An American Classic with a French twist! Leatherface

leatherface

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) is my favorite horror film of all time. It was one of the only films outlawed by Dad when growing up. I remember seeing it for the first time at a sleepover my friends house. I was entranced by the raw execution and it's documentary like feel. Needless to say I became an instant fan.  The film is a foundation for backwoods BBQ horror and is just as pertinent today as the day it was released in 1974. I'm always very excited when a new entry comes out.


Although, the quality of the franchise is all over the place. Each of the entries including even New Beginning hold a special place in my horror heart. So even after the slight Disappointment that Texas Chainsaw 3D was. I was still excited to find out they were working on a sequel. And when I first heard the filmmakers of the brilliant French horror film Inside were taking the reigns. The possibilities were endless to me and the excitement overbearing.

Of course I reeled in my expectations. I mean let's face it, most films are more than a bit disappointing nowadays. Also, most of the time when foreign genre directors make their domestic debut, the results are underwhelming (Ring 2, Grudge, Messengers, Eye, etc.). There is of course, that rare exception, when it all comes together. And from what I've heard so far, it seems that it has. Premiering a few weeks ago at a London's Frightfest, the film received stellar reviews with critics saying "it's the best entry since the first".  A bold statement no doubt, but if anyone could pull it off, these guys could. Everything in their portfolios pegs them for being a great choice to takeover the franchise. From their stylish execution to their slow build up of classic suspense, creative storylines and grotesque payoffs.


Julian Maury and Alexandre Bustillo


Julian Maury and Alexandre Bustillo met each other through a mutual friend and began working on their first movie Inside. Centering on a pregnant woman who is attacked by an assailant who wants to cut out her baby. There is of course a bit more to it but I won't spoil. I will however say that if you haven't seen this, you're missing out. It's ultraviolent and exquisitely stylish with some of the most surprising, gut wrenching scenes ever put on film. Inside was controversial upon release but was well received by critics and fans. It still stands as one of my favorite films and a sparkling example of what the genre can be. Check out the trailer below.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibP9PUdEmwk


Following that success, the cinematic floodgates opened up to them. They were attached to Halloween 2 (Which Rob Zombie would go on to direct) and a remake of Hellraiser. In both cases they left the projects over creative differences. Ultimately they followed up with a movie entitled Livid.  Centering on a group of teens who break into a mansion of an old, sick woman and discover that it's inhabited by creatures who feed on blood. Although visually entrancing it lacked the punch of their first feature. The film wasn't received as enthusiastically as they struggled to maintain creative control throughout and ultimately felt unsatisfied with the finished project.


Their next move was a smaller production Among the Living. That film centers on a group of young kids skipping school who come across a large man in a clown mask dragging a bloodied woman from a car. This is the film that really starts to show that these filmmakers have the goods for Leatherface. The film exposes their grittier side, has a deeper storyline and sheds new light on what they are capable of. Although it's a French Horror film it does have a sort of distinct "American" feel. Taut and edge of your seat Among the Living never reaches the heights of their first feature but is nightmarish and confident.


After the film's successful debut they were hired to helm the Leatherface prequel. Upon reading the script, the duo admired the fresh take on the franchise as it veered from the expected formula. The producers were impressed as well saying "They had a perfect vision for the film".  Armed with a studio size budget and more resources than they could hope for they began.


Leatherface
Instead of following standard slasher movie tropes Leatherface works more as a horrific road movie. Blending the western and horror genres. It centers around a nurse being kidnapped and tortured by a group of escaped mental patients. All the while they are hunted by a vengeful sheriff and his posse because they are responsible for killing his daughter. Eventually they come upon the sadistic family and we ultimately see the creation of our iconic killer. The film stars Stephen Dorff (Blade), Finn Jones (Game of Thrones), Sam Strike (EastEnders) and Lily Taylor (The Conjuring).

Shot in Bulgaria over a very compact twenty seven days. The film was originally supposed to be released in October of 2016. The film was however delayed because of release strategies and date issues. Finally it is currently debuting on Direct TV platforms on September 21st with a limited theatrical and VOD release October 20th. Sadly, this is the first film in the franchise to not receive a wider berth. Check out the awesome red band trailer below.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbhOWHvrnto


Future


Following Leatherface the two are set to direct a segment for the French Horror anthology Paris, I'll kill you. and than who knows what else, the sky is the limit for these talented modern day masters of the genre. I'd personally like to see them take a crack at a Purge sequel.

