Soul Survivors : The Killer Cut - 8/10

[Mike]

http://images.dvdempire.com/gen/movies/44470h.jpg

The previews to Soul Survivors looked great but since they chopped it all up I had low expectations for it. But when I heard that they were releasing it on VHS and DVD as the R rated version instead of the PG-13, I was really excited. And then I found out it was only one minute longer and my expectations were lowered again. But of course I was still going to check it out. I usually don't buy movies before I see them but I took a chance with Soul Survivors and I'm very glad I did.

Soul Survivors is a very underrated gem of a movie that didn't deserve to get dumped into theaters the way it did. Artisan didn't even give it a chance - a BIG thumbs down to them.
Obviously they didn't realize what a creative and dare I say original film they had on their hands. It sure is creative for the teen horror movie genre anyway. It's nothing like the by the numbers slasher movies we are used to seeing.

The movie looks great, moves quick, confuses the hell out of you, and then throws a kick ass twist ending at you that you won't see coming. All in all if you are looking for a good mind fuck movie this is it. And the little love story thrown in the mix is a very good one that will make the hopeless romantics out there happy.

Since Artisan fucked this movie over with it's theatrical release, I sure am happy they gave it a very good DVD. Considering it wasn't a very big hit the DVD is rathering surprising.

If you like horror movies, confusing movies, love stories, or all of them, you should definitely give Soul Survivors a shot. Don't pass on this movie. A BIG thumbs up!

Hopefully it will find it's home on video.

Grade: 8/10

[This message has been edited by Mike (edited 02-26-2002).]

[The Arrow]

I can see why you would like it that much Mike. I recently saw the Killer Cut and got to appreciate the film on a new level. For the teen genre the flick is original and aims higher than the norm but its far from unique. See "Carnival of Souls" (the original), Soul Survivors is basically a teen remake of it.

[thompsoncory]

I have a 100% opposite opinion of the movie, but do not think I am trying to be offensive. Here's my mini-review:
------------------------------------------
I had wanted to see "Soul Survivors" ever since I saw the teaser trailer two years ago. It had not been released, and I was wondering what had happened with it. Then, in September 2001, it was finally released, and even though it was only showing on one screen in my area, I went to go see it. And I will make one thing clear. This is not a good film. This couldn't even be called a film. It has a promising opening from the opening scene, but goes downhill fast. After the car crash, the movie is pretty much a confusing, badly-acted, wannabe horror movie which offers cheap thrills and plot twists that didn't make any sense whatsoever. Another thing on my endlessly long list of problems with the movie was that they had a bunch of people walking around trying to kill Cassie (Melissa Sagemiller) for no apparent reason, but they never elaborate on them, or even explain what the hell they are doing in the movie. Spare yourself the torture. "Soul Survivors" is one of the worst movies of 2001, and certainly the most disappointing.

Overall: 1/10

[Mike]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">After the car crash, the movie is pretty much a confusing, badly-acted, wannabe horror movie which offers cheap thrills and plot twists that didn't make any sense whatsoever. Another thing on my endlessly long list of problems with the movie was that they had a bunch of people walking around trying to kill Cassie (Melissa Sagemiller) for no apparent reason, but they never elaborate on them, or even explain what the hell they are doing in the movie.</font>

I think you misunderstood the twist ending, because if you did the movie does make sense. I understood it perfectly and it made sense to me.

[EDsoulsurvive*]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Mike:
I think you misunderstood the twist ending, because if you did the movie does make sense. I understood it perfectly and it made sense to me. </font>

i agree w/ mike. after the ending, i had to think about it for awhile, but then everything, and i mean EVERYTHING clicked. im dyin to c the killer cut; i gave the original a 6.5

[Horror whore]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by EDsoulsurvive*:
i gave the original a 6.5

</font>


I swear I remember you you giving it 1 10/10 or 9/10 originally....Anywho, I have no intentions of seeing Soul Survivors because it just sounds so dumb.. And for you guys, if you wanna see Eliza Dushku in a movie this week, rent Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back...(8/10)

[thompsoncory]

I did understand the ending. I just thought it was ridiculous and predictable.

