Prior to my receipt of Cannibal Flesh Riot, I had never heard of Gris Grimly. I had not heard of him as a writer and never heard of the group Ghoultown to which Grimly directed their music video, "Mistress of the Dark".
However, now after the screening of Grimly's Cannibal Flesh Riot, I can clearly see the talent and understand why his name is attached to Guillermo Del Toro's with the updated stop-motion version of Pinnochio.
Cannibal Flesh Riot is a wonderfully crafted short film that includes above average acting for a 30-minute short horror film, and some competent effects and make-up to compliment its protagonists.
The film focuses on two ghouls – Stash and Hub (David Backus and Dustin Loreque) – who search the local graveyard for the newly deposited Clarence Waldo Heckles. A Rod Sterling-ish introduction explains to audiences the differences between ghouls and vampires (ghouls feast on the already dead) which gives the audience the framework for their nightly romp and we watch these two brilliant actors emote in a black & white homage to the 50's horror/drive-in films of the same genre.
The meat of the film is in the dialogue between the two leads as they discuss everything from breakfast to condiments (relish is "pickle vomit") and the script by Grimly does enough to keep us interested as the filming format changes between live action, stop-motion, miniatures and CGI.
A whimsical ending that is an homage to parts Sam Raimi and Ray Harryhausen are flattered by top rate sound mixing and a rocking soundtrack that is included in the tiled 'The Jams' disc two.
As small budget, horror shorts go, Cannibal Flesh Riot ranks as one of the best we have screened. It was funny, innovative and incredibly well acted. It's rare that we view a film of this ilk and are disappointed upon final screen credits, but we could easily have spent another 30 minutes with the Stash and Hub ghouls.
We would be remiss if we didn't also comment on the packaging of the Cannibal Flesh Riot DVD. Our package arrived with the feature film, a companion disc of music from the film, a mocked Grimville Times newspaper section and enough stickers, ads and information for five releases. If this is how Grimsly and the distribution company want to get the word out – well, they have hit the ghoulish ball out of the park. Bravo! www.killerreviews.com
