Death and Cremation

I like movies that make you become more aware of how we treat strangers. However! I felt that this movie got a bit silly and cliché as far as it's portrayal of "popularity" or the actions that popular people take. Also, The main kid that is supposed to represent a misfit social outcast pretty much looks like the kid that is suppose to represent a frat boy popular guy at his high school. Same physique pretty much, just black nail polish and a "Disturbed" T-shirt (a mainstream band that would make you look "cool" according to most high school students). It would have been more believable had the main misfit kid looked more like an overweight, shy introvert. I know Brad Dourif calls himself a "movie whore" and he will be in pretty much anything if he feels like it. I've fallen for him so many times (i.e. The Fading of the Cries movie, way more boring than this believe it or not) because I will watch anything he is in. This movie is worth it just because of his acting. I love the ending. Someone put in a previous review said that they felt it ended rather abruptly due to the movie makers having no more money...I really feel that that reviewer totally missed the point of this movie and is a good example of a "victim".

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...

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

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."

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