"Black Sheep" completely rocks its genre. Sadly, I suppose, the number of films in New Zealand horror is relatively small (though Peter Jackson's "Dead Alive" is formidable). As far as I know the sheep horror (or even general livestock horror) category is also quite small. However, films that blur the lines between comedy and horror are a lively bunch.If you are looking to be scared, then this film will probably fail. It can certainly elicit plenty of groans, ewwws, and maybe a shouted "Oh, that's just not right!", but not fear. But I laughed and laughed. And Adam did too. Any film that features repeated shots of bucolic fields of sheep---sheep grazing, sheep running with menace, sheep staring stupidly into the distance, sheep ripping and devouring flesh (complete with bloodstained wool)...well, that is a film that works for me. Throw in a few mutants, a border collie, and a short recitation from Robert Burns' "Address To a Haggis" and I am happy. The characters were pretty funny overall and the acting was fairly decent given the category. The special effects were actually well done, given what I assume is a relatively low budget. I guess having the WETA workshop people work on your film can't hurt. Overall, I had a good time watching this film.
What are my other favorites in this category?
I will always have a soft spot for the classic "Basket Case" (1982). This is another one of the films that Adam has watched with me. It is a traditional tale of a boy-man who moves to the big city to make his fortune, to find love, and to come to terms with his evil deformed twin who lives in a wicker basket. What moves this into the realm of the totally awesome is the choice to use claymation techniques. This is creepy, clayey, fun.
"Killer Klowns from Outer Space" (1988) is honestly hard to beat. If you hate clowns then this film is almost a must-see. The clowns are suitably messed up and their methods of dispatching humans are generally circus themed. I am particularly fond of the cotton candy cocoons. Our heroes include a couple of buffoons in an ice cream truck...who doesn't love an ice cream truck? And The Dickies sing the title song. Ah, the eighties.I used to like to have this playing while I worked at the video store. On one memorable night I was busy working and then I noticed that a little kid was sitting in the beanbag watching the film. I certainly wasn't expecting a kid at that hour. So my thought was something along the lines of "Oh, snap! I am sooo busted." We used to have parents complaining about how the Strawberry Shortcake video traumatized their precious snowflake and here I am essentially exposing a kid to a clown who punches a dude's head off. The kid's reply to the scene? She says in this almost perfect deadpan: "That clown is ugly. I don't like him." And she gets up and wanders off. That kid? Will always rule in my memory.
The Evil Dead movies are cult favorites for a reason. I liked all of them, but Evil Dead II (1987) is actually my favorite. "Army of Darkness" (1993) was quite popular, but it did push the comedy perhaps a touch too much. That being said, "Give me some sugar, baby" and other lines do crack me up. Bruce Campbell is in many ways the king (quite literally in "Bubba Ho Tep"--great concept, but not all that) of this genre. He handles the horror and the laughs equally well. This series can actually deliver some scares.
Shaun of the Dead (2004) is brilliant. There is some real suspense in the film, but it is the laughs that keep me coming back. Sure, the initial conceit (we're all zombies) can be seen as a bit trite, but I think it builds upon the idea quite effectively. And as a buddy picture, this is just hilarious. If you like your movies British, then this may be the top pick. Adam likes this one and put it on for us to watch last Halloween.Apparently, I could go on and on. "Slither" is gross and really funny. Though I may just be missing "Firefly." "Idle Hands" builds upon the great wisecracking zombie haunting of "American Werewolf in London" (perhaps one of the first movies of this kind that I saw) and it has Seth Green. "Reanimator" is genuinely creepy and icky in places, but it still has some scenes that make me laugh every time. I guess it may be more laughs of discomfort, but there it is. I am sure that I am forgetting a slew of titles.
It may be my love of the absurd and incongruity that draws me to this kind of film. It may be that I never quite grew out of my high school love of shock. It may be that I just like horror and the comedy is just a bonus. I suppose I could cobble together some case for catharsis. Why bother? Luckily, you don't have undergo analysis to put in a DVD. And with Halloween just a few days away it may be borderline socially acceptable.I hope that Netflix sends "Night of the Living Dorks" in time for the big day!
*UPDATE* Netflix did come through with the movie. It turns out that its actual title is "Die Nacht der Lebenden Loser." Yep, German B Horror. It started out with promise: a big "voodoo woman" torches a zombie with a flamethrower and pulls out a good old fashioned "mofo" line. But it went downhill from there. It was mostly a teen sex and bad stoner comedy with some zombie thrown in. The lead lust interest had a kind of jacked-up horsey face structure and a snaggle tooth (without the expected Uber-hot-bod to balance it). The nerds weren't all that sympathetic. The drug jokes were weak. So the only amusing part was a throwaway line during a brutal zombie rugby match about Germans never losing a war (Oh, that's right, they did). Yeah. It is that funny. Sigh. But it makes me appreciate the successful tries even more.
0 comments:
Post a Comment