Chainsaw Sally

[Ratlehed]

Chainsaw Sally is another B-movie that pays homage to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It even has Gunnar Hansen in a cameo. What is good about this film is that it doesnt take itself seriously and its alot of fun.

The story is about a girl and her cross dressing brother and thier lives in a small town. The effects of bad events in thier childhood have warped thier senses of right and wrong and good and evil. The movie obviously focuses on Sally the most. She's a quite librarian by day, but at night shes a crazy maniac that kills anyone she thinks is bad. Such as a girl who has not returned her library books on time and the corrupt mayor.

The acting isnt great but its not terrible. April Burril is great as Sally. She really makes the charectar alot of fun to watch and she seems to love getting bloody and violent. Her brother, Ruby, is alot of fun as a cross dressing house wife type. The actor who plays that part does a good job. Most of the main players are good. Some of the secondary players are abit cardboard like. Gunnar Hansen and Herschell Gordon Lewis have small roles. Gunnar gets to get messy with a chainsaw again.

The movie sells itself more on blood and craziness and less on nudity. Alot of low-budget films turn into softcore porn for awhile before showing some horror. It does have its "erotic" moments, but it doesnt sell itself on that. The gore is mostly after the fact stuff or squirt bottles spraying blood everywhere. Theres also an assortment of body parts shown throughout. Theres an acid death thats quite messy and unique.

The movies style comes across as mix of TCM and House of 1000 Corpses. Though much better than Ho1KC. Sallys house is decorated with old Halloween decorations and horror movie posters. Some of the scenes are shot like scenes in TCM and Ho1K. There is odd lighting at moments and some quick cuts at times. The editing and camerawork is a little shabby at times but nothing thats painful to watch. One memorable goof is when Sally is chasing a girl in the woods with a chainsaw. One moment the saw is purple and green the next its a totally different saw.

The music is the usual punk rock thats in most B-movies. But it goes well with the movie.

One of the better B-movies I have seen of late. Alot better than ShadowDead Riot, Sinful, Satans Playground, The Butcher, and Zombiegeddon.

Overall I give it 3/4 stars. The plot could be abit thicker and the F/X could've been better. But given its budget it delivers what it should.
I met April Burril and Gunnar at a recent horror convention. I believe they are both on board for "Chainsaw Sally 2".

[The_Driller_Killer]

Hey, bud! Cool review. Definitely sounds like something I'd like to check out. Oh, how I love cheesy, no-budget gems like these.

By the way, did you actually like Satan's Playground??

[Ratlehed]

I really didnt like Satans Playground. The first time I watched I thought it was O.K.. The second time I thought it was pretty dumb. It had a few cool moments but overall it didn't deliver what it could. The charectors actually wrecked Satans Playground more than anything.

[Valo the Crow]

Sounds likes a sweet film.

[XCoRyX]

I've been interested to check it out for a bit now the trailer looked pretty fun...and I just saw Gunnar & Sally herself at the MM con last weekend.

I'll eventually get around to seeing it, I believe Brain Damage films is releasing it to video stores soon,if I am correct?

[Ratlehed]

Originally posted by XCoRyX


I'll eventually get around to seeing it, I believe Brain Damage films is releasing it to video stores soon,if I am correct?

Best Buy and Blockbuster should get it. They get most Shock-O-rama/Seduction Cinema titles.

[Alter Ego Cinem]

been hearing about this for awhile, looks good, finally got released, alright!

[teenkiller]

I actually wasn't interested in this film until I just read your review. Sounds like fun. I too was at MM7 and spoke to Gunnar Hansen. Definitley one of the better people there that I have ever spoken to. I saw April but since I hadn't seen Chainsaw Sally I didn't go speak to her. By the way, I also thought Satan's Playground was pretty crappy. I thought this movie was going to be much more than it was. I don't remember a whole lot of it now but I remember being very disappointed when it was over. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[Ratlehed]

I still like Chainsaw Sally alot. It doesnt really lose anything after repeat viewings. Quite a few of the actors/actresses will be at the Chiller Theatre on April 13-15 in NJ.