Brutal Massacre: A Comedy
I saw several preview clips of Brutal Massacre: A Comedy at Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors in Los Angeles last April and thoroughly enjoyed them. The clips were hilarious and definitely struck a chord with an audience of rabid horror fans and creators willing to poke fun at themselves. The warm reception was certainly not hurt by the fact that one of the clips included a scene depicting a Fangoria convention Q&A session in which audience members might recognize themselves figuratively if not in the flesh.
Since that time, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this clever mockumentary about the making of a low budget horror film, and I finally got to see it last night via Netflix.
Brutal Massacre follows infamous horror auteur Harry Penderecki as he attempts to lens his film of the same name. Harry wants to show the world he still has his magic touch after a series of dismal flops including Sasquatch at the Mall and The Fish Who Ate Flesh (see sample trailers for these movies here). But as the extreme low budget production is plagued by stolen equipment, heckling locals, dying crew members, and even an exploding motorhome shitter, it becomes apparent that Harry would be satisfied just finishing the film.
Things get so bad, in fact, that Harry periodically tries to kill himself during the production… all en route to making Brutal Massacre a surprise success.
Having worked on low budget horror movies myself, this movie brought back many painful memories, especially the numerous shots of bundled up crew members shuffling equipment around with icy breath in the wee hours of the night. A telling exchange takes place between the Assistant Director and a grip who always seems to be smoking when he should be laying dolly track.
AD: “Hey Mike. Everytime I’m looking at you, you’re on a friggin’ cigarette break. You’re not being paid to smoke.”
Grip: “You’re not paying me at all.”
AD: “Put it out. Get to work.”
The grip later gets laid off – apparently the impact to craft services was too high.
Brutal Massacre itself has a low-budget feel that serves its subject matter well. Unlike some films-about-making-films, this one does little to glamorize or romanticize the moviemaking world. Penderecki gets scolded by his production manager for splurging on a hotel room that doesn’t look much fancier than a Motel 6. Interviewed in his own vehicle, we see the famous director driving a minivan. The life of a low budget horror filmmaker is 180 degrees from the glitz and glamour one typically expects from someone working in Hollywood.
Brutal Massacre drags in a few spots as Penderecki finds himself ceaselessly berated with problems. Some jokey scenes receive more build up and run longer than they should, including a mishap with a target range, and late in the movie some of the humor becomes tragic and almost painful to watch.
Ultimately, however, excellent performances keep everything rooted and carry the movie. While Brian O’Halloran (Clerks) and Gerry Bednob (The Forty Year Old Virgin) do solid comedic work, several well-known horror icons demonstrate for anyone who might have forgotten that their chops extend well beyond machetes, including David Naughton (An American Werewolf in London), Gunnar Hansen (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Ellen Sandweiss (The Evil Dead), and Ken Foree (Dawn of the Dead).
Newcomer Emily Brownell, who plays a dedicated horror actress with a fear of blood and strict moral code about nudity, is a real discovery and a riot to watch.
Related posts:
- The Worst Comedy Ever Made: Freddy Got Fingered or Say It Isn’t So?
- Day of the Dead Wastes No Time Wasting Zombies
- Horror Genre Takes the Midnight Meat Train to Its Final Demise
- European Artsos with an Edge: With a Friend Like Harry and Sexy Beast
- Captivating Losers: Before the Devil Knows Your Dead
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