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Midnight Movie Screenings - July 2008

Indie Horror

July 16th 2008 04:56

No, not Indy Horror
It's been an awfully long while since the last post...time sure does fly.
Lately, I've been checking out more independent scares. The results are mixed, but at least they're interesting.
First up, Gutterballs

Whew! This one's a doozy. The plot's fairly basic: a brutal crime leads to most of the mostly unlikable (no, wait, they're all unlikable) cast being offed in various gruesome ways by a masked killer. This time it's in a bowling alley, not a summer camp or slumber party. Several things set the film apart from your run-of-the-mill slasher flick, though. For one, the gore and sex are amped up to levels you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. The attack that starts the ball rolling is probably enough to send most casual viewers running to unplug their dvd player. Really. Very. Sick. Far be it from me to give up there, and I was pleasantly surprised that director Ryan Nicholson kept upping the ante and kept me watching, wondering what could possibly come next. Big points for originality here, but the ultra low-budget look (and sound, 'cept for the awesome barrage of Loverboy tunes) of Gutterballs sometimes pulled me right out of the action. For the money, Mr. Nicholson and Co. do come up with some pretty clever gore effects. The script was pretty tight, too, with some flashes of humor, and a nifty twist at the end (by then I'd forsaken any theory I'd had to the chaos of it all). I'm sure there's an audience for this one, though god only knows who they are...I don't think I am, quite; but I look forward to what the director comes up with next, hopefully with a little more money and polish -- though I hope he's not convinced to tone it down. It's hard to knock the "anything goes" spirit here, but anything really does go, so if you're easily offended, it's not for you. (7/10)

Speaking of knocking, Knock, Knock

was kinda fun, too. Judging from the response on IMDB (I always check there to see how wrong I am...this time, VERY, apparently), I'm in the minority. Plenty of boobs and blood, but maybe a bit too much time with the detectives unraveling the case of the Knock, Knock killer. Here our slasher is given a pretty interesting backstory, and it seemed to me to be a very loving homage to the early 80s slasher flicks that are so dear to my heart. Sure, maybe the actors aren't all De Niro, and maybe the lines they're given aren't all Shakespeare. It's not rocket science, but it doesn't always have to be. Sometimes a few bloody killings are all you need to pass 90 minutes, and I had a good time with it. (6/10)
I've already gone on and on, and I didn't even get to the two movies I wanted to talk about the most!

If that's not a teaser, I don't know what is.
Anyway, I guess you can tell what kind of mood I've been in, and it's only been amplified by the killer documentary Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film. I highly recommend it. After I finish this up...tomorrow (seriously!)...I think it's time to hop in the Way-Back Machine.
And lastly, if Gutterballs sounds like your cup of tea, check out director Ryan Nicholson's company: Plotdigger Films...he seems like a fan as well as a director to watch.

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Posted By: Josh S - Category: No Category

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Comments

2 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Bryn

July 16th 2008 22:31

Horrorphile

hey there, I just ordered myself a copy of Going To Pieces on DVD from amazon. I was going to buy the book which came out first, but I liked the idea of movie clips rather than still photographs.
Is that home cinema pic of your own?? If so I'm insanely envious!!!
Have you checked out my blog?

Comment by Josh S

July 17th 2008 19:42

I think the DVD is probably a better bet exactly for the reason you stated, but maybe the book goes into even greater detail. I'll have to pick that up.
I do read your page...it seems you're always seeing the films I'm about to or the other way 'round.

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