. Not far away, Cassandra heads out for a Halloween party where she and her disposable best friend character drink some beer and chat meaninglessly about boys. But the high school tedium is short-lived and the inevitable slaying quickly begins.

While there’s barely enough story to fill its lean 75 minutes, it ends with a wild spray of information that could have added more meat to the rest of the movie. Instead it feels tacked on and underdeveloped. As for the 1980s setting, there’s so much more they could have done with that wildly distinct decade. But there’s not much that stands out, aside from the cool synth-pop score by composer Night Wolf.

But those things aside, “Die’ced: Reloaded” maintains a certain B-movie charm that’s hard to deny. And despite its obvious budget constraints, Rudd, along with his special effects coordinators Jason Brooks and Joe Castro, know what slasher fans want. They make sure there is enough fun to be had and more than enough gore splattered around to make overlooking the film’s other issues a little bit easier. “Die’ced: Reloaded” a available now on VOD.