Some Guy Who Kills People Review

Modern horror comedies recently have been very hit and miss. They are either overly cheesy and get dull or are just plain unfunny. That is why when I first head of Some Guy Who Kills People I was kinda worried that this was just another disposable horror comedy to add to the avoid pile. Three major factors made me change my mind and want to give this a watch. Number one, it is the first film put out by Grimm Entertainment label. Number two, John Landis (An American Werewolf In London) is the executive producer and number three, it has a kick ass trailer. Probably out of the three main reasons, the fact that Grimm Entertainment is the new venture from Grimmfest which is Manchester based company that puts on it's own festival and has screenings of some fantastic films. I took a chance and got in touch and the guys kindly sent me a disco for me to review, so let's get started by checking out some still from the film:

 Some Guy follows the story of Ken a comic book obsessed loner who has been recently released from "the loony bin" after he spent years there recovering from the torture he received at the hands of some jocks he insulted in his comic book. He works in an ice cream parlour and lives with his rather harsh and bitchy mother who is constantly disappointed. Ken's life is about to get a little more interesting as he is unwittingly reuinted with his estranged daughter, getting romantically involved with a bumbling British cutie and not to mention the jocks that had tortured him years earlier are mysteriously getting picked off one by one in some gruesome ways. Will he develop a bond with his daughter? Will his new relationship last? Who is behind the attacks? Is Ken seeking out his revenge? That is for you and the not too bright police department to find out. Be careful though, it's going to be bloody!

Overall, this is hands down one of the best horror comedies to be released in a long time. Not only is the comedy genuinely funny but it never oversteps the boundaries of taste. The scenes involving the police, especially the Sheriff (Barry Bostwick) have the best laughs and they kinda remind me of the cops from the original Last House On The Left. Ken is played perfectly by  Kevin Corrigan who puts in a genuine and honest performance. His love interest Stephanie is played by Lucy Davis who is pretty much playing the character she plays in most things, the bumbling British character. Both are likeable and work well together. The rest of the cast, especially Ken's daughter Amy also put in some great performances. This is a well put together cast indeed. The story is simple but never boring and has some twists and turns. The kills although not the most imaginative are pulled off brilliantly and the gore is spot on. A bonus is that there doesn't seem to be a drop of CGI at all in this film and if there is, it's done brilliantly.

This film is a well balanced horror comedy at a time where horror comedies are hit and miss. There is a fine balance of comedy and drama. There are some genuinely dark and tense moments which add to the experience. It may not be the most goriest slasher or the most absurd but it sure is a hugely entertaining film from the director who brought us the cheese fest Mega Shark v.s Giant Octopus. The kills are satisfying and overall, the film feels almost like a flick from the late 80's or early 90's. If like me, you are bored of horror comedies, then check this one out as it will restore your faith in this over saturated sub genre. This is a great first release of hopefully many from Grimm Entertainment and is well worth the price of admission.

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Some Guy Who Kills People is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and on demand from Grimm Entertainment and Koch Media. Home release includes a making of and an audio commentary.

GRIMM LABEL WEBSITE

She's Dead (2012) Review

Artwork by Fwah Storm.

So I just got finished watching the new film from Nik Box. If you follow the blog or my Youtube then you will already be aware of Nik's films, especially this one. I have already done a post on the making of and the story of the film which you can check out in the archives. I have known Nik for a couple of years now and have been a fan of his films ever since watching the first entry into his Christsploitation trilogy, Brutal Jesus which is a riot and I am sure you will see a post on that sometime in the future. She's Dead is a completely different kettle of fish and is actually a completely different direction of most of Nik's filmography. Usually Nik's are reeking of pure, unapologetic campy cheese with the comedy just as fantastically slapstick. She's Dead however, tones down the comedy and is much darker experience.

