Director: Bret McCormick (as Max Raven)
Year: 1986
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Creature Feature
Plot:
Troubled by strange nightmares, a man living with his aunt learns that a cancerous tumor she has been dealing with has now infected him and grown into a massive blob-like creature that requires him to kill others to feed it, forcing those around him to stop the rampage and put an end to the creature.
Review:
This is a fantastic shot-on-video genre effort with a lot to like. That starts with the bizarre and utterly ridiculous storyline which is absolutely ridiculous to see play out involving the connection between his strange dreams, the bizarre TV preacher, and the resulting exorcism of the specific tumor that emerges and starts the symbiotic controlling relationship with him. This all creates the kind of wacky and over-the-top scenario present here featuring the creature appearing and attempting to control him that sets the film in motion with the tumorous creature requiring him to go on the killing spree that he does. Utilizing scores of cheesy and silly-looking prosthetics for the design and appearance, these over-the-top scenes are immensely fun setting into motion hilariously gruesome deaths, campy gore, and cheesy effects work for what’s going on.
While on the surface, this provides a reasonably entertaining and highly energetic genre effort full of silly moments that are generally quite fun, it’s all in the presentation of these that will determine what goes on here. The fact that there are so many shots of the silly-looking creature that looks every bit the primitive home-made concoction, the equally schlocky gore effects, and the shot-on-video guerilla-style presentation all scream out the low-budget origins of this one should be a no doubt giveaway as to what type of film this is. Outside of that, the only real issue with the film is the unnecessary narration over the top of everything as it contributes nothing of great value that couldn’t have been determined through the actions undertaken while this is going on, and just continues to add to the cheap feeling on display. Otherwise, there’s not much to dislike.
Overview: ***.5/5
A fantastically fun and enjoyable low-budget genre effort, this one manages to feature quite a lot to like about it and only a few minor drawbacks that keep it going despite some of the issues on display not being truly all that problematic. Those who are fans of this particular style of genre effort or are curious about the film will have quite a lot to like while only those who don’t appreciate this kind of feature should heed caution.
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