Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer

Movies in this genere are few and far between. A lack of CGI over-kill in a world where it is common place to get rid of the actor this movie takes us back to when over the top horor was just that over the top without becoming a TnA flick. I would place this movie in the same genre as "Army of Darkness" there are not as many quality one-liners but you warm to the protagonist in the same way. I give Jack Brooks: Moster Slayer 5 out of five stars, simply because they don't offer more.

The Toxic Avenger. Mean anything to you? How about Attack of the Killer Tomatoes? Dead Alive? Perhaps Black Sheep? If your answer is a resounding "WHAT?!" then I can predict you will not like this film. If you've never wasted hours and hours on Troma, if you've never opted for Dimension Extremes over studying for mid-terms, if you still have no idea what I am referring to, I guarantee you aren't going to understand this film.

Jack Brooks (as well as all the above-mentioned films) is a B-horror which doesn't even claim to rank itself among "mainstream" horror. It's not mistakenly "bad," it's deliberately "bad" (big difference). It's camp! The special-effects and make-up are simply wretched (especially the grotesquely hysterical "Professor Gordon Crowley Monster"). There is no CGI in this movie, by the way ... it's all old-school ... just the way we like it!! The typical B-horror fan expects this! It's not trying to be scary! But it does have the requisite "gross-out" moments ... and, yes, B-horror enthusiasts both anticipate and enjoy this visceral experience.

For the B-horror pros: this film has pretty much everything you're looking for. The laughs are all there, there are multiple gag-worthy scenes, and it is TOTAL camp! I can admit that I picked-up this film for Robert Englund and had some fairly low-expectations. And when I read the comparisons to The Evil Dead and Dead Alive, my expectations plunged (it's practically blasphemous to compare a new work to the likes of Raimi or Jackson's masterpieces, please). Nonetheless, the second I saw the zany filming, the realistic casting (I felt like I know these people), and the hysterical stunts ... well, I was sold. And the film's bookends? Bizarrely compelling. (And, honestly, for all its B-quality, there seems to be serious money involved for location and props! Prepare to be surprised!)

I must say, I went into this film ready to hate it ... and I ended up watching it again. And, just as a note, Englund really does have a sizable role (it's not just a teaser-role) ... and he does a fantastic job being completely ridiculous (wait for the possession scenes!! And wait for him to enter the classroom completely messed-up AND ooooo sooooo HUNGRY!!)

Highly recommended to B-horror fans!! Everyone else, run away (so that you don't bring down the star-rating of this great film!)

If you are into juvenile horror movies - this one is for you. I wanted to see it for Halloween season and I did and now I cannot wait to get rid of it. Premise of the movie is that our main character Jack Brooks is an orphan whose sister and parents were killed by a monster when he was a kid. Jack has unresolved anger issues and his counceling sessions are not helping him control his temper. When his accidental plumbing job awakens monsters from their long sleep and they start attacking his night school college student buddies, Jack finds it in himself to figh off the monsters as a way of conquering his own personal demons. This is a cross of gross (throw up) scenes, imitations of rubber made monsters you may have seen in movies made 20 years ago and blood hungry zombies running around in their feeding frenzy.

You like cult films? How about tongue and cheek horror films? Cornball humor? If you do, well, Canadian director/co-writer Jon Knautz seems to have genre films pretty much nailed down. "JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER" is a fun horror-comedy entry to the "Cine-Macabre" movie night in Toronto. The film will definitely attract fans of the "Evil Dead" franchise and is a definite crowd pleaser for those who like B-movie thrills and thrills.

Ever since he witnessed his family slaughtered by a monster during a childhood camping trip, Jack Brooks (Trevor Matthews) has had some major anger management issues. But when a busted pipe in an old house owned by his night school teacher (Robert Englund) which transforms the kindly teacher to a ravenous, tentacled, infectious over-fiendish reject from Hell. Jack realizes that he can no longer run from the demons of his past and it is time to try and save his classmates before they are possessed or devoured by the ancient evil--or die trying.

