Post by Fickle81 on Sept 2, 2008 0:29:21 GMT -5
This is a rather interesting review for me to write...it's also gonna be a hard one because the less you know about what goes on in the film,the better your viewing experience will be...even being vague about certain aspects of the film might be going into too much detail,but I shall do my best.
When I first saw this,I thought it was merely ok at best. The film seems like pretty standard slasher film fare at first...all the guys wanna get with Mandy Lane at a ranch party,with somebody apparently wanting to get with her so bad that they're killing all of her friends. The thing is though,I had a strong feeling as to who the killer was very early in the film,and as it turns out,I was right...but heres the thing,and this is one of those somewhat vague aspects that might spoil the film for you,so proceed on with caution...the film only makes a brief effort to conceal the killer's identity,before fully revealing it just a little bit over the half way point...so naturally,since the film reveals its killer so early in the film,I figured that there was something else going on...matter of fact,my bets were on one thing in particular that would occur near the end,due to certain lines of dialogue uttered that hint as to whats going to happen,and yet again I was right. So just for extreme predictablity factor alone,I really didn't think the film was all that...even with a third and final twist that I DIDN'T see coming,2/3 of the film were predictable as hell,not to mention the fact that setup and tension with the kills was reletivly absent here,so I still didn't think that highly of it.
But then I decided to give it another viewing,and in said second viewing,I caught little subtle things that weren't completely apparent the first time through (such as foreshadowing,hell even certain pieces of attire certain character wore). The movie isn't entirly as much a slasher film as it is the horror genre's interpretation of well known school massacres DISGUISED as a slasher film. If I had to compare it to any other film,it would be Session 9...yes I know,Session 9 is a "ghost" film while this is a "slasher" film...but the 2 are quite similar in the 70s look and feel,things not being what they seem in both film's plots,and the subtle execution of both plots to the point where there are little things hidden underneath the surface that may not be apparent during the first viewing.
In fact,both films are actually a little bit too subtle for their own good. And with this one,as I pointed out before,the predictability factor and the lack of real tension drag it down significantly. But other than that and one particular instance of stupidity near the end (don't fucking stop running to share a kiss idiots!),the movie is actually quite solid. Even the mellow and at times unsettling soundtrack gives the film an interesting vibe.
I can kinda see why some people may not entirly dig this,as I didn't either when I first saw it. However,try to give it another chance and you might just end up at least liking it.
4/5