Leatherface stands to be a very exciting venture. It's an impressive sign that they took two brilliant French film makers and put them at the helm of a traditionally "American" for lack of a better term slasher franchise. It's no doubt that the film will be divisive amongst fans as they always are. But whether it's bad (Which I don't think it will be) or amazing, it will certainly be something fresh and interesting. Something the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise and well let's face it almost every horror pic coming out nowadays desperately needs.

Friend Request

Friend Request is the type of film that doesn't resonate much after seeing it. It does however offer up enough quality jolts to merit a recommendation. It's nothing like Unfriended ( Although I didn't hate that) of which I'm sure it will be constantly compared to. Instead of being gimmicky and goofy the film tries it's best to graduate old school teen horror to the techno age. It's a valiant effort and it mostly meets it's ambitions.


The film centers on a young woman named Laura played by Alycia Debnam-Carey of "Fear the Walking Dead". She's the type of character whose nice enough to reach out to the school outcast. Enter Marina, who is stereotypically weird with her black clothes and edgy artwork.
Marina, almost immediately becomes obsessive. She begins contacting Laura aggressively and begins to act erratically. Feeling as though she may have a stalker on her hands she tries to push the girl away nicely but it doesn't work. It culminates to a freak out by both girls and she is unfriended. Marina than commits suicide and posts it on Laura's page.

From this point on, things get very interesting. Marina is some sort of witch and her spirit has been transferred into the internet, with the promise of making Laura feel exactly as she did. Soon after Laura's friends begin to die in grotesque ways and the posts just keep on coming and people keep on deleting her. Eventually Laura begins putting the pieces together with her creepy friend Kobe (a tech whiz) and tries to unravel the mystery before it's too late. It all leads up to a surprisingly dark finale with some nasty twists.


Friend Request won't be winning any awards but it does manage to elevate the sum of it's parts. What separates Friend Request from being total rubbish is it's dark execution and genuine performances. Rated R, the film has spots of surprisingly gruesome terror.

Alycia Debnam-Carey (Fear the Walking Dead) is solid in the lead. Even when her character isn't being the smartest or nicest person she's likable and you feel her desperation. The supporting actors are fine all around but Brooke Markham who plays Isabel is a stand out. Her part isn't as developed as I would have liked. But she adds a charismatic zest to the proceedings bringing an emotional urgency usually uncommon with teen genre fare.


The direction from Simon Verhoven is ambitious and confident. He feels his way around the story and paces the film so that it's never boring. There are some great choices here. The dark cinematography enhances the fear quotient. And the overall atmosphere of dread keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I won't say that Friend Request is great, it certainly has it's flaws. At times it can feel a little juvenile and the villain unfortunately feels two dimensional and not very developed. In the end it's a mostly solid genre entry, managing to bring a refreshingly creepy spin on the formula.
Friend Request is currently in theaters and deserves a look.


Check out the creepy little trailer below.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDNgs0dgjj4


Friend Request Entertainment One 2017 Color/B&W Alycia Debnam-Carey, William Moseley, Connor Paolo, Brit Morgan, Brooke Markham and Liesl Ahlers star. Written and Directed by Simon Verhoven. Rated   R for language, violence and gore. *

Jeepers creepers 3, is it worth the wait?

JEEPERS CREEPERS 3

I consider myself to be a fan of the Jeepers Creepers franchise. I saw the original and it's sequel in my early twenties. It was scary and fun and a little disturbing.  It's been 14 yrs. since we saw the release of the last Jeepers Creepers film. And I've been feigning. That fun but overly mediocre sequel didn't leave much room for the franchise to go. As it took place on the last day of the creatures feeding and than 23 yrs. later as an old man awaits vengeance. So finally we have  Jeepers Creepers 3 .


Jeepers Creepers has never been the most solid franchise. The original is great but far from flawless. It's a very unique take on the road trip horror flick. Well executed with some great gore and solid performances and just a tinge of homo-eroticism. Hello, Justin Long's rose tattoo by his belly button, the creeper smelling his pink dyed dirty under wear, etc.


