Troma's big daddy
Phil started off the month with a review of Darren Lynn Bousman’s remake of MOTHER’S DAY. Now Chad’s written a companion piece with his look at Troma’s FATHER’S DAY. As it’s Mother’s Day today, we at DE wish all the moms out there a happy one, and that you enjoy Chadworth’s review.
Normally when I write reviews for Death Ensemble, I usually pick movies from the late 70s to the mid 90s. And usually they’re just so awful, that they deserve a very good tongue lashing and verbal beatdown. I mean come on, if SANTA’S SLAY doesn’t deserve about an hour in the corner with a dunce cap on, I don’t know what does. In all fairness, while most of these movies suck, I do try to make sure I write a review with as much love as I can(just wait for the PAPERBOY review. You’ll see what I mean).
But, today is a review of a movie that really blew me away. And there are few reasons why this is unusual for me:
It’s from the past year.
It’s a GREAT indie movie. Like really great.
It’s not an obscure slasher movie.
The movie that I’m referring to is one of the more controversial movies in horror in the past few years, Troma’s FATHER’S DAY. It’s a small movie that has caused quite the stir around the horror community. A lot of people hate it and a lot of people love it. Quite frankly, it’s a movie that has no middle ground. Which is quite sad considering how original and unique it is. I think a lot of people are missing out and I guess it’s going to be my job today to try my hardest to convince them that it’s worth their time and hard earned cash.
So let’s begin…
Adam Brooks is an indie filmmaker who seems to be a jack of all trades. He’s a writer, actor, editor, producer. and even a stunt man. Along with his collaborators Jeremy Gillespie, Matthew Kennedy, and others jointly known as Astron-6, they worked their butts off to make sure they could provide a very unusual and original tribute to grindhouse/exploitation movies. Now, that’s a very common thing to do these days, but Astron-6 made it work. Even including a “trailer” of the 1970s sci-fi spectacular STAR RAIDERS. Although, the trailer for SEXY BEACH seems to have been lost in the sands of time…
So once I got into the movie, I realized it’s quite…different. But, let’s face it, different can be good, and in this case it’s great. And when you have a movie about a father-killing rapist, it doesn’t get much more different. Yes. You read that right. The movie revolves around a string of father’s being slain and raped.
Wait, don’t leave…I can explain…
Ready to hunt down a father rapist/ killer
The movie indeed revolves around a father raping serial killer, but it makes it very entertaining (this is where Phil will post his disclaimer how this review doesn’t represent DE. Ed. note—Phil will do no such thing. We’re open to individual thought here, even if he doesn’t necessarily agree—P.F.). Without giving too much away, I will say this movie blends everything you want in a horror movie very well. Humor, big boobs, great character, great death scenes, a lot of gore, and a fun soundtrack.
That said, the characters of Twink, Ahab, and Father John Sullivan (the Astron-6 crew themselves!) all team up to hunt down the blood hungry father-killer. With three very different personalities and very bizarre characteristics, they make one heckuva team. All three characters have their own deep rooted problems and issues, that for a normal comedy/horror movie is very unusual to have. That said, I definitely care about these characters and really want them to take down this murderous son of a bitch. Eventually, they find him and…well…can’t give it all away…
The budget of $10,000 definitely gets the A-6 team far. They were definitely able to create a movie that you can sit back and be entertained by. The soundtrack is a lot of fun to listen to. The effects, as silly as they can be, are a real hoot. Honestly, the movie plays out like HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN meets the comedy troupe Stella. The humor is very weird and off the wall. It includes a lot of puns and one-liners, which is always a plus for those viewings with their friends when they exchange lines back and forth.
As many have suspected, Lloyd Kaufman is Satan
I can’t really think I can convince you to see it more than that. Oh yes…Lloyd Kaufman makes a cameo as God and the Devil.
The fact is, this movie will not be enjoyed by EVERY audience. But that’s ok, those who appreciate its comedy and silliness, as well as awesome gore, can love it for what it is. A 99 minute entertaining trip you’ll never forget. Good or bad, you’ll never forget it as long as you live. And whether you believe it or not, that’s good filmmaking.
And joy of joys, this movie will be officially be released by Troma on June 12th. Just in time for that movie loving dad in our lives!
–Chad E. Young
