Tag: Alan McElroy

WRONG TURN 4: BLOODY BEGINNINGS (2011)

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Written & Directed By: Declan O’Brien 
Based on characters created by: Alan McElroy
Cinematography: Michael Marshall 
Editor: Stein Myhrstad 

Cast: Jenny Pudavick, Tenika Davis, Kaitlyn Wong, Terra Vnesa, Sean Skene, Blane Cypurda, Dan Skene 

A group of college students gets lost in a storm during their snowmobiling trip and takes shelter in an abandoned sanitarium which, unbeknown to them, is home to three deformed cannibals.

While I enjoyed the first three films of this franchise. The first was a grisly run-of-the-mill horror film that felt like a B movie. The second one was more fun and had a sense of humor about itself. It Rarely took itself seriously and was more exploitive. The third tried to put a twisty action noir tale into the horror fold. Which was an interesting mash-up yet felt very dirty.

This is why this film is kind of a disappointment. Instead of going in a more creative direction. This film feels like it ran out of ideas before it even got started. Even though this film is a prequel to the first three. Which maybe should have stopped as a trilogy. 

The only new part of the film is that it is set in a huge seemingly abandoned hospital and in the snow. So there is less terrain to deal with and a single location. Most things about this film are bad, even the ending which one has seen before in the film 2000 MANIACS (The Remake) so it comes off derivative.

This film tends to focus more on the gore and torture aspect to a disgusting degree. That feels unnecessary knowing that the film doesn’t have much going for it in the form of the story. As it plays out like the storyline of the previous films only different in single locations as everyone is slowly hunted down. They even have two graphic sex scenes that while erotic and titillating feels out of place and unnecessary. Here again more bringing an exploitive sheen to the film. It truly is the only noteworthy part of the film.

The deaths while gory the effects at least seem to work. Whereas the Villains’ makeup looks like makeup and like they are just wearing masks.

Not that I’m complaining but making the human fondue. Just goes on too long. Making it distasteful as the whole film is the kills and sex scenes are just gratuitous. I understand you want things to stand out but it just seems too much. Not that I mind it but it advances nothing and makes you wonder how often lesbian characters need to have sex all the time. Sure it’s sexy but unnecessary

Trust me,  just skip it 

Grade: F

WRONG TURN 2: DEAD END (2007)

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Directed By: Joe Lynch
Written By: Al Septien & Turi Meyer
Based On Characters Created By: Alan McElroy
Cinematography: Robin Loewan 
Editor: Ed Marx

Cast: Erica Leerhsen, Henry Rollins, Texas Battle, Aleska Palladino, Daniella Alonso, Crystal Lowe, Ken Krizinger, Steve Braun, Kimberly Caldwell

A group of reality show contestants find themselves fighting for survival against a family of hideously deformed inbred cannibals who plan to ruthlessly butcher them all.

This is a straight-to-DVD sequel and just like the original no matter how gruesome the action and violence get you can’t take this film too seriously.

This sequel seems to revel more in everything the first one couldn’t show you. Here you get to see the full mutants a lot and often. You get to see a mutant birth, a mutant baby, and mutant sex. So here it is almost like mutant porn. As there is even a graphic oral sex scene between humans. Which was itself very shocking. In fact, it’s the most shocking thing in this whole movie. Which is one of the main reasons the movie might be unrated.

This film also seems to have fun with killing off people we would normally assume would survive. It also tries to be a satire on reality television. Even the. Had been done to death, especially with HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION coming out around the same time.

The special effects are disappointing even with this film having a lower budget than the first. You can see the effects looking poor, but they still give it the old college try. Like the little engine that could the film rolls on with an I think I can attitude.

The film offers no performances of note. Other than following movies like SCREAM and having a star die in the opening moments. Who could have easily been a star of the film. To throw you off guard but you kind of expect it. As it allows their haters in the audience a sort of sick death wish and offers a cruel shock to that person’s fans.

This film again is more macabre fun than anything. Especially if you are a fan of horror with its nod to many classic and cult horror films it knows it will never be as good as. That tries to deepen the myth of these mutants and show more of their survival.

The film is obviously an homage to 1980’s horror films and sequels. 

Just like most sequels, it offers more of the same, only more extensive and more often. Sacrificing set-up as you know what is going to or supposed to happen and characters. As no characters ever really return for the sequels even if they survive.

 Grade: C