Post by SailorEcchi on Apr 15, 2005 7:57:07 GMT -5
Just wanted to recommend this little slasher from the eighties from the same crew (sort of) that made Evil Dead. I saw this film when I was a child and loved it. I believed it was the cut version. Managed to get my heads recently on the uncut version. This movie is pretty gory, but what I like is that it has that low budget Evil Dead feel, plus it reminded me of several Italian slasher films, particularly Michele Soavi’s Stage Fright (1987).
The movie is about these clerks at a supermarket working the night shift to get everything ready for next day operations. While they take inventory and mark down prices, an unseen “intruder” is stalking then and slowly bumping each employee of in gruesome ways that would make Friday the 13th’s Jason proud.
Like I mentioned, the FX are gory. Then again, what would you expect with a special makeup effects created by Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman and Gregory Nicotero (KNB Efx Group Inc)?
We are talking about bloody stabbings, severed limbs, eye impaling, meat cleaver attacks, hooks through neck, head crushing and a band saw lobotomy scene that makes Lucio Fulci’s drill through the head scene in Gates of Hell seem like PG – rated fun.
Another plus is that you get a few oyoung, familiar faces. Familiar, that is, to horror fans. The cast includes Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi and Bruce Campbell (in a very, very, very, very, very, very short scene at the end playing an policeman).
The Raimi brothers are fun to watch since they add a certain comic charm to the grim happenings. Sam is particularly enjoyable in his “swinging” role (you’ll get it when you see the movie). It’s nice to that Sam Raimi received his share of beatings and torture. I bet Bruce loved every minute of it.
Another interesting elements is that it was directed by Scott Spiegel, who co-wrote Evil Dead 2 with Sam Raimi. He’s “fake shemped” his way into many of Sam’s movies too. To his credit, he’s only really directed like three or four movies. His biggest one has been From Dusk Till Dawn 2. While Intruder and FDTD2 both showcase his odd directorial style of weird camera angles and points of view (strikingly similar in a way to Sam Raimi’s style), in Intruder it fairs better since it actually fits into the story. I liked FDTD2, but felt that all the crazy shots and odd points of view only served to distract from the movie. Intruder has a lot of visual flair, which is interesting considering this is really a one location movie (the interiors and exteriors of a supermarket).
Once you see this movie, you’ll probably wonder why Scott Spiegel hasn’t directed anymore movies like this (whereas most people who have seen FDTD2 are actually glad he hasn’t).
Most of the fright and suspense scenes are imaginative and very effective. Not too much character development, but enough to peak your interest.
There is a lot of dark humor in this one too. This is a reason why I feel that the Evil Dead crowd will appreciate this movie. Is very morbid. And some of the effects are so over the top gruesome that you can’t help but giggle at them. (Yeah, I’m sick. I know.)
The version of the movie I have is from Charles Band’s Full Moon Direct web page, under the Shadow Entertainment banner. It was a full screen release. I think that the film was filmed in 16mm. Not sure. Anyway, the DVD doesn’t offer much in terms of extras. Just was the trailer, which (like the images in the back cover of the DVD) only serve to spoil the twists. So, if you pick this copy up, avoid the trailer (or the back cover of the DVD) until you can see the movie.
I’m pretty sure eventually Anchor Bay Entertainment will get the rights to release a better DVD version of this movie (just like they are doing with The Dead Next Door), but I haven’t heard anything to the effect. Still, it wouldn’t surprise me if we hear something for next year.
As a side note, with the Shadow Entertainment release, you also get the trailer for Full Moon’s When Puppets and Dolls Attack, which is basically a compilation of the “best parts” of the puppets and dolls films Charles Band produced. I mentioned this cause this is so stupid, it’s good for a cheap laugh. I’ve showed it to several of my friends and after watching them watch the trailer with wide eyes and their mouths open in disbelief, we just break out into hysterical fits of laughter.
Anyway, for all you slasher and gore fans (especially the Evil Dead fans and those who enjoy Italian slashes or just get a perverse fun from watching Friday the 13th movies) be sure to take a look at this gem one it becomes more widely available. Old video rental stores might have the uncut flick on VHS (I recall having recently seen one such rental place that had one existing copy). Ebay should offer the international versions for sale.
Regardless of where you get it, don’t miss it! Vintage stuff. They don’t make horror movies like this before.
