My Bloody Banjo

Banjo's cool poster strongly got my attention when I had read someone's review from freightfest UK last year. I had learned Laurence R. Harvey and Vito Trigo are casted in it back then. Both are my favorite actors. I thought I should check it once released.

My biggest question was.. what's Banjo? Why is it called Banjo in the first place? I know banjo is one of the musical instruments. But what's all about this film? I've been wondering about it. I had to wait until I could see it.

I admit that I couldn't get the meaning of Banjo in my first watching. I was a bit confused. I mumbled like, "Yeah, it's a fun flick but I still don't get it. Why Banjo? hmm... the director seems like a big fan of 80s. There should be the hidden meaning which should be cool. I need to find out. Okay. Let's watch it again!"

I am a good English learner who always try hard! After seeing it twice and learned what "banjo string" is, OHHHH! I finally figured! Everything totally makes sense to me! Hahahahahaha! Liam is crazy! Someone once said, "Knowledge is power". It's very true. Knowledge makes your life fun.

Banjo became my favorite film. It is one of the 80s homage kind of film but definitely it's not only that. In some part, it's very Tromatic. In some part, it has the comedic feeling of Dunder Mifflin. I woudn't be surprised if Dwight Schrute shows up on the screen and starts to make conversation with those fun actors.

Yes, those actors did amazing job. I wish Laurence could have had more time to play. How could he act like that? I thought Kate (his lovely girl friend) can't see it without crying because the guy he's acting is so miserable. I thought she might not like it. How could she keep watching her boyfriend being bullied awfully like that? I said what I felt to my buddy Daiju just after seeing it. He hasn't seen the film but replied me like, "Here's my guess. She would laugh a lot if Laurence is chuckling next to her when they watch it together." I hope he's right.

And Vito! I became a fan of him since I watched Scicene Team. His acting is always funny. Very strong and funny. All other actors are vividly playing their roles.

I once heard that all crazy people are calm and peace in their mind. Peltzer Arbuckle's case seems different. He is forced to deal with tons of mess in his life - job, romance and the troublesome imaginary friend Ronnie. Things are getting complicated/upside down. His mind goes insane. Is Ronnie a savior for Peltzer? Or devil? Or just a friend? I can't tell. But anyway, on the ending, Peltzer became happy - completely calm and peace. So I'd say it's a happy ending.

No pun intended - and I do hope this does not happen to anyone ... although apparently it can happen. And it did happen (based on a true story - don't be afraid of that moniker!) to the director ... as he is happy to admit and tell us in the commentary to the movie. Liam is a sweet guy and a cool Dude, so I may be biased a bit. But he cherishes bad reviews too. He knows what he did here - and he really embraces it. Blood, violence and all included (no nudity though, except male - which ... sticks out).

If like me you have no clue what a bloody banjo is (not a musical instrument .. well I reckon you can use it to produce music ...) .. you are in for a treat! No sensitive soul should be watching this, but I think I made that clear. Low budget Filmmaking and insanity at its best (or worse, depending on how you view it). There are quite a few Banjos placed all over the movie - and I am certain you may be able to find even more Easter eggs if you look for them.

Looking forward to the next gem - eating miss campbell ... and the pun already in the title ... have to think of another one for my summary line! Anyway, there is a Directors cut and if you are into low budget horror movies that are quite insane, but look really good (no pun intended), I can recommend this highly ... this is not Citizen Kane, it never said it is, you get exactly what you pay for ...

Banjo is a tale of an unremarkable guy called Peltzer who is bullied by his office boss and whom with his sexy, asset-laden partner is also cheating. Following an unfortunate and rather painful incident, Peltzer's already downbeat situation takes a final plummeting nose dive, leading to an imaginary friend called Ronnie to appear before him; who begins to take the reins, pushing Peltzer's life into vengeful bloody mayhem.

Banjo reminded me a lot of the 2013 psychological horror/drama "Dementamania", although Peltzer comes across as more of a victim and loser than Ed Arkham. Quite unlike Dementamania however, Banjo has a fun feel to it, whereas the former is a fairly clinical affair.

Banjo is hardly a tour-de-force of modern horror/exploitation cinema but it is a cool demonstration of what a genre-loving director can achieve. I'm a fan of the Troma-style genre of movies which has helped influence aspects of Banjo and, from the outset, does have its fair share of crazy, crude moments which put it in that league. Yet I felt too many scenes and too many moments of dialogue were, whilst all in context, unnecessarily prolonged and lacking the quick-fire MTV sensibility which I would have expected in this sub genre of movie.

The other main issue with the movie is, for me, the character Ronnie. He got on my nerves after a while. Some moments, Ronnie was clown-like, then at others a devil on the shoulder or playground teaser. This might have been intentional but I struggled to securely identify with him and as a result didn't really see him as the overwhelming catalyst he should have been for the latter stages of the movie.

These points aside, Banjo does have some remarkable, if eye-watering moments and a solid performance from lead actor James Hamer-Morton, who really helps tie the movie together. There is one scene in particular which is likely to get people talking and I, for one, have never winced so badly during a movie. Not ever - and that's after a lifelong diet of horror!

Whilst Banjo does have its flaws, the movie is clearly made on a low budget and I applaud the director and crew for an achievement which is clearly going to be an inspiration to other future film-makers. The special effects are surprisingly good and put a lot of bigger productions to shame and the acting throughout was not half as wooden or Troma-esque as I was expecting. Overall, it flows well and is a competent piece of film making.

So did I like it then? Well I definitely feel like watching it again to make up my mind, because it was not the kind of watch that leaves you yearning for the finish, which I suppose means that I did.

At least next time I'll know the cue for when to close my eyes and cover my ears.

Liam has really grown into a wonderful well established artist / director. A true fan of the horror genre who has taken all the aspects of the antihero and thrown them in a blender. Comedy, gore, controversy and a visual style that sticks to your brain long after viewing. Genius trash vision. In depth subject mater lightheartedly shoved down our throats to make us realise that nothing is that bad in life. guilty taboo glitter coated in a fresh warped pleasure. It is what it is. like the cenobites once said. Demon to some..Angel to others. Pretty much sums up Liam and Banjo. to the subculture of cult horror Regan is an Angel.

This film is a unique tale of romance in a office. You know man meets woman, then his friend turns up one day.

I do like this kind of British horror film. It made me laugh, it made me look away in parts and it did not take itself to seriously . The effects, sounds and sets are good some of the cinematography was not as good the comedy did make up for that.

You can see some nods to other film styles but you kind of expect that in this kind of film. I would of liked to know some of the who's and whys to move the story along. As this is the directors first feature film all I can say is well done please carry on.