In an era where binge watching is the "in" thing, a lot of TV networks and popular streaming services are pumping out the new shows. I remember as a kid having to wait a full week or even a season before you found out what happened in that cliffhanger that has your knickers all in a twist. Who shot J.R.? I dunno, you have to wait a season plus four episodes to find out. Arguably the most prolific and well known cliffhanger to come out of prime time TV during that time. Nowadays, you just wait for it to show up on Netflix or Hulu and watch the hell out of it. So, does the anticipation make it better or worse?
Sarah (Katie McGrath) and her husband Dylan (Brandon Jay McLaren) move back to the town and home where her parents were murdered years earlier. Before long, the past comes back to haunt the entire town as a string of murders begin. With the help of her friend Robin (Christopher Jacot), Sarah tries to unravel the puzzle that is The Executioner to find out who could be committing these brutal crimes.
So, I came across several reviews for Slasher where people criticizing the acting. Overall, the cast was pretty solid. The one major problem I had was with Irish born McGrath. She seems to have a hard time hiding her accent. Especially in scenes where she is required to get emotional or excited. That doesn't necessarily make her a bad actress but it makes it bad fit in the role of an American. McLaren is a phenomenal actor and I've enjoyed watching him blossom over the years. The same goes for Jacot. He brings a sarcastic, comedic flare to each role that I've seen him in.
To create a successful TV series, you have to have suspense in order to keep viewers wanting to continue on to the next episode. Slasher has a good back story and foundation to build on but creator Aaron Martin didn't quite capitalize on that. Quite honestly, the characters are unlikeable and do some questionable things which will likely turn views off. The big reveal also won't come as much of a surprise. There are also a couple of different storylines going on at once that inevitably cause a bit of confusion. However, on a positive note, there are some good effects throughout, the film is shot well and the locations are pretty great. In the end, what most likely would've made a pretty solid feature, fizzles out as a series.
Today I won the movie battle at my house and finally signed up for Netflix. It may just be for the free trial but a win is a win. My first venture on Netflix was Tucker and Dale vs Evil. It is filled with gore and really a hell of a lot funnier than I anticipated. I did not anticipate I would be writing a review to praise this movie but that is in fact what you are about to read.
On Memorial Day weekend a group of college students venture to the wilderness to have a weekend of fun. They stop for beer at a local store where Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Tyler Labine). Dale, noticing one girl out of the group in particular, Allison (Katrina Bowden). Dale is afraid to talk to her because of her looks and his hillbillyish looks. Tucker talks him into it and Dale proceeds to go over and talk to the group while holding a very large scythe. Starting a very awkward conversation the college kids, including Allison, get very scared and leave rather abruptly. Tucker and Dale proceed to go to Tucker’s new vacation cabin that they are going to fix up all weekend. Meanwhile the group of college students which include Allison, Chad (Jesse Moss), Chloe (Chelan Simmons), Chuck (Travis Nelson), Jason (Brandon Jay Mclaren), Naomi (Christie Liang), Todd (Alex Arsenault), Mitch (Adam Beauchsne), and Mike (Joseph Allan Sutherland) are setting up camp ready to drink and party all weekend. Chad tells the story of the Memorial Day Massacre from 20 years prior where a family of hillbillys killed a group of kids partying the same way they are. Tucker and Dale are fishing later that night while the college students are skinny dipping on the same lake. Seeing the students, Tucker and Dale decide to go back the opposite direction to avoid them. But Allison falls in the water and hits her head. Dale jumps in and saves her, but the students think she is being kidnapped by the 2 hillbillys and run away. Instead of 2 people being nice trying to help others they are pitted against each other. Hence the title Tucker and Dale vs Evil, well not really evil but more like preppy assholes.
The acting in this movie was surprisingly good. None of the cast are really famous or known for being in anything, except for Allan Tudyk who plays Tucker. You may remember him from Dodge Ball: A True Underdog Story as Steve the pirate. All death scenes gave horror fans what they were looking for and also satisfies with a ton of laughs along the way. I was definitely surprised by how well the movie was put together, expecting a rather cheesy version of Wrong Turn.
Having watched this as my first movie in my queue with Netflix, I have to say I may just keep this longer than the free trial and actually pay for it. I was looking for a good slash-em horror movie and what a found was a gory comedy. It was a pleasant and welcomed surprise. In fact the muscles in my face are sore from having to laugh so often. This is really a fantastic movie that I highly recommend.
