So after just watching the late 80s slasher 'Iced'. The flat and dull nature of it made made me appreciate the bizzaro style of the previous nights' hokey slasher; 'Open House'.
Virtually a cheaply produced, and straight-to-video drama-fused (consisting of sex, drugs, hijinks and relationship woes) slasher on a snowy remote mountain condo of former college friends getting together provided a few striking, and mercilessly staged murders saved for the backend. Especially the one involving an icicle. It does take a good hour of sluggish melodrama (think of a raunchy version of 'The Big Chill') and goggle POV shots of the stalking killer before this snowbound slasher hits its straps. And even then it's short-lived, in spite a few well shot moments.
The opening set-up of humiliation and something going wrong becomes the catalyst for the murders is very contrived for this sub-genre. But it was hard to take seriously after seeing other movies, and shows mock this certain plot device. As for the unknown killer decked out in ski gear. The reveal is obvious, however their motivation is so out-of-left-field. Like those unexplained visions/or are they fantasies/or maybe wet dreams... which just seem to pop out of nowhere. But I did like the final ridiculous last shot. It's been done to death... but it's one of only a few lively moments.
Virtually a cheaply produced, and straight-to-video drama-fused (consisting of sex, drugs, hijinks and relationship woes) slasher on a snowy remote mountain condo of former college friends getting together provided a few striking, and mercilessly staged murders saved for the backend. Especially the one involving an icicle. It does take a good hour of sluggish melodrama (think of a raunchy version of 'The Big Chill') and goggle POV shots of the stalking killer before this snowbound slasher hits its straps. And even then it's short-lived, in spite a few well shot moments.
The opening set-up of humiliation and something going wrong becomes the catalyst for the murders is very contrived for this sub-genre. But it was hard to take seriously after seeing other movies, and shows mock this certain plot device. As for the unknown killer decked out in ski gear. The reveal is obvious, however their motivation is so out-of-left-field. Like those unexplained visions/or are they fantasies/or maybe wet dreams... which just seem to pop out of nowhere. But I did like the final ridiculous last shot. It's been done to death... but it's one of only a few lively moments.