The Vagrant

At times, I was wishing that Bruce Campbell played Bill Paxton's part. But I do like a good dose of the Paxton when I can get it, and I definitely got a different kind of role from him in this movie. Not the greatest thing in the world, but it definitely reminded me of something that would make a great short story or novella. Especially with the degrees of paranoia exhibited by Paxton's character. Also, it felt as if the writer didn't know where to take such a simple premise so it kind of goes all over the place for the second half. The movie starts in one area and ends in another. No real direction. But the back story was nice. For a film of this caliber, I wasn't expecting any reasoning.

It's also good to see Ironside and Bell in something together beyond Total Recall.

Up and coming Graham Krakowski is a white, middleclass, wannabe yuppie. He buys a fixer upper house near the city center and moves in. However an old tramp also uses the house and Krakowski has to install a fortune of security devices. The tramp continues to get into the house and terrorise Krakowski, even though no one seems to see anything. As people begin to turn up dead, he wonders if it's all in his head and the police suspect him. Is the tramp real and, if so, what is his interest in Krakowski?

I didn't have high hopes for this despite the headline stars – they weren't big names then (this was one of Paxton's first lead roles). I also was put off by it's description as a horror/comedy – executive produced by Mel Brooks of all people! It started blandly enough but managed to have a few moments that fulfilled it's definition. It doesn't have out and out jokes, but some moments are funny – the police reaction to news of urination is the funniest. It also has some exciting moments of tension, but both are rare and scattered.

The story doesn't quite know what it's doing and because of that it's a little weak. However it does well enough to be entertaining, but it feels lost and slightly cheap. Paxton is actually quite good in a changing role, but Ironside doesn't have much to do. Marshall Bell as the vagrant is good despite just jumping out and going boo every 5 minutes – he is scary and unsettlingly unpleasant.

Overall this is OK to watch but isn't great. The comedy adds a strange mood to it and the drama/horror works quite well. Shame it feels a little cheap.

Corny... YES.... Cheesy... YES...

Still, this movie is highly entertaining. After renting it one day just for the sheer hell of it, I was dying of laughter!! I bought it the very next day! Paxton's comedic skills shine here, in what is a TRUE black comedy... If you are looking for something out of the ordinary to watch, with the potential to floor you with laughter, this is the movie for you! Low budget and all, it is definite entertainment!

Enjoy!

This was close to being a lost 80's style horror-comedy classic, but just falls short of the mark in the end. The script was just a touch too weak, the comedy a tad too far between, and the horror not strong enough. With a few tweaks, it could have been great, but as is, it's just a average movie at best. Paxton is game, but the rest just doesn't quite add up.

You need a dark sense of humor and a certain misanthropic attitude to truly enjoy this movie. It's right up my alley, but I can see why it flopped at the box office. Not high brow/pretentious enough to be appreciated by the art-house crowd, and possibly too twisted and mature to appeal to young adults/teens.

I see similarities with Mike Judges work, who is also good at exposing the BS of the human race in a very entertaining way, and whose movies are also not for everyone. This was the last movie Chris Wales directed, presumably due to the lack of financial success, which I think is a huge shame.