Followed by Jeepers Creepers 2. A fun but unnecessary sequel.  It has a slew of hokier characters.  Which include a psychic cheerleader, a character of questionable sexual orientation nicknamed Izzy or Izzy'nt he? Oh and a ton more homo-eroticism. Lots of guys urinating together, sunbathing on the roof of a broken down bus and talking very closely.

So now all this time later we finally have a sequel. The big question of course if was it worth the wait? Well I'm sad to say, no. Although not a bad film, it's definitely the worst of the bunch. Still there is enough here to merit a light recommend. From some well timed jump scares to some cool twists, solid performances and creative mythology. It offers audiences more than most studio films being released.


Picking up right after the events of the original. Following when Darry played by Justin Long was taken. As the police run around in circles a mysterious man pulls up. Sheriff Tashtego played with a macho but likable zest by Stan Shaw. He quickly makes sure the others know he is aware of the creature and what has happened there. Because him and a small group of survivors are out for vengeance, after what had happened twenty three years prior.


As we move along we meet Addison Brandon played impressively by Gabrielle Haugh. A young woman whose living with her seemingly crazy grandmother played by a feisty Meg Foster. She is visited daily by her son's ghost. He was murdered during the last feeding cycle. But before he died he buried something of the creature's that it's coming back for. In a brief flashback we discover that the creature lost one of it's hands. And if you come in contact with it and touch, it comes to life and reveals it's origin.

There's plenty of showdowns as the creature collects victims to replace the ones he lost at the cathedral. But this taking place in between the first and second. You realize that this will come to an unsatisfying conclusion. There is a definite focusing on expanding the mythology of the creature and it's appliances so to speak. The car becomes an entity all it's own with some crazy booby traps. As well as some creative weaponry that seems to think on it's feet. That being said, a good sequel will move the franchise forward. And although their are some creative touches, this just doesn't.
There's plenty to like about this entry. It's got some great cinematography. Sweeping shots of gorgeous landscapes and creepy houses. As well as some claustrophobic ones of the Creeper attacking. The film unfortunately is suffering greatly from budgetary constraints. Many of the deaths happen off camera as well as some of the events. The digital effects are a little silly and outdated. Coming off unintentionally funny at times. As does some of the practical work which includes a very fake eyeball.


There are solid performances from Gabrielle Haught, Meg Foster, Stan Shaw and Brandon Smith elevating the material. The direction by Salva is solid as usual but there are some slight pacing issues and the finale or lack there of feels very anti climactic. There is also just a bit too much slow motion. Although I really appreciate the decision to make most of the action happen during the day. It lends the film a refreshing quality and still manages to be creepy.
It all culminates in a mostly disappointing fashion that has you wondering if they even were able to complete filming. Gina Phillips shows up as a now grown up Trish waiting for the creature's arrival to avenge her brother. The idea is great. It's just handled in such a hammy fashion with smirk worthy dialogue.


Jeepers Creepers 3 is a film stuffed with so much potential that never comes to fruition. It feels a bit shorted and kind of like a pilot episode to a new TV series. Missing is a sense of urgency, so prominent in the other films. Still its entertaining and offers you a bit more insight into the Creeper. And by the way, Johnathan Breck adds some much needed charisma and Humanity to his starring role. Making the main villain feel way more memorable. The action sequences are mostly impressive and the film manages to introduce some solid characters and ending it all with an expected by clever twist. So do you need to see this is theaters? Probably not. It's a little too SYFY movie of the week in spots. But all in all you could do much worse say like the cinematic trash fest The Mummy.
If you're still dying to see Jeepers Creepers 3. Lucky for you and Unlucky for those of us who paid. The movie will premiere on the SYFY channel on Saturday, October 28th. 28TH. It's a fathom event. Otherwise it hits VOD and Disc on December 26th, 2017. Check out the short trailer below.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpzzrqJi6ko


Jeepers Creepers 3 American Zoetrope 2017 Color 97 Mins. Horror/Thriller Gina Philips Meg Foster Jonathan Breck, Stan Shaw, Joyce Giraud Carrie Lazar, Gabrielle Haugh, Chester Rushing, Ryan Moore and Jordan Salloum star. Written and Directed by Victor Salva. N/R contains language, violence and gore. ***/5