Chris LaMartina has built a loyal following through films like WNUF Halloween Special and Out There Halloween Mega Tape, and with Spirit Tasting, he may have delivered his most complete film to date. The charm, humor, and DIY ingenuity that have become hallmarks of his work are all present, but this time they're paired with a level of maturity and emotional depth that elevates the material without sacrificing any of the fun. Written by Chris LaMartina and Michael Varrati, Spirit Tasting follows a trio of former punks spending New Year's Eve together when a mysterious sommelier offers them a tasting unlike any they've experienced before. The catch? Every bottle requires a wish, and every wish comes with consequences.
That setup will sound familiar to anyone who loves a classic Monkey's Paw story. The brilliance of Spirit Tasting isn't found in reinventing the concept. It's found in the way the film makes you care about the people making those wishes. Before the horror ever takes hold, LaMartina and Varrati spend time with their characters, letting conversations unfold naturally and relationships develop organically. The dialogue feels lived in rather than scripted. The friends talk like actual friends, complete with awkward pauses, shared history, and the kind of shorthand that only comes from years of knowing one another.
That authenticity is carried by a perfectly cast ensemble. Sean Doherty's Will is immediately relatable, the kind of guy most viewers probably know in real life. He's funny, flawed, and believable from the moment he appears on screen. The same goes for Trevor Wilhelms' Jake, whose personality feels pulled straight from countless social circles. Neither character feels exaggerated for laughs, which makes the increasingly supernatural events around them land even harder.
The entire cast is firing on all cylinders. There isn't a weak performance in the bunch. Melissa LaMartina, who also served as a producer on the film, delivers strong work in front of the camera while continuing to demonstrate how many hats she can successfully wear behind the scenes. Matt Lake is particularly memorable as the mysterious host of the tasting. He walks a difficult line between inviting and unsettling, creating a character who is simultaneously charismatic and deeply uncomfortable to spend time with. Every scene involving him carries an underlying tension that keeps the audience guessing.
Part of what makes Spirit Tasting so enjoyable is watching its carefully constructed narrative come together. Some wishes are certainly smarter than others, and some characters make decisions that will leave audiences shouting at the screen, but that's part of the fun. The film understands that every wish tells us something about the person making it, and it uses those choices to gradually build toward an ending that feels both surprising and earned. And what an ending it is.
The "be careful what you wish for" horror story has been around forever, yet Spirit Tasting finds a conclusion that feels refreshingly unique. It's the kind of finale that reframes what you've been watching without betraying the story that came before it. Horror fans who think they've seen every variation of the Monkey's Paw formula may be surprised by where LaMartina ultimately takes things.
The film also benefits from strong technical work across the board. The score is remarkably varied, bouncing between different moods and styles while remaining consistently effective. Whether the film is leaning into comedy, drama, or horror, the music always seems to find the right note.
What's perhaps most impressive is how good Spirit Tasting looks. According to production materials, the film was shot in just four days on a budget of roughly $40,000, a challenge inspired by legendary low-budget filmmaker Roger Corman. Despite those limitations, the production never feels cheap. Every dollar clearly appears on screen. The film looks meticulous, calculated, and carefully designed, proving once again that creativity and preparation can stretch a modest budget far beyond expectations. The result is a scrappy indie production that never loses its sense of ambition or personality.
LaMartina also throws in plenty of treats for horror fans, including cameos from genre favorites like Grady Hendrix, Clay McLeod Chapman, Joshua Grannell (better known as Peaches Christ), and Henry Zebrowski. None of them feel distracting or self-congratulatory. Instead, they add to the communal spirit that runs throughout the film. Seeing Hendrix unexpectedly pop up brought a huge smile to my face, and the cameos consistently enhance rather than interrupt the experience.
What stayed with me most, though, wasn't the horror. It was the heart. Beneath the supernatural twists and escalating consequences is a film about friendship, aging, regret, and the things we wish we could change if given one more chance. That emotional foundation gives the scares weight and makes the final act hit much harder than expected.
Mumblecore horror might be the easiest shorthand for Spirit Tasting, but even that doesn't fully capture what LaMartina accomplishes here. The film is funny, weird, heartfelt, unsettling, and deeply human. Most importantly, it feels effortless. The relationships work, the performances land, the twists satisfy, and the emotional beats resonate.
It's hard to imagine a better movie to throw on as the clock approaches midnight on December 31. Spirit Tasting has officially earned a permanent spot in my New Year's Eve movie rotation, and it stands as further proof that Chris LaMartina continues to be one of independent horror's most consistently interesting voices.
Jessie Hobson