Skinless

I should start by saying that The Ballad of Skinless Pete is not for everyone. Horror fans that prefer the bigger budget stuff, such as The Conjuring, are probably not going to get this film. For the rest of us horror fans, particularly us that grew up in the 70's or 80's, are going to probably love Skinless Pete. I know I did after just seeing it.

Skinless Pete is the tale of Pete Peele, a doctor working on a cure for cancer. After discovering that the cure for cancer might be in the belly of a parasite, he decides it might be a good idea to test himself with it as he is dying from some form of skin cancer. Much to the chagrin of his close friend, Alice, he injects himself. At first it would appear that it worked, but after a while Pete starts to change into something and before you know it, people start brutally dying.

Does this story sound familiar? It should as it is clearly inspired by The Fly. Having said that, director Dustin Mills makes the film his own having directed, edited, scored and produced. I think what is so impressive with this film is the fact that it was apparently only made for 2000 dollars.

Skinless Pete is, at its core, a pure tragedy with its storytelling. With only a handful of actors in the film, the two leads, played by Erin Ryan and Brandon Salkil, has a surprising amount of on screen chemistry. But I think that Ms Ryan pretty much stole the show. She was convincing and by the end of the film you just feel crushed with what she has to endure. But Mr Salkil did a very good job as well. As Skinless Pete, Salkil had a wonderfully creepy style that was genuinely unnerving at times. Matter of fact, he was downright scary at times.

This is the area that some people might have issues with, and that is the films special effects. For me, it all works very well. The SFX are grisly and downright disturbing at times. To give an example, Pete melts a mans face off and as his face is melting off, Pete proceeds to rip off his lower jaw. Even when I saw it I said aloud, "Man! That's just sick!" For people that can't see past a films low budget though, I really think some people are just going to be negative because although very disturbing, the SFX are low budget. I loved them as there was a couple of times where even I was disgusted.

To end this review, The Ballad of Skinless Pete is a rare movie in 2013. It looks and feels much more like an 80's film, but with a few modern day innovations. It's obvious that director Dustin Mills has a love for the films he grew up with and for the horror genre. Let's hope he keeps coming out with films of this magnitude as horror of late has grown a tad stale with the saturation of ghost films and zombie films.

Kind of grotty effects, but what can expect from a flick that has been called a cross between The Fly and The Incredible Melting Man. The characters are believable and the acting is excellent. Itchy was a bit off the wall. The worst thing about it is that someone with Peter's deformation would not speak so well. Anyhow; no closer to spoiler will I go. If you liked The Fly you'll like this.

For an estimated budget of only 2,000 dollars, it has some pretty good practical effects. There are many scenes that are downright nasty and visually impressive, but there are a few scenes that look like they used walmart masks for gore effects. The acting is very spotty as you would expect with a low budget movie with many scenes being incredibly awkward, but there are a few great moments - especially some of Erin R. Ryans scenes as she shines in some moments throughout this movie. I think my biggest complaint for this movie and many movies in this low budget category is the camera work, with some scenes and design choices making the movie ugly to look at and very unprofessional at times - especially with some frames cutting back and forth near the end. Despite many flaws, the overall story is pretty good and it never made me lose my interest during the 1 hour 20 minute run time, and it also had some funny moments. This movie has many flaws, but these flaws don't necessarily ruin the movie as a whole. If you enjoy body horror movies like the fly and you accept the flaws associated with low budget horror movies, you will really enjoy this movie.

I have to admit, caught this on a free AD-based streaming service & had expectations on the floor when I saw it was filmed on video and the sound was "echoey" like some cheap camcorder production...I gave it a chance & have to admit, I enjoyed it! I'll name name some cons that will turn off many off the bat, its obviously done on the cheap ($2,000?! Wow), the main actor is serviceable at best, and it borrows way too much off of The Fly '86, other then that, its a short little horror with plenty of gore & nudity (full bush shot) and some decent horror drama!

The Ballad of Skinless Pete (aka Skinless Pete) by Dustin Wayde Mills is ridiculously, jaw droppingly good..better than you'd expect any indie feature with a low budget to be. With lens flare that would make JJ Abrams weep with jealousy and solid performances from all the cast, this is stylish stuff, with every penny of the production on display.

If The Fly and The Incredible Melting Man had a son, Skinless Pete may well be him. Darkly humorous, graphic and moving in equal measure, this movie had me gripped from start to glorious finish. The effects work is some of the best I've seen in an indie production and there's genuine suspense contained in the frames.

Mills' regular actor, Brandon Salkil, is on top form here as the principal character. He's a wonderfully talented screen presence, a physical actor who delivers horror and comedy in equal measure.

Erin R. Ryan is excellent, too, as Dr. Alice Cross, and Allison (Easter Casket) Fitzgerald delivers a strong performance as Olivia. Ryan's always screen gold and her performance in the next Mills directed movie, Kill That Bitch, is unmissable.

Topped off with one of the catchiest and fun theme songs I've heard in a long while, this is the Nekromantik for the twenty-tens! The Ballad of Skinless Pete will find a place in any horror lover's heart. Simply brilliant.