A well-shot (especially for 16mm) and atmospheric little movie that uses traditional FX and limited CGI to create a creepy, if unoriginal movie. Loaded with plot holes and ridiculous devices (how an EMT is able to determine that the blood came from three different people with only a quick glance in a microscope, is beyond me), "Shallow Grround" still manages to set itself a notch above most independent horror movies. Patty McCormack ("The Bad Seed," herself) plays a role reminiscent of Betsy Palmer's in "Friday the 13th," though she does have more screen time than Palmer did. The rest of the cast does a decent job, but the very confusing final scene and a lack of explanation for why the killer has the victims' bodies preserved at a bizarre dinner party, mar what could have been an excellent entry in the genre. "Shallow Ground" won the Best Picture award at the 2004 Dead by Dawn Film Festival. I'd be interested to see the other entries and compare them, so I can see why it won. Cinematography, FX and mood - 8. Script and story - 4.