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Eddie (2012)
Intellectual, Artsy, Gory.
When I glanced at the subject line in my email for this particular screener, thinks got a little...judgmental. I couldn't help but immediately cull the idea of sitting through a Tromaesque splat fest with dick and fart jokes thrown in for good measure. In actuality, I was almost dreading the 1 hour and 22 minute viewing. I've never been one to jump aboard much of Troma's library post 1989. Sure there were a few that stood above the rest (Def By Temptation, Terror Firmer, Citizen Toxie), yet for every 2 or 3 decent Troma films, a plethora of garbage lay in wait. Troma's shortcomings aside, "Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal" (NOT affiliated with Troma by the way) is nothing short of brilliant.
Lars Olafssen (played by the always profound Thure Lindhardt) is a famous painter on the downward spiral from his once illustrious career. Once a world-class name in the art scene, Lars has never recovered from a traumatic accident that happened over a decade ago, causing his art and his validity to suffer tremendously. With his next painting endeavor in an unforeseen limbo, Lars' art dealer, Ronny (Stephen McHattie of Pontypool fame) arranges for him to teach at an art school in a small, Canadian town named Koda Lake, in hopes of sparking that famous creativity. It is here that Lars meets Lesley (Georgina Reilly) who, although standoffish and unimpressed at first, can't help but become starstruck and charmed by Lars' presence. Lars is also introduced to Eddie (the impressive Dylan Scott Smith) who is an enigma at first glance. Eddie's aunt (now deceased) was a very important contributor to the art school's continuing existence and would continue to contribute (post death) if Eddie was properly taken care of. Lars, although somewhat reluctant at first, agrees to house Eddie. What Lars is unaware of is Eddie's obscure sleepwalking disorder which transforms him from shy, introvert art student into ravenous. unstoppable flesh-eater.
"Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal" ('Eddie') is one of those rare, iconoclastic horror films that intellectually blends competent black humor with strong, emotionally endearing characters in the vein of "Shaun of the Dead". There are many laugh out loud moments that do not over-insert themselves amid the natural comedic progression and drama. The comedy is smart and used in very precise increments to pad out the film's bleak overtones. It's very easy to find oneself simultaneously laughing and covering widening grins in disgust. "Eddie" is a film rich in humor and emotional parody yet its true strengths lie in its ability to create polarizing views of both Eddie and Lars at very crucial moments of the film.
Eddie is very likable and breadth for empathy; more akin to Frankenstein's Monster. His true nature is affable, protective, and curious. It is because of his good-nature and dour, puppy dog eyes that the viewer is easy to invest emotionally into his character. It is very hard to "not like" Eddie as he clutches his cereal box to his chest in comfort, as it is when he is ripping someone's head off and devouring their blood. To see Eddie smile melts the heart with joviality; to see Eddie devour human flesh ushers in sentiments of pity and sorrow. It helps to know that Eddie's cannibalistic tendencies are very controllable (after a certain time) and are used in somewhat of a defense mechanism to trauma. A happy Eddie is a not-so-hungry Eddie.
When it comes to Lars, you cannot help but be charmed. Although somewhat defeated and looking for that creative spark, he still holds passion in his eyes. His humanitarianism isn't lost within his steadily declining fame also. He yearns to become accepted at the school and as his relationship with Eddie solidifies (albeit in a very bloody way), his desire to create art coincides with his desire to help the school financially. Lars is yet another great example of a polarizing character that tends to inebriate the viewer with strong, empathetic emotions with traces of hope and renewal. His relationship with Eddie before, during, and after the cannibalistic endeavors is treated with kid gloves at points but comes to a header when Lars realizes that Eddie is very happy with him which, in turn, causes the cannibalism and creative juices from flowing. The method Lars uses to coax the cannibal back out of Eddie is very heart wrenching, yet the sympathy for Lars never falters.
"Eddie" is a film derived from the very essence of the artistic expression. Filmmakers, artists, musicians, and the like all can take a piece of this films quintessence and envelope themselves into a whirlwind of collective emotions. Boris Rodriguez is a very competent filmmaker who has a very strong eye for the beautiful and the mystic. He uses the camera to shrewdly hide some of the more extreme gore so as to not promote it in importance but to merely use it in collaboration with his protagonists struggle of morality. It is this struggle alone that links us and binds us to the fabric of the film...our own artistic voices are on display for us to dissect and (if applicable) absolve.
To kako (2005)
28 Days Later Greek Style...
~~WARNING! THE FOLLOWING REVIEW MAY OR MAY NOT CONTAIN SPOILERS. USE YOUR OWN JUDGEMENT WHEN DETERMINING A SPOILER~~
First off, can anyone say 28 Days Later? This movie reeks (pun intended) of the international hit by Danny Boyle. From the surreal haunting music, the camera work involving abandoned shots of Downtown Athens (more notably the train track sequence when heading to the army.), and the red first person perspective of the zombies as they chase their prey. As far as originality goes, the story is part of the same that has been about through the ages. A group of strangers caught up in a diabolical plague set forth to find others as well as make it out of the infested city and to the country. The Gore meter is maxed out with plenty of visceral decapitations, disembowelment's, and gut munching mayhem. Though effective throughout the movie, the effects seem rather comical and cheesy because they are so overdone. And lets not forget the ever so clever comedic performance that are never absent when it comes to a gore-fest zombie movie. There are some pretty snappy one liners and some scenes just make you laugh out loud. Keep an eye on the cabbie throughout the movie as the laughs usually emit from him. A fairly decent cast with some rough "Follow me if you want to live." action lines that could have not been inserted into the already fast paced action. Tough guy and girl antics run amuck. Some unsuspecting scenes really catch you off guard during the duration of the movie, which makes it not only a action oriented horror movie, but gives elements of suspense. If you think you know whats going to happen during this movie I can tell you that you're wrong from the start. Abolutley GOREgeous shots of Athens abandoned. Some notably scenes are: THE RESTAURANT
ALLEY WAY WITH THE WATER PIPE
THE SOCCER STADIUM
All in all this movie garnered a 7 overall for mostly the 28 Days Later atmosphere which really wasn't a fantastic choice to base your movie on. Although the Evil Dead and Dead Alive references totally undertake the negative.
Redneck Zombies (1989)
Fantastic 80s Gore!
This movie is a one of a kind laugh-fest that has the gore for the horror aficionados. The smallest of small things make me laugh. From the zombies burping after a heavy meal to the witty one liners that, although sometimes asinine, can still create a chuckle from the lax viewer. Ferd Mertz (Bucky Santini) is by far the winner here when it comes to the laughs. A great way to spend a good night and to introduce people to the bizarre and obscure. Totally cheesy but all in good fun! There are really no blatant cliché moments in this one that leave you scratching your head and wondering if your intelligence has been insulted. Redneck Zombies is not suppose to be taken seriously. Anyone who does is obviously watching this movie for all the wrong reasons. Highly recommended if you can find a place that carries it. If not there is always Amazon.