Shakma

Mark my words, fellow rabid-monkey-related movie fans, you will remember the first time you watch "Shakma." It is a transcendent experience that has surpassed all other rabid-monkey-related movies, in my book. The plot, which involves a rabid monkey, is of little consequence. It's the subtle humor that's injected throughout the film. For instance, after one character meets his demise in an elevator to the wrath of Shakma, he is mocked by the elevator door closing on his dead body. Such craft, such art has yet to be equaled in any rabid-monkey-related film. Friends, do yourself a favor, watch "Shakma" and be prepared for a life-changing experience.

When I saw that movie a few years ago it totally freaked me out. Which is surprising, as I had thought I had become immune to horror movies. I am surprised the movie got such a bad score, because for me it totally worked. Watch at night, alone.....

In a flagrant breach of health and safety regulations (and flying in the face of common sense), professor Sorenson (Roddy McDowall, not playing an ape for a change) locks the external doors to the college, trapping himself and a handful of his students inside the building while they play a real-life fantasy role-playing game (with the use of a hilariously crap computer, tracking devices and walkie-talkies). Their fun is interrupted by a crazed lab baboon called Shakma, whose brain has been fried by an experimental serum.

Who knew that a baboon - not much bigger than an average sized dog - could be so butt-clenchingly scary? Shakma, directed by Hugh Parks and Tom Logan, starts off on shaky ground, the nerds playing their silly game proving rather boring, but once the angry ape shows up to spoil the evening, the film proves surprisingly terrifying thanks to a standout performance from Typhoon the baboon. Crazier than Nic Cage on cocaine, the hairy horror gives his all, screeching loudly, crashing wildly against doors, leaping onto victim's faces, and generally being one incredibly fearsome furry fellow.

With a willingness to bump off any character, no matter how likeable, a smattering of gore (the baboon goes mad with jaws and claws and likes to eat his victims), and an unpredictable ending, Shakma is a solidly entertaining B-movie - so much so that it's easy to forgive the clichéd cat scare (and rat scare).

A group of medical students are planning to play live role game in the shape of "Dungeon and Dragons" in the medical campus building after hours. They'll be locked in and accompanied by Professor Sorenson, who'll be The Gamester that looks over the contest. While searching for clues, to eventually save the princess. They didn't expect a real nemesis would try to stop them, as now a furious, drugged up lab baboon is on the loose and tearing apart the gamers.

I'm stuck here, because I thought there were good moments within, but also equally bad aspects to this shonky, overwrought and mildly fun monkey on the rampage b-grade clunker. The disappointing thing is the premise pulls you right in, but what we get never lives up to it and its frustratingly vapid script with little success stretches the one-idea concept out. You could only do so much. It does seem to hold your interest in patches though, after a somewhat meandering set-up to begin with. Actually I got to hand it to screenwriter Roger Engle, as even though there was too much dead air and repetition, it still has guts and never took the easy option. The serious approach the material is going for is totally thrown off balance due to how silly going it gets and the lack of menace dripping off the "I have no respect for doors!" baboon. Some people might find the baboon terrifying, but on the other hand for me it came off pretty risible. Although that's me watching it, and not being in the same room with it, as if so Im sure it would be a different story. The baboon's obviously method performance was nothing but brilliant! Watching it bouncing about, dawdling around on its hind legs, shrieking in anger and the facial activity gave me a good laugh, but at least the attack scenes struck a nerve as they were brutally viscous and relentless in detail. Some took place off-screen, but were well done and the few we saw were unpleasantly aggressive. Decent gore FX was on show, but this was more so the aftermath and blood was spilled very often. Directors' Tom Logan and Hugh Parks do a mechanical job, in which case they could've done with much tighter editing. However because of the minimal production, it's stringent quality generates some well-mounted anxiety and claustrophobic passages. It's all about the jolts, and since we know that, we see them pretty much coming and in an all too quickly, cramp fashion. David C. Williams' brooding musical score is well placed throughout. The performances by the young cast including the likes of Christopher Atkins, Amanda Wyss and Ari Meyers is by the numbers. Roddy McDowall is reliably fine, in an all to familiar role.

Overly drawn out, but reasonably fun fodder.

Professor Sorenson (Roddy McDowall) and his assistant, Sam (Christopher Atkins) are working on an experimental brain serum to reduce aggression. Upon injecting it into a baboon named SHAKMA, it goes berserk in the lab, causing Sorenson to order Sam to put the creature down. Inexplicably, Sam decides against the idea, and SHAKMA escapes, slaughtering all of the other research animals in the process.

Now, with the hyper-energized creature on the loose, no one is safe. This is made far worse, due to the fact that Sorenson's students have been locked in the building for a treasure hunt game! Everyone is in for a long, bloody night.

This isn't a bad horror movie, though it's fairly obvious where it's headed from the beginning. Personally, I find baboons to be scary as hell anyway, so, this works for me!

Co-stars Amanda Wyss as Tracy...