Masters of Horror: Homecoming

I've been listen to a number of old and current podcasts lately that have talked about this episode of Masters of Horror. One podcast raved about it while another wants to kick Joe Dante in the balls for making such a heavy handed political statement in an otherwise good zombie flick. Personally I just want to kick Joe Dante in the balls for not respecting the very people he is writing about. What do i mean by this, well here's a quick run down of the plot and I'll tell you where he went unforgivably wrong.


Here's the brief synopsis from Netflix:

"In the politicized chiller Homecoming, dead soldiers come back to life to get in one last word -- by voting in the presidential election. While the U.S. is at war overseas, a political puppet says it'd be great if the martyrs of war could return to express their gratitude for serving their country. Unfortunately, he gets his wish, and the dead aren't all that grateful."


The political puppet beign spoke of is David Murch who is a political consultant for the President of the United States. He also brings up his deceased brother who was killed in Viet Nam. This little bit add a small side story and my biggest complaint. Murch and his mother go to his brother's grave and it clearly says "Lance Corporal Phillip Murch". Later (SPOILER ALERT) when his brother comes back he is wearing an Army uniform with a big 1st Calvary patch on his left arm.

Call any Marine and Soldier and your libel to get a swift kick in the rear.

I grew up in a military town. My father, uncle and two of my cousin are Marines. I have several friends in various branches of the military all of whom have been to various parts of the Middle East. So it pisses me off when a director can't take 20 mintues out of the day to fix something that anyone who has ever been close to the military would notice.

You can say it's trivial but for me, it matters.

Deadgirl

There has been strong reaction in the horror world over Deadgirl and rightfully so. I listened to the podcasts that hailed this movie as a must see for all horror fan and read the blogs that said this movie is disgusting, vile and should have never been made. Thanks to Netflix Watch Instantly feature I was able to see this film and judge for myself.

Deadgirl is the story of JT and Rickie, two high school aged boys and best friends. They are the loser, stoner kids from broken homes who, one fateful day cuts class and decided to go drink some beer in an abandon asylum. After exploring the asylum while breaking things and vandalizing it they decide to explore the basment area. It is behind a locked, rusted door they find the Deadgirl strapped to a table and covered by a clear plastic sheet.

I could go into the character development and the moral and ethical choices that were made by each character, but I thought the ending was kind of predictable when I sat and thought about it for a minute. What else would the viewer expect would happen to Rickie in that given situation?

The thing about Deadgirl that struck me was The Deadgirl herself. Jenny Spain plays The Deadgirl, a grunting, growling ferral creature that still somehow seems more human than the boys. The thing is, had The Deadgirl not been dead, but mearly a girl strapped to a table that these boys came across Jenny Spain might be up for an Oscar for best actress. But throw in the blatant necrophilia and many critics and some audiences run the other way screaming in terror.

Don't get me wrong, this was not easy to watch from the safety and comfort of my own couch. I can only imagine the embarrassment and awkwardness of watching this film in a crowded theater. There were scenes that made bile rise in my throat. Several times I had to stop myself from turning it off altogether. However, I'm glad I didn't. It's taken several days to be able to put into words my gut reaction to this movie and I still don't think I can say what I want to say about it.

This movie is unflinching in it's cruelty and inhumanity that is perpetrated by the humans. This is one of the best movies I have ever scene. This is not a zombie film, this is not a horror film in the classic or even modern sense. This film is scary as hell and a must see.

Mum & Dad

I recently had the dis/pleasure of watching MUM & DAD, the 2008 British release from Director Steven Sheil. This movie is dark, gory and uncomfortable to watch at times which only add to the intensity of the film.

The plot follows Lena, a Polish immigrant who works as a cleaning lady at an airport with the talkative Birdie and her shy brother Elbie. One night Lena misses her bus home and Birdie offers to take Lena home to her house. Shortly after arriving Lena is knocked unconscious and given an injection in the throat. Lena wakes to a woman screaming and discovers that she is chained to a bed and unable to talk. This is where we first meet Mum & Dad. Mum enters and tells Lena stay calm, that getting upset excites Dad, who is covered in blood and breathing heavy. Mum tells Lena that as long as she is with her, Dad won't hurt her. Lena is injected with something to put her to sleep and when she wakes she is tied to a frame and Mum begins to "play" with her by carving into her skin.

On our first real introduction to Dad Lena is escorted by the family into his playroom. He has his back to them while masturbating and it's not until he's finished that we see he was using more than his favorite hand. He tells Lena that she may belong to Mum but that this is his house and his rules and if she fails to make Mum happy she will have to deal with him.

Our next scene has Lena joining the family for breakfast, which seems pretty normal except for the porno on the t.v. and Birdie placing her stolen goods into a cookie jar.

This film is disturbing on many levels. Elbie and Birdie are Mum & Dad's adoptive "children" yet they seem ready to follow in their "parent's" footsteps. There are blatant overtones of cannibalism, incest, and necrophilia. And a demented Christmas scene that might actually be normally dysfunctional save then decorations and the gifts. In this scene we also get the back story on Mum & Dad's biological child referred to as "the Spastic."

This film leaves you on the edge of your seat hoping that Lena will escape, cringing at the various acts and antic of this family. When it finally all comes to a head I can only think to compare it too the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre without the twirling killer. tension is built by the lack of any music and the only background noise is the sound of passing planes and a heavy electrical hum which only add to making us feel Lena's desolation and terror.

This film is not for the faint of heart. If the torture porn genre doesn't appeal to you leave this one on the shelf.