Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Deaths of Ian Stone’

Written by Scott Edwards

As some people have said, love can drive you to do things that you never knew were possible. Reading reports of mothers lifting cars off of their children along with the selfless acts of people saving the lives of their significant others just astounds me. With this kind of unbridled abilities, just imagine what could be done if this power could be harnessed at all times. The power of love can make some things that were never thought possible, possible.

Ian Stone is setting up for the final play during his hockey game when something goes terribly wrong for him. Shooting the game winning goal with two seconds left on the clock, the referees call it off saying that time had expired. Knowing that something is not right, Ian has to listen to the griping of his teammates as he did not pass or win the game. Disappointed in himself, he falls back on his girlfriend for reassurance that he did nothing wrong. When driving Jenny home from the game, Ian has a feeling that something is not right about the day. After saying goodnight, he heads home to find a person lying in the middle of the street, but when he tries to help them, Ian is met by a strange creature that shoves a large claw straight through him.

Waking up in an office, Ian believes that this was just a dream. Looking around the office however, he notices that several of the people look familiar from what he had just experienced, and he starts to wonder what is happening. Upon leaving his office job, Ian sees a man dying on the side of the street with a helper that seems to be relishing in the fact that this is happening. Ian moves away quickly and finds comfort in an alley but is met by a man who tells Ian that he needs to remember. Ian thinks that the man is just crazy but believes what the man is saying before he is taken through a storm drain. Trying to call for help, Ian’s cell phone does not work and when reaching a pay phone, he is only met with static on the other end. Returning home and talking with his girlfriend Medea, Ian finds himself in more trouble than he could possibly imagine. 

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​When ‘They’ know that you are onto them, ‘They’ will come…and kill you. The strange man was correct about this as Ian meets his next death at Medea’s hands. Ian awakens again in a new life with only partial recollection of what had previously happened. When his memory comes back however, he is hunted again by these strange creatures that are foreign to him and he looks for any way to escape them. These shadowy, black creatures with a single claw are to be known as ‘Harvesters’ as Ian finds out from another encounter from the stranger. These Harvesters feed on the fear of man, and once they get their first taste, they will never have enough.

The Deaths of Ian Stone follows Ian as he tries to figure out what the Harvesters want with him. Being killed several times, but always waking up in a different scenario, Ian is bound and determined to get at least one other person to believe him and what he has been going through. The stranger told him that he needed to protect Jenny, his girlfriend at all costs. She is the reason why Ian is being chased, and if the Harvesters get their hands on her, they will do everything possible to hurt her and that could end Ian’s story. Ian believes this and does everything within his power to keep these hunters away from Jenny, but when he finds out what she really is, he will become more powerful than the Harvesters could imagine. 

With what is happening on the screen, this is a movie you will need to watch from start to finish and actually pay attention. The Deaths of Ian Stone is by far my favorite movie that came out of the After Dark Horrorfest Collection of 2007. I used to be a passive movie watcher, but this one kept me intrigued to the little things that were happening behind the actors as you never know who is and who is not a Harvester. With a different story line than what most American audiences are used to, your lead actor dies and dies often until he is able to figure out why he is being targeted. Ian along with Jenny are great characters, especially when they both end up having the same memories from their alternate lives. And when Ian figures out his only reason for living, it is an epic change from where the movie starts out. Stay Scared!

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