Lowlifes

Yo, y'all gotta check out "Lowlifes" (2024). This flick is a wild ride that totally caught me off guard. Directed by Tesh Guttikonda and Mitch Oliver, it's like they took the classic horror road trip vibe and cranked it up to eleven.

The story kicks off with a family road-tripping through some sketchy backroads. They end up crashing at this super remote homestead, and let's just say, things get hella intense real quick. The way the plot unfolds is mad unpredictable, keeping you on your toes the whole time.

Amanda Fix, who plays Amy, absolutely nails it. You might've seen her in "North of Normal," but here, she brings a whole new energy that's both raw and real. Matthew MacCaull, taking on the role of Keith, delivers a performance that's both chilling and captivating. Dude's been in "Tomorrowland" and "iZombie," but this role? Next level. And Brenna Llewellyn as Savannah? She was solid in "The Sinners," but she seriously steps up her game in this one.

What sets "Lowlifes" apart is its blend of horror and dark humor. It's like they took the suspense of "The Hills Have Eyes" and mixed it with the twisted family dynamics of "We're the Millers." The result? A bloody good time that's as funny as it is freaky.

The cinematography is on point, capturing the eerie isolation of the homestead and the creeping dread that builds throughout. And the gore? Let's just say, horror fans won't be disappointed. It's graphic, it's gnarly, and it's executed with a finesse that shows the filmmakers know their stuff.

Now, I gotta shout out the screenplay by Al Kaplan. The dialogue feels real, the characters are fleshed out, and the twists? Man, I didn't see 'em coming. It's refreshing to watch a horror movie that doesn't rely on the same old clichés.

All in all, "Lowlifes" is a standout in the 2024 horror scene. It's got suspense, it's got laughs, and it's got moments that'll make you squirm. If you're into horror that's both smart and brutal, this one's for you. Don't sleep on it.

While in places Lowlifes teeters on the brink of dismal, there is just enough to keep you watching to the end.

The storey is run-of-the-mill blood and splatter. There is a twist, which leads to an interesting finale. Beyond that, there is no noticeable character development. Which is a shame, as there is a lot of room to expand on some of the characters' motives.

Given the fairly narrow scope of the film, it is not surprising that the cast could do little more than service the script. The dialogue revolves around vignettes designed around shock or humour, rather than narratives that build a story. Because of this, the characters are quite superficial.

If you do make it to the end you might find yourself thinking, as I did, this is a mediocre film that could really use a better written prequel. There's novelty worth exploring, and for that reason I am glad I watched it.

I was pleasantly surprised with this movie. I tend to put on horror/slashers on in the background but this one caught my attention. It even had a couple of decent surprises. I rated this as a 7 because it's better than average for this type of genre but it's not going to be to everyone's taste.

If you are looking for something completely original, particularly gruesome, or with a lot of jump scares, this isn't for you.

However, if you like splatter slashers with some comedy, Lowlifes is a good choice. They did a good job with the casting, the characters were fun, and it looked like the cast was enjoying themselves.

If the film makers or cast ever look at this, you did a great job and I look forward to seeing future films.

Being honest I was skeptical when I found out this was a Tubi original I mean let's face it some of the programming on Tubi is scraping the bottom of the barrel But it turned out it was better than I would've expected I liked the role reversal The blood and gore all throughout the movie was amazing But the ending was a glorious chaotic spectacle I noticed a couple people in their reviews were saying something to the effect That the ending of the movie could make or break it Personally I thought the ending was fine I like it when movies throw me twists and turns that I'm not expecting and this movie gave me plenty of surprises.

Tubi original Lowlifes breathes some new life into the old 'city folk vs. Hillbillies' genre, blending comedy and gory horror to great effect. It's best to go into the film blind, so I'm not going to summarise the plot or mention any spoilers, suffice to say that it serves up some neat twists along the way.

Directors Tesh Guttikonda and Mitch Oliver deliver a fun movie that isn't to be taken seriously and their cast act accordingly, putting in enjoyably campy/comical turns. This doesn't mean that the horror is any less effective when it happens though: there's some genuinely nasty stuff in the film with plenty of graphic splatter along the way.

Don't watch this one expecting it to be a game changer -- I don't think the film-makers had such aspirations -- accept Lowlifes for what it is... a bloody good time with its severed braised tongue firmly in cheek.