Director: Paul Andrew Williams
Year: 2008
Country: United Kingdom
Alternate Titles:
Genre: Slasher, Horror/Comedy
Plot:
Taking their charge to a secluded cabin in the woods, a pair of kidnapper's struggles to keep her in control eventually bring them into contact with the deranged farmer on the next-door-lot and must fend him off to get away alive.
Review:
Frankly, this was a plainly confusing entry that really doesn't know what it wants to be. The first half to this one plays it quite straight-up as a gangster comedy with the inept kidnappers squabbling with each other over their own issues, from the ineptitude to carry out the kidnapping in accordance to the rules of the act to their family issues and general insecurities throughout, yet none of this is all that impressive or enjoyable due to a lack of exciting actions and the feeling that this was supposed to be a slapstick-style comedy in earnest. However, none of what happens in here is really all that funny and seems to consist of everyone in here cursing out everyone else instead of actually doing something. While it does have a few solid laughs simply from the unexpected nature of the girls' actions against the robbers, but the fact that this spends way too much time on their brotherly issues over who gets the house or their inferiority complex from their past doesn't make this one all that fun.
Once the escape attempt occurs and it turns into a horror film, there's a lot more enjoyable actions here with some genuinely chilling suspense scenes as the initial search through the house finding the trap door and the weird banging noises which reveals a far greater danger than they ever expected leads into the chase which is a thrilling sequence and is laid out beautifully to allow that, the march through the bear-trap-filled field in the dead of night as well as the stalking in the barn which really gets this going with some wholly impressive shocks as the deformed killer emerges from amongst a roomful of similarly-severed heads for a masterful jump sequence. The action here is quite exciting with the final half featuring plenty of chases through the barn and in the surrounding yards which leads the final half into a rather fun series of encounters.
The cast here isn't too bad for what they have to do. Andy Serkis as David turns in a fine role without motion-capture or makeup as the older brother which has some of the few funny moments in the film as the one who thinks everything's going to plans before it all falls apart on him. His younger brother Peter, played by Reece Shearsmith, is a bit annoying with his manic over-the-top whining and hysteria so the two play off each other quite nicely being total opposites which is where it does generate it's few genuine laughs. The kidnapped Tracey, played by Jennifer Ellison, steals the show with her foul-mouthed tirades and insults which is rather funny throughout here. While some might find her irritating with her take-charge personality who constantly badgers those around her, she does well with what she has to work with and leaves an impression regardless. The rest of the cast doesn't embarrass themselves nor really stick out all that much either way.
As well, it doles out the blood and gore quite nicely with plenty of verve here as this is quite bloody with a lot to really like in terms of dismembering the victims with all sorts of wicked tools here, yet this section also gives off the film's biggest flaw as well in that it again tries to make this a horror/comedy yet none of what happens is all that funny. The failed humor of their predicament against the lame kidnapping humor in turn makes this quite problematic overall when the horror segments here work wonderfully if played straight, and the conflicting tone of this one overall makes for a troubling if somewhat rewarding experience.
Overview: *** 1/2/5
As this one has plenty of enjoyable elements mentioned alongside the few brief elements that drag this one down, there's enough here to make this one quite enjoyable overall. This is not among the top-tier British horror/comedies that were released at that time, but for those looking to have some fun with something else there are far worst efforts to look into than this one.
Comments
Post a Comment