Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer

This Canadian import offers something sorely missing in today's big studio films - old fashioned special effects rather than CGI. Therefore I give JACK BROOKS MONSTER SLAYER an "A" for effort. It takes guts to do this kind of film these days.

But for execution I have to give it a "C".

The story is merely a ripoff of the far superior effects ladden SLITHER. (IF you haven't seen that film, stop reading this and get SLITHER right away!) In JBMS, the jokes mostly fall flat and the rubber monsters tend to look like rubber monsters. Good old fashioned filmmaking doesn't HAVE to look cheap. (Check out FRIGHT NIGHT, ARMY OF DARKNESS, THE LOST BOYS for good examples of pre-CGi films.) The cast is game and do give their all. There is an especially amusing turn by Robert Englund.

On the whole, not a bad film but just not all that good either.

Jack Brooks is a slovenly 20-something plumber who has been dealing with fits of uncontrollable rage ever since he lost his family to the fangs of a ravenous forest troll on a childhood camping trip. For several years now, Jack has been damaging folding chairs, toasters and Chinese egg roll cooks on a regular basis, and his clueless counselor only suggests useless therapies like meditation and yogalates (a combination of yoga and pilates). Jack's wrath is only aggravated by the constant nagging of his annoying and overbearing girlfriend, Eve, and the boring night school science class she's talked him into taking. However, the quirky professor of said class, Gordon Crowley, is glad to know this hotheaded (and habitually late) plumber, since the ancient pipes in the spooky old house he's just purchased are hopelessly clogged with sludge. Unfortunately, Jack's valiant effort to rid Professor Crowley's rusty sinks of the unpleasant brown goo yields nothing but a busted IronMaster 200 valve and a nasty gash to the forehead. And shortly after young Brooks leaves Watson Road in his clunky white van, the bearded professor and his canine friend, Waldo, are bothered by a mysterious creeping mist from a newly formed hole in the yard.

Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer is a hilariously ridiculous horror comedy with lots of repulsive practical effects and foam latex monsters. It's a lot of fun, even though there's not as much actual monster slaying as you might expect, since the film is really an origin story. Hopefully, a sequel will come along soon that will contain action from start to finish. Although the movie is kind of short, the DVD is loaded with interesting extras that make the disc a very worthwhile purchase. There's all kinds of info on everything from the special effects to the orchestral score, plus there's a feature-length audio commentary with the producers, the director and the composer. So wrap your tentacles around Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer today...and don't go plumbing on Watson Road!

I debated rating this two or three stars, so let me explain briefly why I opted for the higher choice. Robert Englund was quite hilarious in this film! The rest of the acting was very spotty, very hit-or-miss (many times a miss). Englund, though, gave a very enjoyable and amusing performance, as one would expect from someone of his tenure.

Let me also say that this will certainly not be making any top 10 lists anytime soon... if ever. It was somewhat enjoyable, though. The 'creepy' factor was prevelant throughout, although the actual plot is somewhat slow-paced. There really is little to speak of until the final 15 minutes or so. The rest of the story is mostly background information, setting the scene (which really takes too long) and random elements of foreshadowing.

This is not to say that there was no action at all until the very end, but there was a soft of "Finally!" moment when the climax does finally arrive. The title and cover are a bit misleading, though, as Jack spends much of the film in self-exploration. His performance is somewhat comical, though, so it does add to the film's overall appeal.

The gore and violence are actually somewhat scant, and for those of you that worry more about nudity than bloodshed, relax; there was no nudity at all in this film. Even the blood level was somewhat relaxed, and that was mostly monster effects, too (a la Peter Jackson's earlier days).

Is the film, as advertised, an homage to 80's horror flicks? In a way, yes. There are those moments of the weed-smoking slacker, the promiscuous (sort of) girlfriends, the goof-offs who get their comeuppance. In the end, though, this stands alone as mainly a witty and whimsical performance by Englund, and the sole reason for repeat viewing down the road. Still, a very great effort that deserves all three stars. The effects (monster and otherwise) are extremely well done and the story is somewhat original. As a horror-comedy, it succeeds most pleasantly!

As someone who has watched countless "bad" horror movies through the years (many DVDs packaged by Troma and Anchor Bay leap straight to mind), I've come to know what to expect. Just because they're "bad" doesn't mean they aren't enjoyable on some level--they usually play as dumb fun. But, there is a certain laziness inherent in many of these films. It's as if everyone involved knows they are making a stinker, so they go for the cheap laughs and gratuitous gore. They don't take themselves seriously, so the scripts and the actors can be groan-worthy. What do you think I expected from "Jack Brooks Monster Slayer?" (Yes, Anchor Bay). I expected a whole lot less than this nifty little film delivered.

Yes, the plot is a bit silly. (I won't even go into it, the title of the film is sufficient). Yes, the creatures are superficially more laughable than scary. Accepting these limitations, however, "Monster Slayer" was a big surprise. The biggest surprise was in the performances. This film is filled with believable actors--most noteworthy being Trevor Matthews. Matthews, as plumber Jack Brooks, delights with a deadpan humor and actual character development. Brooks has a bit of an anger management problem, and Matthews nails the intensity to give early scenes a real impact. When he kicks into hero mode, I was right there with him.

The film builds to a climax involving a dozen characters trapped within a high school, and this is done with genuine suspense. The score is terrific and adds to the drama. In this half of the film, in particular, the screenplay excellently balances silliness and horror. I laughed when appropriate, but the film also delivered effective action sequences and a sense of real danger. I am genuinely surprised to be recommending "Monster Slayer," but I most certainly am--particularly if you're a fan of the genre. So give this unassuming film a try. And I hope to see Matthews again, I see real breakout potential! KGHarris 10/08.

For a low budget probably straight to video cash grab, JBMS succeeds surprisingly. The excellent looking rubber suited monsters coupled with the no-nonsense story and welcome sense of humor result in a very easy to watch and very short excercise in 80s style splatter. If you are a fan of Street Trash, The Hidden, and countless others then you should at least give this one a rental. Robert Englund is becoming the Boris Karlof of modern indie horror cinema and delivers the laughs along with a great characterization. The opening two scenes promise a little more than the 20 minute finale delivers, and certain moments (psychologist's office) slow down the proceedings a little bit. The cast performs capably and humorously, and the production values are just right. A slew of extras round out the nicely slipcased DVD from AB. If they make a sequel I would watch it for sure, as I found this to be a definite Halloween treat.