Well I'll be jiggered!!
For many years now, my old mate Darrell Buxton [We Belong Dead editor, lecturer, historian, author etc] and I have enjoyed a by-now-infamous 'tradition' in our dual viewing habits: essentially, what will happen is, he will see a new horror film, wax lyrical about it and widely proclaim it to be an utter mantelpiece, and then I will watch it and subsequently declare it to be unmitigated pants [that's colloquial British for "crap", in case you wondered] of the highest order.
Following which, we will then meet up in the bar of our local arthouse cinema in Derby, UK [where he screens monthly theme nights and sporadically gives quite fascinating talks on assorted horror and exploitation-related subjects] and debate it sensibly face to face without either of us losing our rag: trust me, it can be done, and much fun it is too. Indeed, since our first meeting in 2003, previous recipients of this good-cop bad-cop treatment have included such notables as 28 DAYS LATER, THE LAST HORROR MOVIE, WOLF CREEK, MUM AND DAD, KILL LIST, BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO, IN FABRIC, A GHOST STORY, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO and ENYS MEN, so you can imagine the sort of conversations we've had for two decades and counting. However, nadger me with an intravenous drip if tonight, we didn't finally break our duck and bloody well agree on something!! Quick, somebody, phone the ghost of Norris McWhirter NOW...
And what precisely, I hear you ask, was the subject of this mutual consensus? Well, put simply, it's that as far as we're both concerned, IN A VIOLENT NATURE - as screened by the man 'imself as the last of July's 'Summer Horror Day' premieres - is THE best slasher film made by human [or inhuman] hand in simply aeons. Sure, every few years, some popinjay will come along and claim that they've achieved this, but this time, they genuinely have: at time of writing, I know absolutely nothing of its director Chris Nash's background or credentials, but if this is anything to go by, he's a talent to watch for. And I indeed will.
Taking several not-so-original ideas and tropes with which most of us will be WELL more than used to by now, he's both cleverly and subtly re-invigorated [if not necessarily reinvented] them with his own unique slant: however, lest I give too much away, the most I can say is that if you want to know exactly HOW this is achieved, then you really WILL have to watch it in full. Which thankfully won't be too difficult, as following its brief theatrical run, it's now streaming exclusively through Shudder [who produced and distributed it] Trust me, it will be 95 minutes well spent - and just in case any of you think you've already had your requisite fill of Yank gore trash, permit me to take great pleasure in informing you that much like 2014's THE SCAREHOUSE [another surprise gem buried within piles of lesser efforts] it's actually Canadian! Which is what it's all aboot, so Rush off on your Zamboni, Joni, and check it oot! Eh!
Take it from me, this is a standout title which once seen, will be talked about for quite some time to come: move over Jason, Freddie, Leatherface, Michael and Jigsaw, cause there's a new kid on the [chopping] block, and his name is Johnny. [As I type, the sequel has already been announced...] Now keep walking and DON'T look behind you...and fellow Vorheesians everywhere, keep an eye out for a VERY special guest star. You read it here first. Aaaaargggg!!
For many years now, my old mate Darrell Buxton [We Belong Dead editor, lecturer, historian, author etc] and I have enjoyed a by-now-infamous 'tradition' in our dual viewing habits: essentially, what will happen is, he will see a new horror film, wax lyrical about it and widely proclaim it to be an utter mantelpiece, and then I will watch it and subsequently declare it to be unmitigated pants [that's colloquial British for "crap", in case you wondered] of the highest order.
Following which, we will then meet up in the bar of our local arthouse cinema in Derby, UK [where he screens monthly theme nights and sporadically gives quite fascinating talks on assorted horror and exploitation-related subjects] and debate it sensibly face to face without either of us losing our rag: trust me, it can be done, and much fun it is too. Indeed, since our first meeting in 2003, previous recipients of this good-cop bad-cop treatment have included such notables as 28 DAYS LATER, THE LAST HORROR MOVIE, WOLF CREEK, MUM AND DAD, KILL LIST, BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO, IN FABRIC, A GHOST STORY, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO and ENYS MEN, so you can imagine the sort of conversations we've had for two decades and counting. However, nadger me with an intravenous drip if tonight, we didn't finally break our duck and bloody well agree on something!! Quick, somebody, phone the ghost of Norris McWhirter NOW...
And what precisely, I hear you ask, was the subject of this mutual consensus? Well, put simply, it's that as far as we're both concerned, IN A VIOLENT NATURE - as screened by the man 'imself as the last of July's 'Summer Horror Day' premieres - is THE best slasher film made by human [or inhuman] hand in simply aeons. Sure, every few years, some popinjay will come along and claim that they've achieved this, but this time, they genuinely have: at time of writing, I know absolutely nothing of its director Chris Nash's background or credentials, but if this is anything to go by, he's a talent to watch for. And I indeed will.
Taking several not-so-original ideas and tropes with which most of us will be WELL more than used to by now, he's both cleverly and subtly re-invigorated [if not necessarily reinvented] them with his own unique slant: however, lest I give too much away, the most I can say is that if you want to know exactly HOW this is achieved, then you really WILL have to watch it in full. Which thankfully won't be too difficult, as following its brief theatrical run, it's now streaming exclusively through Shudder [who produced and distributed it] Trust me, it will be 95 minutes well spent - and just in case any of you think you've already had your requisite fill of Yank gore trash, permit me to take great pleasure in informing you that much like 2014's THE SCAREHOUSE [another surprise gem buried within piles of lesser efforts] it's actually Canadian! Which is what it's all aboot, so Rush off on your Zamboni, Joni, and check it oot! Eh!
Take it from me, this is a standout title which once seen, will be talked about for quite some time to come: move over Jason, Freddie, Leatherface, Michael and Jigsaw, cause there's a new kid on the [chopping] block, and his name is Johnny. [As I type, the sequel has already been announced...] Now keep walking and DON'T look behind you...and fellow Vorheesians everywhere, keep an eye out for a VERY special guest star. You read it here first. Aaaaargggg!!
statistics: Posted by Wyngarde — 10:34 PM - 1 day ago — Replies 0 — Views 88