The Janitor

Poor Lionel is tried of taking crap from the workers in the building that employs his Custodial services, so he goes on a rampage mutilating anyone who looks at him the wrong way. Mr. Growboi s a fellow janitor who looks to Lional as a son and helps him cover his bloody tracks. However Mr. Growbo isn't someone you should spurn. With horror comedies, they either work or they suck. No middle ground here. Fortunately this one works, coming off as a moderately well acted version of a Troma film (Lloyd Kaufman even has a cameo). It's gory, has gratuitous toplessness, and is frequently quite fun. The character of Lional kinda reminded me of a cross between Peter Jackson circa "Bad Taste" and Orville Ketchum from "Hard to Die" and "Sorority House Massacre 2". My hats off to Andy Signore, TJ Nordaker, and everyone else involved in the production. You guys know how to bring a tear to the eye of a drunken jaded exploitative horror fan.

Eye Candy: Rachael Ann Bennett, Crystal LeBard, Stephanie Medina, and Tusdi Rodriguez get topless

My Grade: B

DVD Extras: Commentary by Andy Signore, John Carreon, and TJ Nordaker; a 58 minute Making of; "th Office is Closed" short film; Lackadaisical Music video; Photo gallery; Deleted scenes; and the trailer

2 Easter Egg: Bruce Cronander improvising & missing his cue; more nudity set to music

It is not often that I give a movie 10/10. This one, for sure, is not for everyone at all times, but for the intended mood and audience, it is perfect.

Every scene has high production values, when you consider that the intent is to produce confusion. Some call this a "B-grade movie", but no, they did not lack the budget to do a good movie. They intentionally, by careful purpose, made something which never suspends disbelief because the world is intrinsically unbelievable.

The result involves everything from audio re-dubbing to key plot points, all used to make you see the mistakes, not as errors, but as intentional. They aren't mistakes at all, they are just... unreal.

This movie should not exist, but it does. A whole crew sat down and made sure that in no moment can you get complacent, thinking that you finally understand the "world rules" can just sit and "be entertained". No, every single moment has obvious wrong things, less obvious wrong elements, and is all constructed upon a premise which is wrong both morally and in consistency with any fantasy or real world laws or order.

This is not total chaos, however. It is a straightforwards story offset, twisted, and then twisted again. At every scene, for every character, in every way.

The acting team is competent, the writing makes for a time-line with no plot holes, and the directing and editing are spot on to keep a great pacing. On purpose, all of the characters are not only odd in some way, but are also exaggerated to the point where their lack of self-awareness is the only consistent plot point.

The audio mix is well done, but on purpose some things are out of sync (e.g. intentional off-sync audio dubbing), as if making reference to other films that do it due to constraints, rather than due to the purposeful effect of parody of an entire genre.

This is not to say that, on a deeper level, this is worth watching - - no, this movie is shallow, gross at times, sets bad examples, and cannot be shown to anyone who takes their time seriously.

However, if you do find yourself taking life too seriously, and struggling with any problem which seems impossible, then this movie will take your mind totally off of those things, and help you to feel emotions that are directed, ultimately, at a well constructed respite from the folly of human society.

I would not suggest that this movie was made by aliens from outer space, but rather, from the comedian from inner space. It is a reflection of those thoughts that we normally ignore and dismiss as way out of possibility and utility, and thus discard.

This movie is trash, on purpose, made to draw attention and then waste it... and it say so in the synopsis. Thus, if that is what you want, a distraction, and an absurdity, then it does it well.

It does not lack in any technical point, either, and greatly appreciate that. The scenes, story, and characters, may all repulse, but never will you be straining to hear a line, complaining about the acting, or thinking that they should have edited the script or timing more.

Rather, you may want to know... what was it that I just watched, how could they possibly get funding for this, and why can't I have as much fun?

I hope that this inspires a new generation of film-makers to make more films with high objective qualities, no matter their budgets, and to spend the extra time and money to polish it in editing.