[A.J. Hakari]

Just caught this one last night...yikes.

The first thing that popped into my mind while watching the flick was that this is something special. Two seconds later, I began having thoughts of committing acts of aggression against those involved in the making of the film.

SOUL SURVIVORS is a cruddy ripoff of CARNIVAL OF SOULS (I haven't seen it, but I can just tell that's eons better than SS) and David Lynch's "whoa, what just happened there?" style. The performances were ok (though I could barely understand half of what Casey Affleck was saying), but the film never amounted to much except taking apart other, better spooky flicks, putting them together, and then mixing things up for the climax (which I understand perfect; it's accepting it as an ending that's difficult) and calling it all a "captivating" (as said by the dude on the DVD's "Behind the Deathmask" feature) horror movie.

* 1/2 out of **** from me. Boy, did this flick need to set things straight.

At least the Harvey Danger short on the disc was funny as all get-out.

[Strider]

Soul Survivors (2001)

Rated R for Some Violence, Sexuality, & Language

Director: Steve Carpenter

Starring Casey Affleck, Wes Bently, Eliza Dushku, Angela Featherstone, Melissa Sagemiller, & Luke Wilson.

The film's plot focuses on Cassie(Melissa Sagemiller) who was involved in a bloody car accident with her friends. After seeing hallucinations, Cassie starts to lose her grip on reality.

More violence? More sex? More terror? I have never heard more bullshit in my entire life. Oh well, excuse me, I forgot to mention it's one minute longer than the original PG-13 version! I guess that's what they like to call "The Killer Cut".

I'm not a fan of these teen horror flicks, but I thought I would check this out for only reason, and her name is Eliza Dushku. I think she's one hot chick, and has potential to be a big star. As for the acting, it wasn't bad, but it was easily forgettable.

I will admit, the film held my interest in the first half. But it ran out of gas in it's second part. It started to bored me, and it became too reduntant. For instance, it seemed to me that the lead character, "Cassie", was doing the same things over and over again. She was acting like a crazy bitch, hallucinating, and running from two psychos. After seeing this for the third time, you wonder if the writer could've come up with something else.

While better than other teen horror flicks, Soul Survivors is not a good movie, it is merely a mediocre film. I'm starting to think my hopes of seeing one decent teen horror film are diminishing right before my very eyes.

Running Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Grade: 5.5/10

Strider

[This message has been edited by Strider (edited 03-05-2002).]

[EDsoulsurvive*]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Horror whore:

I swear I remember you you giving it 1 10/10 or 9/10 originally....)</font>
i dont remeber, although i probably did, i tend to give movies really high marks after i first see 'em. i have a bad habbit, it takes me a while to realize that they're not that great...

p.s. i made my sn before the movie came out, i had a high expectancy of it. God knows ill NEVER do that again.

[Requiem-for-a-Dream]

Soul Survivors- The Killer Cut
8/10

Starring-
Melissa Sagemiller .... Cassie
Wes Bentley .... Matt
Casey Affleck .... Sean
Eliza Dushku .... Annabel
Angela Featherstone .... Raven

Rated R- Violence/Gore, Sex/Nudity, and terror.

I was pleasantly surprised with this teen flick. Although it was no where near as great as Jeepers Creepers or Ginger Snaps, there is still a lot I can recommend this flick on. The film concerns a group of teens heading home after a rave. Cassie (Melissa Sagemiller) makes a mistake that will forever change their future.
Eventually this film gets pretty unimaginative but it still manages to entertain. I enjoyed the characters relationships with one another. The only real problem I had with Soul Survivors was the heavy borrowing from the classic "Carnival of Souls".
Gore- Arrow sums it up nicely.
Nudity- Angela Featherstone breasts, Melissa Sagemiller breast shot (when she's doin her thing with Sean) don't blink or you'll miss it. Also Eliza Dushku looks very nice in all the revealing outfits and her breasts almost pop out a couple of times.

