Death and Cremation

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...

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".

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."

Then seem to be rushed from middle to end.

I still give it 7/10 for Brad Dourif....

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.