DVD ThugaView: Brutal Massacre
“BRUTAL MASSACRE” (2008)
Starring: David Naughton, Brian O’Halloran, Gerry Bednob, Ellen Sandweiss, Ken Foree, Gunnar Hansen, Happy Anderson Betsy Baker, Tom Bambard, Laura Bozzone, Timothy J. Bristoll, Robert L. Brodmerkel, Emily Brownell Vincent Butta, Samantha Dark, Josslyn DeCrosta, Michelle DiBenedetti Tyler Dolph, Bill Duff, Mick Garris
Written & Directed by Stevan Mena
Polly Staffle ThugaView Rating: ****
Stevan Mena had me at Dante and Leatherface. I’m, of course, talking about Brian O’Halloran, who played Dante Hicks in Kevin Smith’s “Clerks” and Gunnar Hansen, who played Leatherface in Tobe Hooper’s “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” two of the many familiar faces in Mena’s “Brutal Massacre.”
The follow up to Mena’s indie debut “Malevolence” also features genre legends David Naughton of John Landis’ “An American Werewolf in London,” Ken Foree of George Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead,” and the lovely ladies of Sam Raimi’s “The Evil Dead” (Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly), as well as cameos by “Masters of Horror” creator Mick Garris and Fangoria editor Tony Timpone.
But Mena did more than build a fun cast in his sophomore effort; he also delivers laughs and a clever look at movies in general, as well as independent, documentary, reality TV and genre filmmaking.
“Brutal Massacre” is a hilarious mockumentary about a horror filmmaker named Harry Penderecki (Naughton) that is a lot like Charles Band (Full Moon Features) or Lloyd Kaufman (Troma Entertainment). Penderecki has directed so many films that just about everyone on the planet is either a follower or a detractor.
His films range from a slasher movie for kids (”Killer Koala”), a scary film for senior citizens (”Retirement Home”), to an underground project inspired by The Beatles album “Abbey Road” (”Sasquatch at the Mall”) and a project made mostly of stock footage that smashed box office records in South America (”Fish Who Ate Flesh”). Lately, Penderecki’s films aren’t making much money and tragedies seem to follow every project.
“Brutal Massacre” opens at a Fangoria horror convention with Penderecki being both grilled and cheered by the horror community. Documentarian Bert Campbell (Vincent Butta) then follows along the film’s 95 minutes through all the stages of Penderecki’s latest attempt at resurrecting his career.
“Most lesser directors would have eaten a bullet by now,” production manager Natalie Vasquez (Ellen Sandweiss) says at one point. “He’s too scared to blow his brains out.”
She can say he’s too chicken, but I say he’s too brave. Thank God he and the filmmakers of the world just like Penderecki are, or celluloid would be way less gratuitous, less exploitive, less experimental and not nearly as fun.
“Brutal Massacre” is highly recommended for fans of “Ed Wood,” “American Movie” and “Horror Business.” But anyone that enjoys DVD special features and indie cinema should be able to get a kick out of this.
Most of all, fans of Dante or Leatherface definitely won’t be disappointed. O’Halloran, who most recently smashed a Jeep into a tree in M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening,” plays an assistant director named Jason that is a key character throughout, while Hansen is a foulmouthed drunk named Krenshaw that lives in a creepy house in the woods. Hansen, who said absolutely nothing as Leatherface, had me rolling on the floor laughing watching this film. When approached by Jason to use his house to shoot a scene, Krenshaw replies, “I don’t give a fuck. Do whatever the fuck you want. Shit, I’m just going to tear the fucker down next spring and rebuild it.” His answer is quite brilliant when you think about it. Not only is it offensive to some and damn funny, it’s also the kind of spirit that drives independent movies.
- CCF, September 2008
Tags: Brian O'Halloran, Brutal Massacre, David Naughton, Ellen Sandweiss, Gerry Bednob, Gunnar Hansen, Ken Foree, Polly Staffle Reviews, Stevan Mena, ThugaView