I don't watch cheap thrash too often. It usually seems to me not funny, but absurd. But the description of this picture I liked, as promised to be fun and show various monsters. Of course, I did not expect to see a high-quality picture, but I would not refuse to look at people in costumes.
Plot
A TV show hosts fights between terrifying creatures who come from all over the world to show their power. The viewer will be presented with 8 different monsters and their struggle for the championship.
Of course, this film has a lot of originality. I've never seen a picture like this before. But because of the limited means and not too competent disposal of the creators, we have what we have.
The horror film is very cheap. The picture on the screen directly screams about how gray and poor she is. I think she's even proud of her dubious quality. But it's not boring. It will keep the viewer awake. There is always something happening on the screen. Someone will be eaten, then killed, then the commentator will joke unsuccessfully. In general, the performance is good and can entertain bored people.
Acting game
The acting is similar in this film to epileptic seizures. The epileptic suffers from seizures. And actors are tormented in their attempts to show strong emotions. It looks ridiculous, but they do it in places. Even in one place I let down a tear.
Monsters
As expected, the monsters in this film are people in simple costumes or cheap makeup. But they look very funny. He doesn't vomit. Everything is very simple and simple.
Result
This is not the worst movie yet. He is saved by originality and a frivolous attitude to what is happening. He can really lift the mood. Is a good mood not enough for happiness?
5 out of 10
They have existed for centuries, hiding in darkness. There are stories and myths about them. We have nightmares about them. It is time to decide the fate of these monsters.
Once upon a time there was a thrash about cannibals called “Turn There: Escape”, and it was shot by two ambitious guys – Jesse T. Cook and John Geddes. The joint project gave me a very negative impression. Then Cook and Geddes continued to cooperate in different categories. In Battle of Monsters, Geddes is only one of the producers and actors of the project, and Cook directs, produces, and is responsible for editing and part of the script. But these are all formalities. What is the horror story?
"Battle of Monsters" is thrash again. Most Internet residents under this video in the comments usually write: “Well, what kind of g... I have never seen such a thing, but it should be forbidden. So if you're a layman who's used to putting labels on everything you see, go by, you're not here. And the film, meanwhile, is not as terrible as it could be. It is not even partially devoid of dynamics and originality.
Fighting without rules between various monsters is an unusual entertainment. We really didn’t know that, we didn’t know that! The two presenters frantically comment on what is happening; somewhere stuck wrestling manager, supervisor, composer and musician Jimmy Hart in the role of himself with two model girls, dummies and a mouthpiece; and the ring, standing in the middle of the scenery of the cemetery, becomes a hot field on which the battle for death unfolds – and the final and irrevocable death.
I liked that the plot is unpredictable, and it is interesting to follow the fights, since the winner is often not who they initially think. But, seriously speaking, the horror movie resembles a ridiculous cabbage, where old acquaintances (a la failed theatrical actors of ten roles) are struggling to have fun, wearing heavy monster costumes. In addition, the impression was spoiled by the finale, refuting a quite reasonable saying: "The winners are not judged." History desperately do not want to end, despite the fact that it is long overdue, and in the end the end remains completely open and in a bad way unexpected.
Jesse T. Cook's second directorial project won't disappoint only the desperate thrash lovers. I consider it a failed attempt to present us with an original horror comedy, in the creation of which the authors often did not know the measure or simply did not want to notice it.
4 out of 10
Obviously, this film does not pretend to be a real horror movie. This is still half the trouble, because in the genres of horror comedy and parody of horrors, there are also sometimes good examples. But "Battle of Monsters" is not one of them. However, we cannot say that this is absolutely disgusting and worthless work, since some of its moments can really amuse us (for example, a fragment stylized as a naturalist’s diaries about the life and habits of the “swamp devil”). But, believe me, even the first series of "Scary Movie" on this background look funnier, and if you want humor and real horrors at the same time - so welcome to the film studio Troma.
What is “Battle of Monsters”? This is not even a film, but a reportage from an unusual sports competition, in which mythical creatures and classic horror characters converge on the ring: cyclops, witch, mummy, vampire, werewolf, water, zombie and Frankenstein monster. Each of these characters has a mini-story that tells how he got into the tournament. In general, a kind of variation on the theme of Mortal Kombat (even "fatalities" will be - all fights here are fatal). Backstory of the appearance of fighters at the tournament can be called mini-parodies on films of various genres. And the whole picture, probably (but I certainly can’t be completely sure of that) was intended to chill out the popular wrestling culture in the United States. In one of the roles here even takes one of her famous representatives, Kevin Nash.
In general, it is only 1% horror, and the other 99 - comedy. Not very funny, though. To be honest, yes, it was one of those movies that is worth watching only when there is absolutely nothing else to watch. In this case, it is probably better to read the book. But at least you, my readers, will now know which way to look. The time spent watching this movie was not wasted.
But it could come out a good movie, which, despite the general absurdity of the plot could "shot." It turned out this in the case of such a movie as “Santa for sale” where from an absurd short film managed to make a movie that was able to find its viewer and draw the attention of horror lovers to Scandinavia.
But, unfortunately, as a result, we got, albeit funny, but the craft to call “this” a movie language does not turn. Perhaps a larger budget, with the involvement of wrestling superstars besides Kevin Nesh and Robert Maillet, would attract the attention of fans of this “sport”. Also, it would not spoil at least some special effects and dynamics in the plot. But as we can see, it didn't work out. I doubt that any of the producers will spend at least one Canadian dollar on the continuation of this film.
Well, to talk about acting, “picture” and so on in this case is pointless. Look at your fear and risk, if you don’t mind your time.
5 out of 10
Frankenstein vs Werewolf vs Mummy vs Swamp Monster
It turned out to be so ridiculous nonsense that it is even bad to call it not a hunt. And in general, what can be demanded from a comedy horror movie with penny investments and rubber costumes of famous monsters. Battle of Monsters is not a bad movie. The bad thing is where they would try, where there are complaints, and in the end it still sucks on which it is a pity to waste time. The work of the Canadian director T. Cook, apparently, was created by people who had one funny idea. Bring such monsters as Frankenstein, mummy, werewolf, swamp creature, etc., into the ring to fight with each other! At the same time, of course, do not remove it in full seriousness, but how to mock and only.
The ridiculous rubber outfits of the “actors”, their manner of movement and howling will make anyone who has watched the original films with these notorious monsters laugh. The idea of getting them to fight in the ring is absurd. The organizers of the show, which is especially fun, all understood this, so they used all their cunning and enterprise to make the audience see the “epic battles”. They look like some kind of porn director, to help the host even presented two talentless dolls, which throughout the show stand and curve the same way. In short, it is clear that “Battle of Monsters” was filmed somewhere in the backyard, at best in a rented pavilion for a couple of days. Costumes and makeup are kept at the level of 60-70s.
There is even some nostalgia when watching. And if you perceive this movie as, most likely, and conceived its authors, you will not even regret the time spent. At least, they adhered to the classic images of monsters, not showing off and not inventing idiotic variations in the spirit of the latest fantastic blockbusters, where everything is drawn and completely unimpressive. It’s been a long time since such comedies came across, but for the video segment they are still probably needed. Nothing to watch in cinemas and tired of monotonous stamping, which are always trying to catch up with the drama? Try to watch the Battle of Monsters! This is not only a good opportunity to laugh at the ridiculous and rather brutal fights in the ring. After watching, you realize that most of the average films at the box office are actually shot very well.
In my opinion – a very cheap and downright unique comedy horror. Or a horror comedy.