A Serbian Film
The first film on this edition is the controversial film “A Serbian Film”. The film follows Milos, a retired porn star looking to break away from the business. His family is going through financial troubles, when a mysterious porn actress offers him a job opportunity. Milos is then introduced to the film’s director Vukmir. He offers Milos a millionaire contract. But what Milos find out that Vukmir is in the business of directing snuff films that involve horrible things. Now trapped in Vukmir’s world, Milos must find a way out for him and his family.
“A Serbian Film” is one of those films that will leave you disturbed from start to finish. Co-writer/ director Srdjan Spasojevic gives "Human Centipede" director Tom Six a run for his money as one of the most disturbing directors out there. "A Serbian Film" is one of the most shocking films to come out of 2011. One of the things that makes Spasojevic's direction shocking was the fact that the images were horrific. Spasojevic never lets up on those aspects, when it got to that point in the film. Thankfully the distributor cut out the truly horrific parts that made this film so controversial or this would have never ever been released here or being considered for review.
The screenplay written by Spasojevic and Alexsandar Radivojevic does a good job building the film's dark tension. I liked the way the writers build up the tension, before it gets into the film's shocking elements. It gives you the uneasy feeling that you need for this type of film. The other thing that makes the screenplay work, the fact that the first act moves slow. Usually that is a bad thing, but its needed for a shock film to succeed.
"A Serbian Film" is one of the most shocking film that you’ll ever see and isn't for the weak at heart.
Review Rating: Three and a Half Stars
Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Boogie
Enough with the disturbing stuff. “Gingerdead Man 3 Saturday Night Boogie” is the latest film from director William Butler, who directed the last Gingerdead Man film and “Demonic Toys 2”. The film follows the Gingerdead man, as he finds a way to escape the Research of Homicidal Baked Goods. There, he finds a time machine inside the research facility. The Gingerdead man finds a way to use it and transport himself to the 1970’s . When he arrives, he stumbles upon a roller boogie contest and begins killing the people there. The only person who can stop him is a young girl, who has a gift of telekinesis. Can she stop him before he ushers in a new wave of terror?
Going into this film, I had the feeling that I was going to totally hate this film. The whole series didn't appeal to me that much like other Full Moon staples. Still, at least the film works on a guilty pleasure level.
Co-Writer/director William Butler does a very good job making this film work as a solid B-movie. One of things that makes that work, the fact that everything is over the top in a good way. From the acting to all the blood splattering gore, its cheesy and absurd enough that it makes the film fun. It's what you want with a film like this.
The screenplay written by Butler and Muffy Bolding does a good job making the story work, as a B-movie. I liked, how they work the crude humor into the story. They do a good job creating the humor that your interested in the film, instead of shutting it off midway through. The writers also develop the main characters. In films like this, I just want the characters to be fun and interesting enough to help my enjoyment of the film. This film does that, because the writers spend the time developing the characters that your going to like and not like. It makes a B-movie like this fun to watch.
If there was one major grip that I had with the screenplay, it tries to spoof too much. There are references to "The Silence of the Lamb", "Carrie" and time traveling films here. To me, it seems like one big spoof than a comedy/horror film. It took away some of the enjoyment of this film. I wished that this was an original story than trying to spoof other classic films.
"Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver" isn't going to win many style points. If your looking for a film that is absurd and enjoyable at the same time, then this film is going to work for you.
Review Rating: Three Stars
Evil Bong 3: The Wrath of Bong
From one Full Moon series to another. “Evil Bong 3: The Wrath of Bong” is the latest entry in Full Moon’s “Evil Bong series. This time around, the stoners find an alien bong that mysteriously landed in the middle of nowhere. Like the previous films, they can’t help using the bong for their personal pleasure. But once they use the bong, they become enslaved by Alien Bong and the sexy Alien chicks. In order to get themselves out of this mess, they have to enlist the help of Grandpa and the foul mouth Evil Bong, Can the stones stop the Alien Bong, before everything goes up in smoke?
Evil Bong 3” is one of those film where you enjoy it, but feel like that you’re watching the same film. Charles Band does a very good job with the direction here, as he has to try and save this film. One of the things that makes his good, he’s able to get the performances to likeable that you forget that your watching an average movie. I liked, how Band is able make his actors bring personality to their roles. It helps, when the screenplay is lagging a bit. The other that I liked about his direction, he’s able to keep the audience interested. Band makes his characters stand out from the quirks that his characters have to the way that alien beauties come on screen with the different colors on them. Its make the film work on a fun level.
August White, who wrote the first two films is back again as the screenwriter. I thought, the screenplay was the weakest of the three films. One of the things that I didn’t like about it, the film’s story moves at a slow pace. The reason that I felt that way, the story didn’t click with me. The main reason for this, most of the humor. It’s the humor that made the first two film fun. This time, I was bored for most of it. Also, I thought, the new characters were obnoxious and the return of a couple of character in the series felt forced and was there just to please the fans. I don’t mind seeing the characters, but don’t put them out there to make an appearance and that’s it. It feels forced and disrupts the story.
“Evil Bong 3” should have been a fun time considering Charles Band did a good job with his direction, but it screenplay that drains most of the fun out of this entry.
Review Rating: 2.5 Stars
Zombie Allegiance
The final film is this edition is “Zombie Allegiance”. The film takes place in post World War III. It follows a group of survivors living in a world, where the dead out number the living. They must band together to find shelter and a community where they can live peacefully and call home. But what they encounter are a bunch of zombies that are out to eat them or turn them into a member of the undead.
“Zombie Allegiance was one of those films that has everything but a good screenplay. Writer and director Tony Nunes does a very good job with his direction. I liked, how he’s able to keep the tone of the film throughout. It gave me the doom and gloom feel that you need in zombie movie. That what makes the film work, instead of it feeling like a gorefest. The other thing that Nunes does well with his direction, the ability to get the performances that he needs. The performances is what kept my interest, considering the screenplay wasn’t working for me until the end. He does a very good job making sure that his characters have personality. It really helps make a bad film become an okay film, as your interested in the performances.
Nunes’ screenplay lack any action for most of the film. I was getting bored at times, especially in the beginning of the film. One of the things that this screenplay lacks is zombie action. I know that this film is low budget, but the zombies felt like background players and not an important part of the film. It really felt like, I was watching a slasher film at times. It hurts the film’s story, because you want a zombie film to be a zombie film. The other thing that the screenplay lacked is more action. Some of the scenes, especially in the beginning of the film were dull. You barely get any zombie action sequences here, which really left me disappointed considering that I enjoyed his screenplay for “The Disco Exorcist”.
Zombie Allegiance” is one of those films that has good direction, but the screenplay felt dull at times and lacks zombie action.
Review Rating: 2 Stars
