Transamerican Killer

So, a while back I had a conversion with a friend that had just seen "one of the most stupid films ever". The film in question was of course Transamerican Killer, and despite how ridiculous and rubbish she was making it sound; I have to admit that I did make a mental note to track it down if possible. After seeing the film, I can confirm that it is indeed ridiculous and rubbish...but I can't deny that I enjoyed it! At its core, Transamerican Killer is basically about obsession...although assigning any 'values' or 'themes' to this film would be doing it far too much justice. We focus on a stripper named Jamie. She's split up with her boyfriend, and the person she's left him for just happens to be another woman. Naturally, the guy is not very happy about this (as you would expect) and follows through with promise of 'changing', and gets himself a sex change operation (as you wouldn't expect). So the transsexual ex-boyfriend turns up out of nowhere and begins picking off his ex-girlfriend's friends in a bid to win her back...

The film doesn't have time to get boring - and that is because the runtime is only around an hour and ten minutes. It never transcends its 'direct to video' roots and is every bit the low-rent piece of garbage that would expect from this sort of film. But even so...it could have been a lot better. It soon becomes apparent what this film's main problem is going to be; and it hits you in the face as soon as the killer appears. It's just so obvious it's a man! It's a guy in a dress and would fool absolutely nobody. The film honestly would have been better off hiring a slightly butch actress for the role as that would have been far more believable. The whole plot is also brought down by the way that the killer arrives on the scene. I have to admit that I'm not the most knowledgeable about this sort of thing...but I'm sure you can't just "go get" a sex change. Anyway...all that stuff aside this is a mildly amusing little horror film. The kill scenes aren't too bad and the strip club where a lot of the action takes place is suitable sleazy. I won't be recommending this to anyone; but those who enjoy stupid trash movies can't fail to find something to like.

Transamerican Killer, do you have watch parties where you and friends get together and watch bogus films? If you're that sorta person or have friends as such. This is your movie. There's nothing wrong with looking at beautiful bodies. I do enjoy a film where you find dark humor without expecting it. All you horror lovers I'm expecting you to enjoy this crazy slasher! This movie is a trip! Remember she's a cut above the rest.

This is a movie you want to dislike. It's barely feature-film length (runs about 70 minutes and then a ridiculous 10 minute "music video recap" and a "delete scene" make up the less than 90 minutes running time), the "secret" of the film is given away on the DVD box, and even if it weren't, is blatantly obvious. But a funny thing happens when you watch it. The director revels in the very things that should sink it, and that makes it work.

For example, the lead character's Grandmother loves the film "Casblanca." They obviously didn't get clearance rights to show the film running. Most directors would have kept it out of sight and just had the characters talk about it. But not Hail. He re-shoots the climactic scene (in B&W) with actors who neither look nor sound anything like Bogart and Bergman. Another scene takes place in a hospital. But there was probably no budget for a hospital bed. So he just puts the patient in some sort of recliner instead of a bed! And to make it look "medical" they actually put an EYE CHART on the wall!!

How can you hate a movie that does things like that? It's got strippers who get naked, loads of bizarro sets, an insane psycho serial killer who hacks people up, and an awesome chainsaw battle. What more could you want for an evening of utterly mindless fun? Only real complaint is that lead actress Cara Basso stays covered up, which is made worse by the fact that she does show us her butt, and it is spectacular (to say the least). Don't know why she did stay covered up since she's done full nudity in other films, but that's the way it is, I guess.

he filming for this film was delayed, and during the course of the delay, the film was re-written. At that time, several nude scenes were added, and Jennifer Autry removed herself from the film. Another actress had to step in as Bunny. Jennifer Autry is not the woman depicted in the website photos of nude scenes from this film, as when those were shot she had already resigned from the project. I do not know the name of the actress who took over, but I believe she was from Las Vegas. Jennifer started the film as originally written. She resigned after the re-writes. The ANGEL episode is correct. The other info on her is correct. The end.

Transamerican Killer is a movie you want not to like. It is about Las Vegas, men's clubs, psycho killers, it contains lots of nudity and blood yet it is beautifully filmed. The cinematography is wonderful, the nudity scenes are tasteful. There are a lot of first time actors who are so much better than a lot of established actors that you have to wonder what SAG is all about. The plot is thin but you have so much fun watching the movie that it really doesn't matter!