I saw this film when it first came out on DVD. Me and a group of friends rented it out from Blockbusters. The girls really didn't like the sound of it at all, but it was our turn to chose. (And we had been subjected to what i would say is much more horrific - a ROMANTIC COMEDY!!)
So we got it back and chucked it in the DVD player, everyone getting comfortable, with the lights off setting the scene for the film and making sure we was in the right environent. Being a horror film, this is obviously the best way to watch it. Even better, on your own in your house late at night, thats the best way!
The film itself follows a filmmaker and wedding photographer who is bored of his current lifestyle and wants something interesting and exciting to do. However, the things that interest and excite him, are somewhat different to the interests of most of us. He enjoys sadistic, slightly ritualistic, horrific, random acts of cruelty and murder to absolutely anyone. Ranging from traffic wardens to housewives.
Each gruesome act is documented
on his home video camera, held by his terrified, yet intrigued and i would say, possibly innocent, assistant. We witness a series of horrific acts, performed by Max. The lead character. The murders start of simple and slowly, and as he gradually grows in confidence they become worse and worse. One of his victims is bludgeoned to death with a frying pan in their own home. This is perhaps the scariest part of the film. The fact that the majority of the murders are actually performed in familiar homely surroundings to the victim. Each of us know our own homes exactly, and to think that someone coulc hide in it and kill us is very haunting. This thought is provoked very well by the director and the way in which it is filmed. Many of the murders look very sketchy, but also maticulously planned at the same time. With the usage of the home video camera illustrating this very well.
Perhaps the most haunting scene in the whole of the film, is not a murder, its not gruesome and its not sadistic in any way at all. We see a small glimpse of Max's family life. Visting his son at home with his ex partner. These two obviously don't get on but they have a unity in their son. The video camera is still following Max, which illustrates his obsession with documenting everything that he is doing. The twist is that we know what has been going on with the video camera, and his family have absolutely no idea, and believe the innocent excuses that he tells them. After all, why woud they think he is a sadistic serial killer? He is a middle class man who seems happy with his career and lifestyle.
Max's psychopathic tendancies are illustrated throughout the film, but he also feels very human aswell, there is a strange mix of emotions felt towards him when you watch this film. He is very manipulative and seems to persuade you that what he is doing is not wrong at all. But you can see he is quite evil when he tries to get his assistant to commit a murder. Which does not happen, and leads to quite a funny scene of dialogue between the 2. And ending in max committing one of his most horrific murders. Not quite as horrific as when he set a man on fire in his own home though.
The ending has a massive twist to it and i am going to reveal it, so if you do not want to know then please do not read on as it is a SPOILER!!!
The end shows a couple, going into a rental store and picking up a dvd that they would like to watch. (Probably a ROM-COM) getting home to watch it, and it has been replaced with the film that Max had been making, he taped over a film he rented in the first place. Just as you realise this. The same view from the homemade camera is viewing them from outside. The film comes full circle, and it sends a chill down your spine. He could be watching you as yopu watch the film.
Personally, i think that there would be no way of Max knowing who had rented the film out and when they had rented it, or even where they live. So this is a bit unrealistic, the only part of the film that is. As everything else is so believable, because of the brilliant acting.
The film is also very low budget. Obviously it is meant to look like this, But you can tell when a film genuninely is low budget rather than a bigger film pretending to be. Im not sure if this is a good or a bad thing, but it definitely works for the film. This is probably because it is an independent film and these tend not to have a massive hollywood style budget.
Overall it is a very good film and i would definitely reccommend it to people who like horror films, and like to be scared. I found it for £5.99 on PowerPlayDirect using WWW.FIND-DVD.CO.UK.
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Production Year: 2000 - Horror - Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Carmen Electra, Anna Faris, Kurt Fuller, James Van Der Beek, Keenen Ivory Wayans
Advantages: Damn scary, intelligent and very well made for a horror film Disadvantages: A little difficult to take the rotating head seriously i'm afraid!
JSpencer 23.07.2000 ·
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