Side Sho

A family on vacation finds out about an old tourist attraction when they make a pit stop. The father is putting together a coffee table book on unusual tourist attractions and decides that he and his family should go explore an old "freakshow". Upon arrival the family is unexpectedly greeted by the owner of the freakshow or side show. The family decides to explore the attraction. The father goes with the owner to see some of the wilder displays and gets grossed out. What the family doesn't know is that there is a whole family of freaks who are looking to add a couple of new gals to breed with a extend their family tree. The father and son take on the freaks to rescue the women of their family. Side Sho isn't a great movie by any means, but it does have it's moments. There's plenty of cool and gory kills. Running around 89 minutes, Side Sho does movie a little slow and would probably have benefited from some trimming.

Side Sho surprised me as I thought I was in store for yet another dreadful independent horror film from Lionsgate. Boy was I wrong. From the imaginative opening credits to the "feel-at-home" setting of riding with the family, to the building terror of the shocks to be displayed, Side Sho is a solid horror film that will satisfy most fans of the genre. Great effects, attractive nubile young ladies, creepy freaks and good production values made it a wise rental. I have read varying reviews of the movie online, and I'm glad I took a chance with it. Some described the film as The Hills Have Eyes in the swamp, and I guess that is somewhat accurate. However, it is by no means just a simple knock-off of that famed film. Side Sho is well-above the common horror film out there, but yet not the best to come down the pike. Try it, you'll like it.

Yet ANOTHER movie about a group of less-than-intelligent individuals on a road trip who wander off their original travel route for either a short-cut or, in this case, to visit a run-down side show attraction. The results, as expected, are not at all good, as this particular side show is home to a bunch of lunatic, in-bred residents who were escaped prison inmates from years before. The father, who is apparently a professionally photographer, just HAS to stop and take pictures of the place, only to find that it still inhabited. The various members of the family wander off to view the various attractions, only to be scared away. Thinking they made it safely on their way, the van tire explodes (surprise!), leaving them to seek refuge and accommodations in the small town, which we find out is inhabited solely by the freaks (surprise!).

This film plays out as expected, with the family being stalked and killed by the freaks. There is some fighting back on the families part, but these are probably among the worst scenes in the film, as they are badly executed. There is nothing remotely original here, unless you count the totally inappropriate soundtrack that is played during particular scenes that completely ruins the atmosphere and mood of the film. The acting is about as bad as I have seen in quite some time by everyone involved (it is pretty bad when your cast is out-acted by the cast of "Camp Blood). The special effects are lousy and the ending made me want to punch my television.

Still, though, despite all the negatives, I somewhat enjoyed this film. It definitely has a "so bad it's good" vibe to it. I made it through the entire movie and was even pleasantly entertained once I got past the ridiculously clichéd plot, terrible acting, and cheesy special effects. Though the ending left me feeling cheated and angry, particularly because the film is not that great to begin with and the ending makes the entire film pointless.

Bottom line, I can list countless films that if you have seen them, you have seen this. The difference is most of those film are better. Though not a complete waste, this film is pretty bad and not remotely scary.

My Grade: D

Wonderful cinematography hampered by a less then stellar screenplay...

Yes, it's the ever so popular story of a family that wanders off society's beaten path and ends up being hunted by a family of freaks. At times it works, and at other times it "Sho don't", but director Michael D'Anna presents it in a visually appealing fashion. "Side Sho" is chalk full of horror clichés and plenty of bloody humor to reel in the low budget horror fans, but the story simply falls apart in the second act. You end up wondering if the funding dried up by the end of the film, because even the makeup effects seem to decline in value, and it almost seems to be rushing toward the climax with no real payoff. The acting is all over the board, some hit, some miss, with the best performance coming from the dad played by J.D. Hart. The scenery and locations look great, but the story doesn't take full advantage of this, and it just seems wasted here. It is certainly worth an evening's rental, but don't expect much more then eye candy without much filling.

This is a very chilling movie from director Mike D'Anna and Lucky Kitty Productions. It's creepy, it's full of great horror, and the ending will either tick you off or stick to your brain like glue FOREVER! The performances from the actors are very well done, but where D'Anna really hits home is the creepy vibe of the whole southern goth undercurrent of the film. Moody, scary, deep, and just plain fun to watch, this film is one of the coolest horror flicks to come out since Night of the Living Dead. Yeah, you read that right. This rivals Romero. It's just so "icky". And the ending is so unexpected that you'll want to watch it over and over again to really get yourself settled. Go rent it right now and you'll see what I'm talking about. Very cool film.