Slice and Dice: The Slasher Film Forever

Anyone who loves (or even likes) horror films, and in particular, the slasher film, should check out this excellent documentary. Loving put together by Calum Waddell and Naomi Holwill of High Rising Productions, it's informative and at times, tongue in cheek. A lot of the time, these kind of things take the form of critics and people you've probably never heard of, analysing the films being talked about, and can be hard to watch for the average man on the street. Slice And Dice caters for everyone by talking to actors, actresses, directors, etc who are all fans of these films themselves. Do yourselves a favour, and catch Slice And Dice: The Slasher Film Forever as soon as you can, you won't regret it. The film has been getting great reviews everywhere it's been shown, and will arrive on DVD in the UK in the coming months. P.S. "reviews" should be done by people who have actually seen something, and not by someone who hasn't seen it, and warning people off because they have a problem with the filmmakers.

I managed to see this superb slasher documentary at the GFT in Glasgow where it played with Scott Spiegel's Intruder. The documentary produced by High Rising Productions covers slasher titles from Psycho right through to recent titles like the Maniac remake starring Elijah Wood.

People familiar with High Rising's work on Arrow Video titles like Zombie Flesh Eaters, City of the Living Dead and Day of the Dead will not be disappointed with this treasure of a documentary. The doc features interviews with the likes of Corey Feldman, Tobe Hooper, Norman Warren, James Moran, Tom Holland & Mick Garris to name a few discussing the genesis of the slasher genre, the rules of the genre & the final girl.

The work is clearly a labour of love for the High Rising team who made the documentary with no budget whilst working on special features for some of the many horror films they have worked on in recent years. The animation work between interviewee's and the subject matter covered is fantastic as is the music by the Acid Fascists in the title and end credits.

Having been well received at film festivals around the globe the documentary is due to be released in May by 88 Films in the UK and has a plethora of extras. This is a must buy for all horror fan's!

DISC 1:

Feature Film

Special Features:

*Audio commentary with director/ producer Calum Waddell moderated by Justin Kerswell, author of Teenage Wasteland: The Slasher Movie Uncut *Additional 'outtake' interviews featuring Corey Feldman, Felissa Rose, J.S. Cardone, Kevin Tenney and more *Post-screening audience Question and Answer session from the Glasgow Film Theatre featuring Slice and Dice interviewees James Moran and Norman J. Warren *Footage from the Sitges Film Festival World Premiere *Footage from the USA premiere at San Francisco's Another Hole in the Head Festival *Footage from the Scottish premiere at the Glasgow Film Theatre *All Kinds of Twisted (Theme from Slice and Dice: The Slasher Film Forever) music video *Full Moon trailer park including trailers for slasher greats Tourist Trap, Puppet Master and Intruder.

DISC 2:

Trailer Park of Legendary Slasher Titles *Optional audio commentary with Calum Waddell and Justin Kerswell

Peeping Tom (1960) Slaughter Hotel (1971) Black Christmas (1974) Eaten Alive (Tobe Hooper, 1977) The Hills Have Eyes (1977) Halloween (1978) He Knows You're Alone (1980) Don't Answer the Phone (1980) Fade to Black (1980) Terror Train (1980) Prom Night (1980) The Unseen (1980) Final Exam (1981) Hell Night (1981) Alone in the Dark (1982) Last Horror Film (1982) Sleepaway Camp (1983) The Hills Have Eyes Part II (1984) Splatter University (1984) Mountaintop Motel Massacre (1984) Stagefright (1987) American Gothic (1988)

A frankly magnificent and unmissable trip thru' the celluloid slash-scape, Slice and Dice is a must for, well everybody if I'm honest.

From the opening salvo from the Voorhees vanquishing cult king Corey Feldman to sound bites from the usually reclusive Norman Warren via all points in between, it's almost as if everyone featured was actually sitting on your sofa having a good old chat with you.

Slice and Dice comes into it's own not just because of the quality of interviews presented but by the sheer quantity of those being interviewed, I lost count in the mid twenties, taken aback as I was by the abundance of clips illustrating the genre's history.

From Psycho to The Boogeyman and even (gulp) Cradle of Fear, if a movie features virgin flesh being violated by a blade then you'll find it here.

And more besides.

Recommended.

So someone who does not appear to have seen the documentary in question appears to have spent time on Xmas Day abusing something out of a clear, personal vendetta for the makers. That is dedication at least. While SLICE AND DICE does not have Craven, Carpenter or Savini involved, it was done on little budget and contains some great speakers all the same. I doubt you can claim Tobe Hooper, Corey Feldman (who killed Jason!), Patrick Lussier, Joe Cardone (The Slayer), Jeffrey Reddick (creator of Final Destination who speaks at length about it being 'a slasher without the slasher') and Felissa Rose are not slasher film royalty. Anyway I have seen this and thought it was a smashing documentary. Its funny, paced well and looks good. Why not judge for yourself when it finally comes out on DVD?

Wherfore art thou? How is it possible to do a documentary on slasher films without their presence? No Kane Hodder? No Robert Englund? And those guys will appear in ANYTHING! Without the participation of the 'movers and shakers' who defined these films, all you're left with is a constant stream of people who's (for the most part) only relation to the films is the same as you or I. They watched them.

For a more thorough examination of the genre I'd recommend 'Gone To Pieces' - not without it's faults but at least it strives to do something to place the films within the context of the times.

Please god, won't somebody make this man stop.....