Cacería voraz

First - let's clarify a few things which people seem to be confused about.

* Feast's budget was about $3,000,000.00, not $1 million.

* I am not sure whether the word "independent" should be used for a film which required (I assume) voluntary (donations?) 'production' efforts from Harvey Weinstein, Wes Craven, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. "Project Green-Light" or not. It's really too bad that their hourly rates don't show up in the reported budgets for projects such as this - would help to clarify a lot of misunderstandings regarding the nature of allegedly independent, supposedly low-budget releases.

* The cast is far from a group of of nobodies. Look them up right here on IMDb. For a supposed low-budget film, Feast relies very heavily on name-recognition and star power.

John Gulager does a very nice job of telling a claustrophobic, absurd, but fun tale of terror and gore in "Feast". It's an old story, but,in this case, it's told very well.

A bar full of archetypal jerks, losers and heroes are startled by a would-be hero's (Eric Dane) violent, blood-soaked entry into the bar with a gun and an attitude. The hero announces that the bar is just about to be attacked by four angry monsters with razor-sharp claws and teeth. The audience is almost immediately introduced to the film's audience participation game. Here are the (unstated, but easily understood) challenges:

* Understand that what is going to happen in this film is obvious and that we've seen it all before.

* The game is to figure out who gets it next

* If you're really good - try guessing how they are going to get it too.

The casting, editing and directing make this film worth watching. The script is fine for what it is, but that isn't saying a whole lot. And the acting is uniformly good - again, for what it is. Watching Henry Rollins ironically playing a self-help con artist with obvious problems of his own, Clu Gallagher comically reprising the roll of the ancient bartender and erstwhile retired gunfighter in a very unlikely isolated desert context, Balthazar Getty as the "Town Jackass", and Navi Rawat as the tough chick mom on a mission is well... just a lot of fun.

The special effects are heavily digitized and there are a number of very noticeable 'digital moments'. I know I am supposed to say that the special effects were brilliant for the cost of the film, but I do not trust the reported budget - I suspect that a lot of very expensive people were employed on a voluntary basis for this film, and it is obvious that their time was not accounted for in the reported budget.

Highly recommended for horror comedy fans and fans of the cast members. Not recommended for those who have difficulties with extremely disgusting gore, and not recommended for those who do not recognize at least one or two of the major cast members.

I made it to a screening of "Feast" at the International Horror Sci-Fi Film Festival in Arizona on October 23rd. I was really into the Project Greenlight show and from watching the show, I still didn't know what to expect from the film. It wasn't too long into the movie that I realized, even if you watched every episode of Project Greenlight as I did, you still don't see this coming. The movie was great! I sat back in my seat and went for a ride. It wasn't even 100% completed yet. A couple of scenes were too dark and it didn't have any credits. But it was so entertaining. They made this project for the horror genre, and they aren't going to let anyone down. There is so much blood, gore, and action in this film. The action sequences were a sight to see on the big screen. I was truly blown away with how good everything came out. John was there with his girlfriend Diane and one of the writers. They did a Q&A after the screening and were very outgoing with the audience. After the screening they joined me and a bunch of Arizona talent at a nearby bar to hang out. He answered questions and was very cool to chat with. I hope they don't have any problems with getting this movie into theaters nation wide. It's a fun story with everything you want in a horror movie. You have to check it out when you get the chance.

Unlike most such films, in FEAST, the action starts almost immediately and continues almost unbroken, except for brief moments to catch our breath. It's a fantastic monster movie filled with sudden, ferocious attacks and grisly slaughter.

The monsters themselves are perfectly hideous, bringing the pain in massive amounts. Their human prey are no pushovers. The ensuing battle for survival is grueling and apocalyptic.

FEAST is fast, bloody, and intense. It's also got a wicked sense of humor. Grueling fun from start to finish...

If you are looking for originality in a horror movie look elsewhere, except for the opening 10 minutes which was different, when they introduced the characters. If however you're looking for comedy and gore you should try it out. I know I found it a blast.

Feast knows that it's a dirty, trashy, low-budget monster movie and it excels at being just that.

I personally rank it up there with some of the great meta horror movies like Cabin in the Woods and Evil Dead 2.

The beginning does a great job playing with your expectations before subverting them in the most over-the top way possible and sets the perfect tone for the rest of the movie.

Fans of practical creature effects, splatter house gore, and raunchy humor will be delighted by this simple, bare-bones, straight to the point plot and dark humor.

Don't go in expecting a deep story, just enjoy the campy madness of a bunch of one-note characters struggling to avoid becoming monster chow.