I wanted to like this movie because I am a huge fan of the Stuart Gordan and Brian Yuzna and watch this back to back with the rare gem "Dagon". After the brief interesting introduction the film begin to lose it's grasp and bores us with predictability and nerve testing characters. The plot consists of a family of three, two trashy punk thieves, and an over weight 30 year old kid type guy get stranded in a isolated mansion with an odd elderly couple while it storms. There's also psycho living dolls running around with various stabbing objects just waiting to hack our candidates to bits.
That's where I'll begin, is with the characters. Besdies the little girl as the lead (Such a cutie) I had a hard time finding any comic relier or interest in the supporting victims, or characters take your pick. The bickering, abusive parents weren't funny or even attractive. I just wanted to see them die after hearing them bicker in the car. The most despicable characters to grace a screen in the eighties also exist in the movie (Yes, I'm talking about the two "Madonna wannabes") If you want to get super annoyed..just check out those two's acting. Example when they are in the room listening to music...excruciating. The old couple weren't annoying just really boring, the movie doesn't really give them much to do except talk as if they were in a fairy tale. I guess they served their parts well, none the less. The fat guy was also boring and most of his antics failed.
the movie at least is graceful enough to start killing the majority of these people off quickly, but the gore is very poor and not done all that well, kind of is a let down. COME ON...THIS IS A GORDON FILM. The direction is moody and competent all the way through, but the tension is non existent and the pace lags at time. Even though still the movie is only an hour and ten minutes..it still dragged on at times.
The dialog was inept and I found my self reading a book here and there.
This movie is weaker then Puppet Master by far, due to the fact PM gave it's little killers personality. The special effects are decent in this though, for it's time. There's just something likable about it at times, it suited the movie.
Only see this movie for a cheap and (QUICK) little thrill, it will happen so fast you won't really remember much about it. Except for the "killer" teddy bear bit at the beginning.
Stuart Gordon isn't a bad film maker because of this either. Obviously.
*1/2 out of ****
That's where I'll begin, is with the characters. Besdies the little girl as the lead (Such a cutie) I had a hard time finding any comic relier or interest in the supporting victims, or characters take your pick. The bickering, abusive parents weren't funny or even attractive. I just wanted to see them die after hearing them bicker in the car. The most despicable characters to grace a screen in the eighties also exist in the movie (Yes, I'm talking about the two "Madonna wannabes") If you want to get super annoyed..just check out those two's acting. Example when they are in the room listening to music...excruciating. The old couple weren't annoying just really boring, the movie doesn't really give them much to do except talk as if they were in a fairy tale. I guess they served their parts well, none the less. The fat guy was also boring and most of his antics failed.
the movie at least is graceful enough to start killing the majority of these people off quickly, but the gore is very poor and not done all that well, kind of is a let down. COME ON...THIS IS A GORDON FILM. The direction is moody and competent all the way through, but the tension is non existent and the pace lags at time. Even though still the movie is only an hour and ten minutes..it still dragged on at times.
The dialog was inept and I found my self reading a book here and there.
This movie is weaker then Puppet Master by far, due to the fact PM gave it's little killers personality. The special effects are decent in this though, for it's time. There's just something likable about it at times, it suited the movie.
Only see this movie for a cheap and (QUICK) little thrill, it will happen so fast you won't really remember much about it. Except for the "killer" teddy bear bit at the beginning.
Stuart Gordon isn't a bad film maker because of this either. Obviously.
*1/2 out of ****