Brutal Massacre

Anchor Bay

R1 DVD

David Naughton of “An American Werewolf in London” stars as once famed B Grade horror director Harry Penderecki whose career has been plagued by violent mishaps and critics’ attacks. His one great success was many years ago and has been followed by a sequence of lack lustre horror releases, each one a little more ridiculous than the last.

Harry decides to take one last attempt at fame and working with an obnoxious assistant director, a foul-mouthed production manager, a very oddball cinematographer and a cheap crew, there things go from bad to worse. With every possible disaster that can befall a film coming his way, he battles against all odds to make a great horror film.

Brutal Massacre is a witty but ultimately lightweight comedy. It has some fun cameo appearances including the ‘Ladies Of The Evil Dead’ Betsy Baker and Theresa Tilly, Fangoria editor Tony Timpone andMaster Of Horror Mick Garris and revels in sending itself and the horror movie industry up.

As a mockumentary it is amusing and certainly has its moments, there is a good level of wit and to anyone with a background in cinema there is a lot of “in” jokes, but in the end it doesn’t really rise above the ordinary. It is certainly not the “spinal tap of horror” and certainly won’t have you rolling with laughter, but it does have enough humour to make it worth a watch.

Brutal Massacre is an enjoyable enough way to spend 90 mintues but don’t expect too much.