You know, after the dual masterpieces of Dog Soldiers and The Descent, I’m thankful Neil Marshall finally answered the question: why the fuck not?
The kitchen sink feels like it overstayed its welcome here. A hodgepodge of genres that aims for homage, barely avoids parody and settles somewhere around pale imitation. This is like if Paul W. S. Anderson were given beta blockers. I don’t think any of the things Marshall was trying to do here pay off. The budget was quadruple that of The Descent and he obviously struggles wielding the bags of money he had. Sure, I understand not wanting to be hemmed in as a ‘horror director’ but when you’re the best British horror director in years, why change?
And yet, I kind of loved it. It’s a hellscape of missed chances and half baked ideas but it’s entertaining to the very last second. Even a dumpster fire can be riveting to watch. There’s also some breathtaking shots in amongst the shoddy editing. It’s a specific brand of pulpy terrible that, when the mood strikes me, I can fully get behind.
Doesn’t change the fact this is the biggest directorial fall off since M Night’s The Happening.
(Plus points because Adrian Lester has an absolutely solid ushiro geri. Minus points because of a wasted Sean Pertwee)
You know, after the dual masterpieces of Dog Soldiers and The Descent, I’m thankful Neil Marshall finally answered the question: why the fuck not?
The kitchen sink feels like it overstayed its welcome here. A hodgepodge of genres that aims for homage, barely avoids parody and settles somewhere around pale imitation. This is like if Paul W. S. Anderson were given beta blockers. I don’t think any of the things Marshall was trying to do here pay off. The budget was quadruple that of The Descent and he obviously struggles wielding the bags of money he had. Sure, I understand not wanting to be hemmed in as a ‘horror director’ but when you’re the best British horror director in years, why change?
And yet, I kind of loved it. It’s a hellscape of missed chances and half baked ideas but it’s entertaining to the very last second. Even a dumpster fire can be riveting to watch. There’s also some breathtaking shots in amongst the shoddy editing. It’s a specific brand of pulpy terrible that, when the mood strikes me, I can fully get behind.
Doesn’t change the fact this is the biggest directorial fall off since M Night’s The Happening.
(Plus points because Adrian Lester has an absolutely solid ushiro geri. Minus points because of a wasted Sean Pertwee)
