Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
It’s funny... even this far into the life of AICN, I still get pressed sometimes by other people who work on films to justify how we can print test screening reports. “Those are private,” I am told in indignant tones. I don’t really understand this reasoning. If you have enough faith to show your film to an audience, unfinished or not, you’re counting on the idea that if they love it, they will tell their friends about it. People want good buzz. It’s only when there’s bad buzz that they begin to get defensive and obstinate about what can be discussed.
I say all this only to preface the inevitable letters I’m going to get from people involved with the film MALEVOLENCE. Remember... I didn’t organize that screening, so don’t blame me for this review:
Harry, I've never written here before, but i do enjoy the site and read it daily.
Tonight, I saw the worst "Halloween" Knock-off in history, which says quite a bit, since no movie has been been more ripped-off.
So I hooked up with some friends to see a sneak preview here in good ole' Marina Del Rey, CA. I had no idea what I was about to see, but I figured that it was free so I'd give it a shot. I showed up and found out that the film was entitled "Malevolence." Now I'm a movie freak, I know 95% of what is being made that will get theatrical distribution, and I had never heard of it. And I also had never heard of a single actor that was in it. This worried me and excited me at the same time. I had no idea what I was in for, so as the lights dimmed down, I eagerly sat back and hoped to be blown away by something I'd never heard a thing about.
Well I certainly was blown away, at just how low movie-making can sink at times.
I'm not going to waste much time on describing the plot. In a nut-shell. A couple bank robbers, a tomboy and her mother all end up at a catatonic killers house, and of course he stalks and kills one by one and alot of bad stuff ensues.
The director Steven Mena, is obviously tryin to be John Carpenter. He directed, wrote, produced, and scored the flick. Ohhh and what a score it was. Most of it sounded like it was lifted directly from "Halloween", with loud, obtrusive synthesizer bursts blaring when the killer is revealed standing behind a window that seems more than vagely familiar to anyone that's seen a flick with Mikey Myers in it.
And that's just one of probably a hundred shots directly stolen from "Halloween" that's present. After awhile, one wonders if Steven Mena didn't buy an original storyboard of "Halloween" off Ebay and decide to replicate it, shot for shot. And don't get me started on the lifted cymbal crashes from TCM and the look of the killer which is EXACTLY what Jason Vorhees looks like before he got a hockey mask.
I could go on, but what's the point, this movie will sink into obscurity anyway. I read that it is seeking thaetrival representation right now and that good word of mouth and positive reactions are getting this thing screened all over the country. Well if half the audience walking out, and the other half screaming and laughing at the absurdity and unoriginality of the film is considered positive, then release this puppy Nation-wide!
Was there anything good about the film? Yes, I jumped twice, there were actually 2 moments that were scary, inspired parts. But considering that's ten seconds of good stuff wedged between a shit sandwich of 90 min. It's not worth eating.
Just call me Mr. Fantastic
Thanks, buddy. I think I was tired of HALLOWEEN rip-offs in 1978, so I don’t know what sort of tolerance I’d have for this one.
"Moriarty" out.
