A first time viewing off the To-Watch Pile for my 31 Days Of Horror. Have heard good things...
The acting had a low budget feel to it but the practical effects were pretty good. And it had some disturbing moments.
Some good moments throughout the movie but it did feel cheapened with a lack of acting ability. Normally doesn't matter too much (being an indie filmmaker) but at times this very forced and unnatural.
Poor acting and honestly just not that engaging. Thought the severed head at the beginning was decent, but felt more like a dad got his son and their friends together to do an at home film.
Crikey! That was one messed up coming of age story. "This kind of thing can mess a person up" no truer words have been said Marty... It's quite sickening in parts, most of all little Marty's acceptance of all the things going down. He's way to calm about the whole thing. But I guess that's kind of the whole point. It's worth a watch.
You could see and hear that it was low budget at times. When I checked the budget it was $8000. Amazing effort for the cost. I forgive all of the small imperfections.
Overall the acting was OK. The main parts were acted well , so that area was covered. It could have been really bad otherwise. I didn't know where the story was going, and more importantly I didn't get bored due to that. It wasn't empty for me where as others may feel bored. The atmosphere (which used lots of OK music) and the characters (again OK apart from Marty who was really good) carried the movie. The camerwork was good. The interactions between the kids are pretty much of a Stephen King or Joe Dante style but more sinister and real. The story was a slow burner but it developed when it needed to. The pace wasn't to my liking at first but then I enjoyed it, and it suited Marty's ever increasing feeling of pressure. A character that actually has a journey. There is a message about bullying and a backwards society. The end is completely nuts. I wasn't sure if the end did justice to the story but it was good for other reasons.
I swear they only cast the older brother for his huge schlong, because his acting sure was terrible.
Shout by sp1tiVIP OG 13BlockedParent2014-03-14T01:57:46Z
Not bad for a no-budget horror film. Packaging the coming-of-age together with the idea of the older brother being a serial killer certainly allows for interesting scenes. It does however not carry a consistent tone as to be taken very seriously and the last shot certainly cements that. The movie itself is not really violent up until the end but they do watch a rather depraved flick in the movie so this one is more for people who can enjoy gore (and even better if you can relate to growing up watching horror movies on VHS).