Slaughterhouse Rulez

"Slaughterhouse Rulez" is a disappointing film for fans of comedy, black-humor, drama, romance and horror. The silly plot does not satisfy any of the foregoing genres. The comedy is silly and not funny; the black humor is poor; the drama and the romance are shallow, almost inexistent; and the horror is ridiculous and not scary, with terrible special effects. The great cast is wasted and cannot save the film. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Escola da Morte" ("Death School")

As one who loves 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz' this was a bit disappointing. Pegg, Frost, and Sheen play supporting characters more or less, while the students are the main cast. They unfortunately don't bring enough comedy or drama to make you feel invested in them. And it feels as though two thirds of the movie goes by until something actually happens and it gets going.

Wasn't terrible or anything, but as a comedy/horror it just doesn't have enough of either.

This film has been pretty comprehensively savaged - I'm in the minority who actually enjoyed it. Okay it's disjointed, but as kitsch horror nonsense - with a splendid scenery gnawing turn from Michael Sheen it worked for me. Disengage brain, enjoy a romp. May have an afterlife as camp b-movie fun when it inevitably reaches Netflix. The young cast are also good.

A great cast full of easily recognisable faces, a mildly interesting plot and some funny lines scattered throughout (thank goodness for British humour) but in all honesty, the only terrifying thing is the film overall. Somewhat enjoyable if you don't take ANY of it seriously.

Whereas this misses the vital team members of the cornetto team namely Nira Park and the combined writing efforts of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright it still produces the goods.

In a way I wish I hadn't read the other reviews - sure people must've seen a different film!? But here goes mine ....

So basically this film is a combination of the style and horror rom com of Shaun of the Dead and the 1960s dark rebellious movies such as IF , Unman Wittering and Zigo , Goodbye Mr Chips . If you've seen those films you'll get the comedy cues . If you haven't you might struggle . It also has more than a little parody of Harry Potter.

What was good about the movie ? Casting - casting a female lead who's actual name is Harmoine was genius ! Simon Pegg and Margot Robbie's failing romance . The matron was a great casting real St Trinians styling .

What was not so good ? Martin Sheen and Simon Peggs characters seem to merge into one the scripting could have been better here . It couldn't be described as horror the creatures weren't at all horrific . At times it laboured and you felt you wanted the film to end quicker .

The themes were reluctant aspiration , good over evil ,failing and seemingly unobtainable romance . Bullying . Deceit . Parental pressure . Isolation and abandonment. Tradition vs contemporary and changing times and accepting of LGBTQ's etc

It was a story of symbolism and the changing landscape of the economics of the country , whereas public schools were originally for the male elite to be shoehorned into their roles of leading the country the Slaughterhouse school ( looking a lot like Stowe ) has to reluctantly adapt itself to accepting girls and foreign students to prop up its finances .

Then there's the more sinister side of the headmaster's dealings with unethical corporations and the final retribution of triumph of good over evil.

Horror fans might be disappointed by the lack of actual horror - it certainly wasn't a movie where you'd jump out of your skin but it wasn't a bad movie and is an enjoyable watch if you go there with the right expectations . The comedy propped it up .

Pad.A 8/10 Padreviews