Side Sho

I blind bought this movie and am pretty upset that I paid as much as I did but I would say that it's at least worth a rent for some cool deaths and laughable acting. It is not a good movie in any way but I must say that I was pretty darn entertained. I guess it could be called so-bad-it's-good.

As I said, the acting is awful, I feel like I could have done a better job showing, at least, any emotion. The story is nothing new and has been done better. I guess I just have a soft spot for any carnival-esquire type film. I would say rent this or download it but definitely don't buy it. It is not worth more than one watch.

Picked Side Sho on a rainy evening and gave it a try. Wife was not thrilled to watch horror but she got into it once it started. Both of us were pleasantly surprised with the quality. We did not expect much from this movie because we had not heard anything about it. We anticipated a rip off of many of the slasher movies. Not the same old story. Has some interesting twists. Don't want to give it away but was pretty good. Did not take itself too seriously but it got our attention. Was just long enough. Don't think the wife could have taken much more. Worth the effort. We both ended up enjoying it. Will tell our friends.

Wonderful cinematography hampered by a less then stellar screenplay...

Yes, it's the ever so popular story of a family that wanders off society's beaten path and ends up being hunted by a family of freaks. At times it works, and at other times it "Sho don't", but director Michael D'Anna presents it in a visually appealing fashion. "Side Sho" is chalk full of horror clichés and plenty of bloody humor to reel in the low budget horror fans, but the story simply falls apart in the second act. You end up wondering if the funding dried up by the end of the film, because even the makeup effects seem to decline in value, and it almost seems to be rushing toward the climax with no real payoff. The acting is all over the board, some hit, some miss, with the best performance coming from the dad played by J.D. Hart. The scenery and locations look great, but the story doesn't take full advantage of this, and it just seems wasted here. It is certainly worth an evening's rental, but don't expect much more then eye candy without much filling.

Yet ANOTHER movie about a group of less-than-intelligent individuals on a road trip who wander off their original travel route for either a short-cut or, in this case, to visit a run-down side show attraction. The results, as expected, are not at all good, as this particular side show is home to a bunch of lunatic, in-bred residents who were escaped prison inmates from years before. The father, who is apparently a professionally photographer, just HAS to stop and take pictures of the place, only to find that it still inhabited. The various members of the family wander off to view the various attractions, only to be scared away. Thinking they made it safely on their way, the van tire explodes (surprise!), leaving them to seek refuge and accommodations in the small town, which we find out is inhabited solely by the freaks (surprise!).

This film plays out as expected, with the family being stalked and killed by the freaks. There is some fighting back on the families part, but these are probably among the worst scenes in the film, as they are badly executed. There is nothing remotely original here, unless you count the totally inappropriate soundtrack that is played during particular scenes that completely ruins the atmosphere and mood of the film. The acting is about as bad as I have seen in quite some time by everyone involved (it is pretty bad when your cast is out-acted by the cast of "Camp Blood). The special effects are lousy and the ending made me want to punch my television.

Still, though, despite all the negatives, I somewhat enjoyed this film. It definitely has a "so bad it's good" vibe to it. I made it through the entire movie and was even pleasantly entertained once I got past the ridiculously clichéd plot, terrible acting, and cheesy special effects. Though the ending left me feeling cheated and angry, particularly because the film is not that great to begin with and the ending makes the entire film pointless.

Bottom line, I can list countless films that if you have seen them, you have seen this. The difference is most of those film are better. Though not a complete waste, this film is pretty bad and not remotely scary.

My Grade: D

Side Sho surprised me as I thought I was in store for yet another dreadful independent horror film from Lionsgate. Boy was I wrong. From the imaginative opening credits to the "feel-at-home" setting of riding with the family, to the building terror of the shocks to be displayed, Side Sho is a solid horror film that will satisfy most fans of the genre. Great effects, attractive nubile young ladies, creepy freaks and good production values made it a wise rental. I have read varying reviews of the movie online, and I'm glad I took a chance with it. Some described the film as The Hills Have Eyes in the swamp, and I guess that is somewhat accurate. However, it is by no means just a simple knock-off of that famed film. Side Sho is well-above the common horror film out there, but yet not the best to come down the pike. Try it, you'll like it.