1964 H.G. Lewis “gored out” with the now genre classic 2000 MANIACS.
Today, first time Director Tim Sullivan has remade (or sequalized…I’m not sure)
the flick and it’s called 2001 MANIACS
The picture, Produced by “wild man” Eli Roth’s Production Company
“RAW NERVE” was recently screened at “The Grove” in LA and much of the
feedback since has been positive.
One “Arrow in the Head” reader that
calls himself The D.T.’s
was at the screening and he had a more negative song to
sing. Here are his thoughts on the movie:
“This is the first time that
I’ve left a theater disliking a movie while not being able to totally put my
finger on as to “why”? Being a complete Horror advocate it should be said that
it had all of the essentials to be great.
1- Crude comedy thrown in with
some good one-liners *** YES (My favorite being Robert Englund’s line: “I once
believed in a fart, but shit all over myself”)
2 – Gore with cool death scenes
*** YES YES
3 – Hot girls wearing sexy
outfits showing their tits *** YES YES YES
The problem was that the breaks
in between the fun were boring. I was counting the seconds for one of the above
three to happen again. Most of the comedy was also pretty lame. If Shaun of the
Dead were to ever have a Bowel Movement, this movie wouldn’t deserve to glance
down at its shit. I was sitting right behind the director and kept wondering
what in the hell he was laughing at? They used a repeating gag of this guy with
his pants down, running across the camera, chasing after a sheep at least three
times…when it wasn’t even funny the first time!
The other main problem was that
the movie was too bright with most of the action taking place in the daytime.
Hell they didn’t even use any colored filters! There was no mood lighting. Most
of the camera angles were also pretty flat with hardly any movement or style. I
do however give credit to one scene….SPOILERS… where the Hero enters a
shack after seeing his dead friend in the window. A split diopter was used to
show his full face with his friend is hanging behind him as a door opens. But
that was it! END SPOILERS
As for the lead actor, I
couldn’t get past him looking like an even pussier version of Lance Bass. When
he jumped over a flaming stage with his motorcycle, I laughed out loud, while
the director remained silent. Plus where were all the cameos that I thought
were supposed to be in the film? I don’t remember seeing John Landis in here
although he was sitting on the left side of the theater I was at.
The most depressing thing was
that for all the beautiful T&A shots we got, there was an awful lot of
Homophobic moments, including one involving a guy’s pubes that brought the movie
to a screeching halt. As for the film’s climax, they must have run out of money.
They should have added some more special effects and gore to create a darker,
scarier mood. They also should have elaborated more on the Maniacs themselves on
all levels. Instead we got the same bland characters with bad pancake make-up
which were far from scary.
I know this is the Director’s
first film but he’s part of the Masters of Horror. I feel that he needs to be
shunned from that group until he gets his shit together. He doesn’t deserves to
sit with the Greats just yet. I usually prefer watching a bad Horror Movie than
most Dramas; but this movie sold itself solely on blood and titties, I say rent
a porno that showcases chicks on the rag instead.” -The D.T.’s
Thanks for sharing The D.T’s! I am personally really looking forward to the film and feel that I might like it
more than you bro. Why? Well
Pube Jokes and a repeating gag of a guy with his pants down chasing
a sheep sounds VERY funny to me! Shite, that was what my last weekend was all about!