Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires

I guarantee you've never seen an animated movie quite like 'Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires', and probably never will - and I'm still deciding whether that's a good thing, or bad. Trampires is a cross between tramps and vampires. Just to be clear, it is tramps as in homeless people, and not hookers.

This animated movie is definitely not for kids. This is crude and rude with unsympathetic humour like you've never heard before - enough to make your ears twitch!! This is a parody in every sense of the word, and is an absolute madcap film!

The film revolves around our hero (or should that be more of an anti-hero?), Chuck Steel - a cop- trying to rid the world of vampires who feed on drunk homeless people - or bums. He is assisted by the weirdest bunch of heroes, including a horny old man.

Some scenes really are sick and vulgur, but one can't help but have a good time with this movie. Keep in mind, this definitely is not everyone's cup of tea, so think twice before showcasing this at a movie night with friends.

Would I watch it again? Uhm, I don't think so...

This is a stop motion animated film, and a damn fluid one at that. The animation is beyond spectacular and never feels clunky. It also plays close attention to detail, like the constant flowing candlewax in the Wise One's face, and considering each trampire dies by a very gory explosion you can really feel the level of effort it went into making this.

Plotwise this is a pastiche of 80's action flicks, never taking itself too seriously and constantly poking fun at the tropes of the genre. Where I think the humor falls a bit is the anti-therapy message; take it as you will.

The monster designs are fantastic. You'd expect this film to just be populated by bum vampires, but there are quite a few surprises with stellar designs.

Overall a flawed product, but clearly a labour of love.

Well what other way could it go, right? If the word "bonkers" can be applied to any movie at all, it is this one right here. It might be tough to follow the story, if as some might argue there is one to follow, because you are going to be constanctly distracted. This does not play in the realm of the real world ... I know "duh!", but it has to be said.

So there are a lot of things happening, including sexual acts, violent acts and just overall crazy things. If you cherish political correctness, need clear structure and/or are easily offended anyway - well do not watch this movie! Unless you hate yourself or feel you have to punish yourself I guess. Seriously though: this is really way out there, especially when it comes to its humor ... you've been warned, now enjoy

It's 1986, and Chuck Steel is the LAPD's best, baddest and most maverick cop. He may be unorthodox, but boy does he get the job done! When the Governor starts advocating a clean-up in California liquor laws, important and not-important people start to disappear, leaving nothing but a pool of blood. Everyone is baffled by this, until Chuck comes across Abraham Van Rental, who whispers the tale of the trampires: vampires who have fallen on hard times on Skid Row and can only survive on the blood of inebriated victims. And the pair soon learn that the Master of the trampires is about to arrive, intending to usher in the death of humanity.... Claymation is a very specific form of filmmaking that audiences either love or don't; one thing it does is to let the film-makers be as inventively gory (or sexy, or absurd) as they can imagine, which is to say that this short (88 minute) film is steeped in gore, heads exploding, massive blow-ups and the like. And it's really hilarious while it does those things! A note to parents with small kids, there's a ton of swearing and, well, gore in this film; it's definitely intended for mature audiences, preferably with a warped sense of humour!

Chuck Steel, a no-nonsense maverick renegade cop, is pitted against a horde of vampire-like beings who feast upon the blood of those who are drunk.

Writer and director Mike Mort offers vibes reminiscent of Last Action Hero and Kung Fury in this stop-motion animated action comedy horror film. In addition to the aforementioned, the film parodies and pays homage to a slew of live-action films of the 1980s. The frame rate is so good that there are moments that'll trick you into thinking they could be people in masks. It's a work of art (geared for adults) with a technique that equals, if not surpasses, similar contemporaries. Although some of the voice work is a little bumpy, the majority is on point including the likes of comedians Jennifer Saunders and Paul Whitehouse.

It's on an epic scale with hundreds of characters and creatures, and dozens of scale-model sets. The craftsmanship of the production is clearly there for all to see. There are laughs to be had amidst the gore, explosions, and hails of bullets. It's wild, outlandish, and over-the-top, with mind-blowing animation that's blood-soaked and oozing fun throughout.

Fantastic work, as well as an enjoyable film. Highly recommend.