Muerte y cremación

Death and Cremation is the story of a embittered teenage outcast who finds an unlikely friend in the owner and operator of Stanley Cremations. Stanley, it would seem, likes to heat up his oven to rid the town of bullies.

The movie, made for cable, is quite well made. As with any movie you'll be asked to excuse a few logic gaps and enjoy the ride. It isn't a new thing for a movie to ask you to sympathize with a killer but this one, at least from this reviewer's point of view, does well in that respect.

Brad Dourif, a veteran character actor with an impressive resume, is given the starring role and hits it out of the park! Dourif has never been insincere in his performances and this is no exception. The young actor playing his protégé was quite good, as well.

Try to catch this one! If you're a purist, however, the DVD is pan and scan.

Note to all smart ass teenagers everywhere!!! Best be careful who you mouth off to, some of us don't play!!!! Haha....

Over halfway through this one the jury is still out. Enjoying Dourif as usual he's great in everything he's in.

-1 Star for when the kid turns stupid and goes out and does his own thing

Story went south at this point.

Okay the end.....lotta questions left unanswered.

-1 Star really the movie left a lot unanswered and the story felt incomplete.

Great to see Dourif in anything however but even he couldn't save this one.

3/10

Sullen Emo boy meets odd-ball father figure and team up for righteous, bloody justice. Could have been a great movie, right? Or at least a very creepy character study? Unfortunately, the glacial pacing and undeveloped story lines leave a great cast with the task of making a movie out of thin gruel. While there is very little in the dialogue to justify the friendship that develops between the two leads, the actors pull it off. It's a shame that such talent is wasted on mood moments, rather than extra-judicial villainy. This pair could have been a trailer park Batman and Robin; or a twisted Daniel Larusso and Mr. Miyagi; or even a homo-erotic and homicidal Harold and Maude. Worse, the ending is the sort of thing that screams "we ran out of money - that's a wrap."

In a movie titled "Death and Cremation", you might rightfully expect to see quite a few roaring fires. Alas, this low budget attempt at horror has barely a flicker. A couple puffs of smoke is about all you get. You also get a story that is woefully underdeveloped. Nothing is explained beyond the obviously deranged funeral director (Brad Dourif), seeking to barbecue anyone who has wronged him. Dourif could play this part in his sleep. Unfortunately the rest of the cast is not quite so polished. Another weakness is the constant closeups, which become nothing more than a damn annoyance. Other than Dourif's performance, the film is completely forgettable. - MERK

Stan (Brad Dourif) is a serial killer. He's kept very busy between murdering people and working at his crematorium.

Enter local high school outcast, Jarod (Jeremy Sumpter) who needs a job. Stan reluctantly hires the kid, since he's eager to learn about the business. It turns out that these two have more in common than their love of the funereal arts.

DEATH AND CREMATION is a wickedly bleak, suspenseful horror film. Both Dourif and Sumpter are convincing in their symbiotic roles. Dourif especially, once again showing his knack for pure, seething insanity.

Highly recommended for fans of dark movies in general and Mr. Dourif in particular...