The film follows Ben who wakes up from a heavy one the night before. He has a problem, there's a dead woman in his company. We've all bee there chaps and lasses I think you'll agree. Understandably Ben is confused and in a panic as to what to do and how he got in this situation. This leads him to get in touch with a big, bearded guy by the name of Mr. Clean who has a ponytail and short fuse. He does appreciate a good cup of tea though! Together, Mr. Clean and Ben start trying figure out just how they're going to get rid of the body. It goes from bad to worse as Ben's friend Barry unwittingly gets involved into the equation much to Mr. Clean's distaste. Barry is a, let's say sick motherfucker who not only revels in the situation but also has a few ideas with his new friend, the corpse. What happens from there is something you will have to see for yourselves. I will however say that what happens takes this already solid film to another level.

Overall, what we have here is a darkly comedic story that starts off bad for our main character and just gets even worse. This film looks and sounds fantastic. This is thanks to Nik's direction, especially his eye of setting up a scene and the choice of music throughout. Every song has a different feel and genre and compliments the situation in the relevant scene perfectly. Not only is the film technically solid (the film took 4 days to shoot and it still feels like it IS actually filmed in real time thanks to Nik's editing) but the performances from all those involved is just as good. The dialogue from Barry and Mr. Clean is where the comedy lies. A big hats off to the woman playing the corpse too.

If you like independent horror that is dark, you will love this. If you like Nik's previous work you are in for a treat because yes, this film is a big break from the norm but probably the best thing is, you can tell it's a Nik Box and Dead Good Films Like production. It could have really missed the target but Jesus Christ did this deliver. It's a welcomed change in pace and style that I hope to see more in Nik's work. This is a job well done especially when you take in to consideration that there was a crew of one (Nik himself), a cast of 4, a 4 day shoot and of course an £800 budget. Not many directors deliver when they a couple more 0's added on to that budget. A fantastic, easy flowing piece that takes a brilliant concept into an even more brilliant finished piece that you can easily watch more than once.

You can preorder the film by checking out the store here.

Here is the trailer:

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Amsterdamned Shameless Screen Entertainment DVD Review

Oh Amsterdam. What a beautiful place. The beautiful architecture, the cosy cafe's and the wonderful nightlife. All of these pale in comparison of course to the wonderful canals. Ah yes, those canals where couples can have a romantic couple of hours on or off the water. Those wonderful canals where no matter who you are, you have a wonderful chance of getting butchered by one of the local divers. Wait... what? Ah yes! Amsterdamned, a film directed by Dick Maas in 1988. Set against the backdrop of the stunning streets of Amsterdam, there's a killer on the loose roaming the canals and attacking all those that are unlucky enough to be basking in the delight of the seemingly tranquil waters. Essentially this is a rather contemporary take on the "who did it" gialloesque films of the 60's and 70's. However, this isn't a homage or a film that just follows the same old formula. We have excitement including a rather fantastic speedboat chase. I could leave the review here as to say anymore would be giving away too much. Shameless where kind enough to send me a copy of this film so let's not stop there. Have a look at these screen grabs:

What we have here is another great release from Shameless. Although this isn't one of those "first time on UK DVD" releases (you can find an already existing release from Nouveax Pictures from 2009) it is presented nicely and has the high standard as most Shameless releases. The special features on this disc are a rather extensive making of feature which shows how much hard work went into this picture (who the Hell needs CGI?), a selection of trailers for the film as well as the typical Shameless trailers which are always welcome. On the presentation front, this is a great release and if you have only ever seen this film on VHS or have never seen this film before (like me) then you should definitely pick this edition up when it's released because it's worth every penny.

That being said, the film itself wasn't bad but not the greatest. I appreciate this film more from the technical and film making aspect as this film looks great and once you see how some scenes where filmed, you will be pleasantly surprised. I also like the fact that this isn't really a sleazy flick as there is little no female nudity or sexual content which is refreshing for a film of this genre. The thrills and the gore are there but maybe I need a second viewing to truly appreciate the film itself but overall, if you are a lover of giallo films and European cinema then this title could very well be for you. Once again I applaud Shameless on this release, I may not have really liked the film but the hard work that went into this release makes this a great edition for fans of the film. It's a lot better than the recent output of a certain other company here in the UK.

The film will be released on the 22nd October by Shameless Screen Entertainment.


If you want more information on this film please check out the Shameless page:
Amsterdamned Official Shameless Page

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