Fetusman82 Reviews

Gummo (1997)

A deep film, but in a not so deep kind of way.

[8/10 · 8 February 2007]

After much research and finally watching this film, I still have trouble judging it. The IMDb's rating is pretty much split right down the middle, you either love it, or you hate it.

Gummo is a film with not much of a plot, but still holds a grip on you. Traumatized residents of a small Ohio town try to find ways to live. The film is shown through viginettes of rather unrelated stories. Prodominantly it's about two kids, Solomon and Tummler, who hunt down cats to sell to the town butcher so they can buy glue to sniff.

But the film has more strange and bizarre characters to speak of, a man who whores out his mentally retarded wife, two wannabe strippers, and, of course the strangely interesting and the most important character is a silent skater boy who wears pink bunny ears, who supposedly symbolizes the only form of happiness in a town 'you wouldn't want to call home'.

But the folks of Xenia, Ohio have reason behind their madness and anti-social behavior. Apparently a few years ago, the town was struck by a tornado, from which the town had never recovered from.

The film is a horrifying social commentary. Gummo deals with strong social issues such as sexual abuse, drug abuse, racism, prostitution, fighting, and death - all in a poor society in our own country.

Although Gummo gives you something to think of, it offers no real moral redemption. And Gummo never really gets under the surface of why the characters are like the way they are. So really the film turns into a freak-show. In the end, the film really has nothing more to say than things like this are happening everyday, and no one is, and never will do anything about it.

Still I like the film because it was different. It coins the term originality in way few films do.

Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

Sickening, a perfect exploitation film with a mild point.

[7/10 · 12 September 2006]

In 1999, a film called The Blair Witch Project was released. There was plenty of talk surrounding the horror mega-hit. Mostly because of it's jerky, hand-held, unsettling camera work. But no one knows the technique was pioneered in the notorious, controversial 1980 film Cannibal Holocaust.

Director Ruggero Deodato was arrested shortly after it's release, and the film was confiscated. Deodato was charged with the murders of his actors in the film. The charges were later dropped when the actors turned out to be alive and well, only serving a short sentence. Twenty-six years later, it's still as controversial and sickening as it was back in 1980.

Salò, or The 120 Days of Sodom will always be the most disturbing film to me, but in terms of violence Cannibal Holocaust wins (and I've seen my share of shock cinema).

Cannibal Holocaust has been known as one of the most notorious movies ever to grace our screens, and deservedly so. Mostly for it's attitude, realistic human murder scenes, and, of course, the real on-screen animal slaughterings. Especially the infamous turtle killing, where a large turtle is beheaded, deshelled, gutted, and eaten.

Mostly shot with a hand-held camera, the film is given a more grainy quality and realistic feel to it.

Another quality to the film is that you end up supporting the cannibals. For the white film-makers are more savage than the savages themselves (ex. animal killing, burning a village, and the rape of a native).

Overall, the film is good, but it's not for everyone. It's not a life changing experience like 2001: A Space Odyssey or Salò, but it'll stick with you for awhile. And you'll definitely feel the need for a shower after you watch it.

Home Movies (1999–2004)

A funny show thats too often dismissed.

[10/10 · 10 August 2006]

Home Movies is easily one of my all-time favorite shows. Right up there with South Park, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Penn & Teller and Futurama.

I started watching Home Movies when Adult Swim came on Cartoon Network. Back then, Adult Swim was hardly heard of, and it was mostly, if not all, comedic shows like Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Space Ghost: Coast to Coast. Adult Swim has turned a bit for the worse recently, 12 Oz. Mouse is one of the worst shows I've seen. But anyway, at the time I thought Home Movies was only okay. But through the years the show has grown on me, and became one of the best shows on television.

The show is about confused eight-year old Brendon Small, who directs short films with his two friends, Jason and Mellisa, in his basement. Mellisa is Brendons best friend who turns out to be more like a boy than a girl. Jason is Brendons other friend who is a melodramatic fat kid.

Brendon has pretty dysfunctional surroundings. Paula is Brendon's single mother who often doesn't have answers to Brendon's questions, in fact she usually causes more questions for herself and Brendon. And Brendons father, who has appeared in a few episodes, gets remarried to a woman who Brendon is not too crazy for.

Coach McGuirk, Brendons 'soccer' coach, is easily one of the greatest characters to ever hit television. McGuirk is an alcoholic, who doesn't know the first thing about his job. He usually gives Brendon advice he later regrets listening too. As the show continues, McGuirk finds himself needing Brendon to feel like he's part of something.

Another set of characters is also one of my favorites in television. Those two are Walter and Perry. Walter and Perry are two high voiced hyper-friends that wear matching clothing. But the way they act, I think it's hard to say if they are gay or just two really great friends. I especially love their 'We Hate Fenton' poem.

I love Home Movies. But my circle of friends won't give the show a chance. And I think thats the huge problem of the show, no one will give the show a chance, and anyone who does, usually love the show. I like to think there is a chance of a comeback of the show, but I am aware that it is very unlikely. If Family Guy is worthy of a comeback, Home Movies is. But if not, I will still love this show.

The 100 Scariest Movie Moments (2004)

Never get's old to me.

[10/10 · 5 June 2006]

I watched this during the October of 2004, and I fell in love with it immediately. I, who had recently fell in love with films at the time this aired, had not watched many films. I didn't know where to begin. I was newly introduced to horror films and had only watched The Shining so far. And then one night, I caught this special by coincidence and was introduced to 100 horror films, most I have not heard of. A year later I had watched a lot of those films on the list and watched the special again and loved it more and more every viewing. Since my first viewing, I had watched more than horror films, but horror is still one of my all time favorite genres of film. I continue to watch it whenever it's on. I appreciate how they include the silent classics like Nosferatu and The Phantom of the Opera and the use of foreign films like Suspiria, Demons, and Audition. My favorites made the list, that made me really happy, like The Shining, The Exorcist, JAWS, and Night of the Living Dead. I do wish Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer's home invasion scene and The Eraserhead baby scenes had made the list, but it's good enough. And because they didn't forget the classics it's a perfect list, and the perfect countdown. Watch this if you get the chance, it's five hours, but it makes an unforgettable night.