It may sound like a contradiction, but this is well presented garbage, and that makes it a great movie. If that is what you are looking for, if you have a bunch of friends or some alone time to get distracted and challenged to see life through less serious lenses, then this will definitely help you there.

Please enjoy this as much as I did... just don't judge it as anything than what it plans to be.

Not details about story, plot, or character because every scene is its own "what the ---" moment, and all I want to do is hope that others also can enjoy it. It might even be a new genre: the super never serious consistently inconsistent unpredictable details chaos based horrible emotion invoking movie, or BI SCC DUNS WHIM for short (anagram). Why did I make that anagram?

If you watch this movie, arbitrary things like that will be filling your mind. It is curiously contradictory.

Well, just watched the midnight showing of Janitor and I was quite happy with it. I'm into the lower end of the budget food chain. This movie had it all, humor and slasher elements. None the less it was a great movie and if your into the B-movie/low budget slasher/comedy flicks I suggest a watch. The characters are well played and fit in well, and some of the scenes are things well...you just haven't seen before. Trust me, I had more than one WTF moment. Like before mentioned I was pleased with it as a whole, it was a good movie and it didn't try too hard to be taken overly serious. I like movies that are fake as hell, if I wanted to sit down and watch something super realistic I'd watch the news. This was entertaining and innovative. Three cheers for the blue collar working man, you keep on Rollin' Janitor! Well, take it easy and happy viewing.

Blood, breasts, and cleaning products rain supreme in this soon to be classic film. Filmed with entertainment in mind, this gore flick has lots of sick humor! There isn't much justice my words can do. Just see it. This is is total B-Movie. B= best, breast, blood, bludgeoning, and bucket of cleaning solution. See it! The characters are unique and fun, the girls are hot or at least highly killable as some of the dudes scream like girls and get the plunger! Warning contains some of the best video ever seen of girls "having fun." Was seen when they first played this online. Is a must see film for parties and other large gatherings where feeding off one another's reactions makes it over the top.

The movie-industry has been due for a good slasher film for a long time. It seems the contemporary film industry has led the horror genre to fall into two clearly distinct categories: the M. Night recipe of infinite plot twists that confound the viewer and ultimately leave him unsatisfied, or the psychological horror tripe in which the climax is the protagonist awaking to realize that the entire ordeal was all a dream. These shortcomings are compounded by a level of seriousness that rivals Pentagon Briefings, which leaves the viewer mumbling "Bueller? Bueller?" in a vain attempt to make sense of where the last two hours of his life went.

"The Janitor" shines because it isn't meant to be taken seriously. Nor is the viewer expected to see it as a dramatic, break-through work that rattles the conventions of society while leaving the viewer with a single tear-trail on an ashen cheek. With so many first-time filmmakers attempting to take Cannes by storm with this cookie-cutter film making style, it would almost be prudent to call the thought process of first-time directors Signore and Nordaker groundbreaking. It follows: Slasher fans like violence. Slasher fans like dark comedy. Slasher fans like beautiful naked women. Let's make a film with violence, dark comedy, and nude hot chicks that would make my great-grandfather pop a boner.

And they have done just that. Signore and Nordaker have accomplished in their first attempt what many veteran directors have yet to achieve: they have made a film that is enjoyable to watch that does not, by any means, remain in the realm of good taste. And that is how it should be; similar to Raimi's early work, "The Janitor" keeps the viewer on the thin line between face-stiffening laughter and gore-induced queasiness. As the film begins to stray more towards one side, the filmmakers skillfully pull the viewer back with clever writing and savvy editing. It is clear that Signore and Nordaker have created a film that is both enjoyable and entertaining. It is also certain that the directors of "The Janitor" have a promising future in the film making industry. Finally, this viewer will ensure that he never forgets to put his office cleaner on his Christmas Card list, lest he stray to far into the custodial closet, never to be seen again!