Matt

[XCoRyX]

just got to see this one over the weekend,trys to confuse you to much,and tries too hard overall,pretty lame and disappointing...eliza dushku is one of the best things in the movie and i must admit certain parts were cool,and the long hair killer was awesome for a killer..overall i will give it a 4/10

[Fray]

That movie sucked. It was intersting at first but it got really redunant. I'm confused about the ending, anyone wanna clear it up.

SPOILERS BELOW


Was the WHOLE thing one giant dream? Or was she on the verge of death, recovered, then the last scene was a dream? if it was a dream how does the scene at the start of the movie fit in, with that girl being killed. please post a responce or email me at redoceans@aol.com

[Romero&Juliet]

I loved this movie. IMO, one of the best remakes of one of the greatest horror movies ever! Everyone who didn't like Soul Survivors, go out and Rent the Original B&W Carnival Of Souls. I promise you'll look at Soul Survivors in a completely different light.
~~It was one of the best new horror movies in a while, but CAsey Affleck pissed me off sooo much!!!

[Ghostface 2000]

I thought that the cut Soul Survivors was good.
Eliza Dusku does well in this movie, she acted like the slut bomb well.
It had a good storyline with a good twist.

8/10

[Anyolina]

This movie along w/Jeepers Creepers will go in my Wall-of-Shame. The trailers were sooo good, but once the movie came it was awful. yes, the ending of SS was good and confusing. But the lead character was horrible. Good actress? maybe one day but definitively not in this movie. 2/10. 1 for the cute guys and 1 for the 'unique' ending.

[pod2010]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Fray:
That movie sucked. It was intersting at first but it got really redunant. I'm confused about the ending, anyone wanna clear it up.

SPOILERS BELOW


Was the WHOLE thing one giant dream? Or was she on the verge of death, recovered, then the last scene was a dream? if it was a dream how does the scene at the start of the movie fit in, with that girl being killed. please post a responce or email me at redoceans@aol.com</font>

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

the girl getting her wrist slit at the beginning, well they people at the goth club used her blood to burn in that stamp on those people's hands!

It was not a dream, she was in a coma after the car accident, just go back and look at luke wilson talking to her for the last time, you should understand then!


[This message has been edited by Fergus (edited 05-09-2002).]

[pod2010]

7.5/10, sorry about the double post.

[Fergus]

That's a-ok, just always remember to post spoiler warnings.

[Shane]

I went to Blockbuster with some friends last night and my movie was "Soul Survivors" because Eliza Dushku was in, and the trailers looked freaky and cool. Well, we watched it first, and we liked it, just no one could figure out what the movie was about, because like most people, it came across as a whole lot confussing. The movie was not a bit what I expected but I did like it for what it was.

Could someone here please (please please) fill in the blanks? On the DVD it said Reality, Dream, and Nightmare. We chose Reality, which it started the movie from the beginning. I did not get anything after the car crash, everything else is so confussing to me. So could someone here please fill me in on everything.. and oh yeah, the twist of the movie, what everything was leading to, what was it? lol, I may sound stupid, but I am craving to find out what this movie is about and the point. Thanks!

- Shane

[This message has been edited by Shane (edited 06-21-2002).]

[EDsoulsurvive*]

*BUMP*

ok, i just got this movie for my bday and watched it again and i liked it even more than the last time i watched. i love it when flicks hold up on DVD!! wow, im actually givin it 9/10!!

[Cronos]

the main problem with Soul Survivors is its too damn predictable, i knew how it would end within the first few minutes. the plot is pretty good and relatively interesting although its badly executed, the direction is alright with some nicely done action scenes but the film moves at a poor pace and really bored me at times. the performances are mostly pretty good, the script however was quite average and had some pretty bad moments. there are some decent sets and effects in it though that looked pretty good with some decent gore, although there could have been more

overall, only worth a look if nothing else is on

4/10