The Last Horror Movie

Though the title of this film might suggest conventional horror forthcomings, don't despair. The last Horror Movie is a unique cinematic exploration in to the mind of a serial killer. Wedding filmmaker Max Parry [Kevin Howarth] is a London bachelor who enjoys looking after his sisters' kids, entertaining friends and honing the art of murder. He decides to make his own horror film in order to help him discover his victim's attitudes to death. The commonsensical style of this movie is its real charm. It lacks the sardonic comedy that makes Rémy Belvauxs' Belgian film Man Bites Dog an obvious fiction, but henceforth the horror becomes much more feasible. Howarth conceivably becomes someone we could know, and like. His charismatic portrayal of Parry makes us open to his rational debates of art vs. humanity. The last horror movie takes the horror genre and turns it on its head; it pushes the viewer to challenge why they enjoy purveying murder and brutal senseless acts of killing. It forces us to consider the value of a human life and then contradicts our opinion with the general antipathy shown for human life in the third world. It tries to make us believe that murder is in essence a force of nature. The protection and reassurance of your own home is no longer a safe haven but a fruitful opportunity to gratify the predator among us. If you can stomach horror and gore then go and see this film. It's a powerful piece of British filmmaking with an unnerving edge. Director Julian Richards commented that the real horror of this film starts when you leave the cinema, a concept that entertained me, as I lay awake, convincing myself that the squeaking floorboards below were not as innocent as they sounded.

And by that I mean if the last scene freaks you out or not depends on how your watching the film... For me, I had walked to blockbuster one evening and browsed the horror films available, chose this one from reading the back of it, and walked to a friends house that night and we watched it around midnight, I then had to walk home alone...

if you've seen the film, you might appreciate that this is a far more scarier way to watch this than watching now where you'll either download or order online, or watch on TV, which kind of kills the films ending.

Not sure how I'd feel had I seen under different conditions, but as a teenager and with the above circumstances, had me looking over my shoulder a little bit...

THE LAST HORROR MOVIE uses the clever ruse of mimicking a rented horror film that has been recorded over, allowing the main character, Max (Kevin Howarth), to tell his grisly story to the viewer with words and horrific deeds. Max is nonchalant about his actions, sticking to his narrative, regardless of what heinous crimes he commits.

Filmed by Max's "assistant" (Mark Stevenson), this "documentary" takes us along with the killer as he merrily relieves his victim's of their boring lives. This is one of the better examples of the "found footage" subgenre, fitting in neatly between such classics as MAN BITES DOG, and THE POUGHKEEPSIE TAPES. One bizarre twist is the way Max mingles visits with his family in with the carnage. This makes it all even more unsettling.

The cameraman's subplot is also quite disturbing.

The dialogue is, at times, fascinating, as we hear Max ask some rather philosophical questions of his audience. In spite of this, we're never unaware that we're witnessing the vile actions of a monster.

Mr. Howarth is terrifying in his unflinching role. It's just too bad that VHS tapes are no longer available from video-rental shops. That would have made this quite a find...

Smooth talking serial killer and amateur film-maker Max Parry has made a fly-on-the-wall documentary about murder. By copying his movie onto a rental tape at his local video shop, he gets people to unwittingly start watching his opus, in which he delivers a snuff showcase of his greatest 'hits', whilst glibly commenting about the nature of killing.

Despite borrowing heavily from Belgian movie 'Man Bites Dog', the classic 'Henry: Portrait of a Seial Killer' and 'American Psycho', and ending with a gimmick which is reminiscent of Japanese ghost movie Ringu, director Julian Richards manages to deliver a grisly film that succeeds in being genuinely disturbing. The catalogue of stabbings, beatings and strangulations are filmed with a gritty authenticity that will shock all but the most desensitised; but despite all of the nastiness, there is a knowing sense of ridiculousness which will appeal to those with a very dark sense of humour. Kevin Howarth's Max is both chilling yet comic; he claims to be sane, and talks intelligently about his project and his reasons for killing, yet he is clearly a few sandwiches short of a picnic. At times he is logical, calm and collected whilst going about his business, but we see just enough glimpses of his completely wacko side to know that he is far from 'mentally balanced'.

A sharp script, impressive hand-held video work and some gruesome effects (try watching the burning scene without wincing) add to the realism of the film. The Last Horror Movie is a brave plunge into the dark world of an unhinged individual. Unashamedly violent and unflinchingly graphic, it is not a movie for the easily offended.

"The Last Horror Movie" is an effective film that could be described as a British "Man Bites Dog". Unpredictable, witty and thought-provoking, Julian Richards' film rises above the limitations of its budget and the result is a haunting production that is difficult to forget.

The film's star and narrator, Kevin Howarth, is superb as the psychopathic wedding video organiser, Max. Howarth's performance is right on the mark. Like Bret Easton Ellis' "American Psycho" Patrick Bateman, Max reveals the thought-processes that go through his disturbed mind.

The film has the ability to put the viewer in an uncomfortable place and some scenes have a genuinely surprising outcome. This won't appeal to viewers expecting an "August Underground"-style gore-fest but it does have moments where the visual effects are excellent.

An ingenious film, this is worthy of a viewing. Unlike most films, "The Last Horror Story" works best on VHS or DVD rather than the big screen.

8 out of 10.