The film is a rightful homage to 80's horror and very "Evil Dead-ish" in feel. The film is quite entertaining in its own charming way. The film does give a good background for our reluctant hero and the "black heart" of evil is cleverly developed as told by old man Howard, played by David Fox. The shots are reminiscent of classic B-movies and the cinematography somewhat emulates a comic book feel. The special effects does stay away from the usual CGI made by Hollywood, director Knautz opted to use animatronic monster effects, old-fashioned make-up and rubber suits to further emphasize the film's campy feel. There is a fair amount of gooey blood and gore with the old-fashioned 80's style.

Robert England may have turned in his best performance since his days of playing Freddy Krueger. Englund is quite convincing in his role as the mild-mannered teacher and honestly, the man steals the show. His slow, goofy and slimy metamorphosis into an almost "Java the Hut" clone is also one of the film`s selling points. I just couldn't decide whether I wanted to laugh or be grossed out, but I do know that these elements does fit the film perfectly. Matthews does give a good performance as our hero. His guilt-wracked moments of anger does give his character a lot of depth and somewhat generates a feel of sympathetic unbalanced features. In a way, this film has a "coming of age" story, the way Jack realizes his destiny.

The direction by Jon Knautz displays his love for the genre. The film's shots and creature effects are a joy to behold for 80's horror fans. The man did his homework in tackling a genre film such as this and certain scenes are just funny, in a way that it should be. Jack's girlfriend is a nagging one and she never stops talking; it does help with the film's doses of humor. The one problem I saw with the film is that the action doesn't really pick up until the 59 minute mark and for some audiences, the origin part may seem a little dull. The film dawdles a little too long in Jack's anger-management and relationship issues and I thought it would have done better if it had utilized more sequences of gruesome scenes. Also, as good as Englund and Matthews were in their roles, some characters seem like they're minor "fillers", and I do think the film could have been edited a little better.

Regardless, that the film's script could have been a little better, "Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer" does succeed in this genre. The final minutes of the film is worth the watch as Jack slices and dices monsters in a very "Buffy-like" fashion. It's a wonder just how much repressed anger and guilt can do to a person's adrenaline rush. The film has buckets of blood and it is a fantastic display of handmade horror destined to have a cult following. Now, the film may not be for everyone, but definitely geared towards those who appreciate old-fashioned creature effects and over-the-top silliness. A great homage film for 80's horror.

Recommended! [3 ½ Stars]

Looking at the box, it looks like it will be a "fun horror movie." Or a "fun dumb movie." You know, the kind you put on at parties.

Look elsewhere.

This movie really can't make its mind up. And it has talent in it. The acting shows promise. The writing shows promise. The filmmakers have learned good lessons from Scorsese and Raimi. But the pacing is dreadful. There's really only one monster who shows up, and when it does, it looks like Humpty Dumpty. It is neither effective as a monster nor as a parody of a monster. But if you're expecting a Charles Band-style "classic," you won't find it.

If this movie looks appealing to you, as it looked to me, you're probably hoping for another EVIL DEAD/ARMY OF DARKNESS or REANIMATOR. Just go ahead and watch (or rewatch) one of those. This is not exciting. It is not funny. It is not a worthwhile use of camp. It is not scary. It just wastes your time.

Oh, and if I can editorialize a tad, let me note the saddest part of this movie -- the waste of Robert Englund's incredible talent. Englund is one of those actors with idiosyncratic features who has finally aged into them. You know, the features that look awkward on the young, but distinguished on the middle aged. When he appears at the start of the movie, he gets to act a subtle, likable, intelligent character. And he pulls it off beautifully. It's a wonderful performance. I was hoping that he would become a Giles or Professor Stokes-type advisor to the hero. No. It doesn't take long for the script to take this opportunity away from him. He again is reduced to mugging and growling. What a waste. When I watched his character in the beginning, I though, "Man, Englund could really be holding his own with any actor in his age range." I don't consider horror -- or even direct-to-DVD horror -- to be a ghetto, however there are roles of varying sophistication within that genre. Englund's warmth, originality, and intelligence are really wasted here. If this movie did anything, it was to make me aware of Englund's range and inspire in me a need to see him in better movies/more interesting parts.