Butcher Boys

I wasn't expecting to like this movie but watched it because I did appreciate "Wildman of the Navidad", directed by and produced by the same group, Greeks Productions and Boneboys Inc. This film was very bloody but why not, it is horror people! Kept me not wanting to watch another minute but not being able to turn it off. Not for the light of heart. Waiting for the new one "Red on Yella Kill a Fella". And if you haven't seen "Rio Peligroso: A Day in the Life of a Legendary Coyote (2004)" do yourself a favor and try to get a copy, it is hysterical. The horror movie genre started by innovators like George Romero working on a tight budget but a big imagination. I love to see what newcomers can do with a little money and a camera and these guys do not let me down! Keep on filming guys.

Let me start off by saying that I am in no way associated with the film - nor do I believe the other positive reviews to be. I simply had to make this my first review due to how shocked I am of the rating here.

Is this the next cult classic for horror films? Absolutely not. Was I thoroughly entertained the ENTIRE film? YES.

Make no mistake about it - this is definitely a rehashed TCM script that the writer augmented after reading a book he enjoyed. People are comparing this the Chainsaw Massacre because it feels remarkably similar. You are fooling yourself if you feel otherwise.

The plot is ripe with loose ends...and it definitely gets wacky at the end, but that's alright. Because its entertaining. TCM3D was one of the worst films I watched this year... perhaps the worst actually. Butcher Boys has solid acting for the most part, interesting characters, and truly nonstop engagement. Seriously ..its impressive if you think about it.

I am a horror movie fan. In fact, I watch damn near exclusively horror films. I passed on this one several times due to the lower rating here on IMDb. I watched because I simply had nothing else, and I am very glad I did. It's a move I will certainly be revisiting due to its tense yet "fun" (i suppose) nature.

Four kids out for some fun upset the wrong gang of cannibal greasers and are chased around a city at night while being picked off one by one. The script for Butcher boys was written by the writer of the original Texas chainsaw massacre with most of the ideas from that movie being regurgitated here only slightly tweaked. Several scenes are reused which dampens the impact as you've seen it before. It also borrows from other films most notably Judgement night.

In its favour Butcher boys does have a pleasingly nihilistic tone as once the film gets going nothing is explained. Who are these rockabilly cannibals? Why are the cops scared of them? Just what is that weird restaurant/gentlemans club they're running all about? But the tentative approach to the violence portrayed is at odds with the gonzo storytelling. Apart from two or three slightly graphic scenes the blood and gore is fairly minimal. This could be due to budget constraints. If I so I would have maybe saved the money spent on the constant nighttime aerial shots and spent that money on more prosthetic effects. A little more violence would have pushed this film up another notch on the crazy level making it that little bit more memorable. The nihilism does eventually reach it's apex in the finale when all hell breaks lose. Unfortunately this scene also turns a few things already set up in the film on its head. Making you question even further the lack of coherence.

I did find watching Butcher boys a fairly frustrating experience. I could definitely feel the opportunity for a good if not great movie in there somewhere. Visually it's very competent, it's well filmed and has a certain visual style all credit to the directors achieving this on a minimal budget. The sound and score are also strong. On the whole the performances are good with the odd exception. The problem lies mainly with the script, it borrows too much from other films, some of it could be classed as a knowing wink or nod to the writers previous work. Although had it been written by anyone else I think we'd be calling it plagiarism.

In the end I was left neither loving or hating the film hence the score. Maybe on a second viewing I'd like it more, but at the moment the only taste left in my mouth is vanilla.

It is very over the top crazy multiple things happening you never really form attachments to any of the characters but I really enjoyed this movie. I like quirky weird story lines and I love weird concepts in movies such as cannibalism (spell check) I did only watch this movie because I was bored and nothing else was on but if you're into weird nonsense movies this is one for you. After you will be asking what did I just watch. I do think this movie is a hit or miss for people. I am seeing people either really hated it or people really likes it. No middle base here. It ended on very weird terms I almost thought it wasn't over. Like all that and this is the end but again I did enjoy it and I don't think this movie gets the props that it deserves.

When you watch Butcher Boys, don't expect classy, artfully structured horror. Don't expect a movie that takes itself seriously. Really, don't expect anything except a movie that captures the manic spirit of the original cycle of Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies and why shouldn't it, as it is co-written and produced by Kim Henkel (co-writer of part 1 and and writer and director of part 4).

The premise is pretty simple. A group of well off young people get into an altercation with a pair of jock douche bags and in the ensuing chaos, they run across the titular gang of fine young cannibals. The villains are dangerous, psychotic young men with bizarre ides about class and proper diet.

That's about it as far as the story goes and, honestly, the first half of the movie is kind of weak. It's basically one long chase sequence that goes on longer than it has to. But just when I was about to lose interest altogether, things got crazy, much crazies than the average movie of this kind. I don't want to give anything away but suffice to say that by the end, you'll see a hulking, deformed cannibal bashing a war vet in a wheelchair in the face with a chunk of concrete he's swinging from a chain and that's not the wildest, weirdest part of the finale!

The camera work is okay, the acting is of mixed quality, the score is great, the script is thin, the gore effects solid, and generally the quality is all over the place. Many people will hate Butcher Boys. There's just no way a movie this strange can be to everyone's taste. However, if you're a fan of weird, wild cinema, Butcher Boys is a must.