[Live Animals]
Plot:A group of college kids must decide what price they will pay to gain their freedom after being kidnapped by a ruthless White Slave trader.

Cast:John Still, Christian Walker, Jeanette Comans, Patrick Cox, Sarah Ewell, Scott Fletcher, Michael McLendon, Jay Munn, Bill Painter, Jon W. Sparks, Stacy Still, Monica Summerfield, Frances Wagner, Rusty White, Learyn Wilde, Scarlet Williams.

My Thoughts:Very "real" kidnapping tale.

Review:"Live Animals" is another cautionary teen tale about being aware of your surroundings at all times. Only it doesn't take the action to a fancy resort, or Europe, or some far off place. But rather keeps the locale Americanized, and more close to home. The film grounds itself in reality by putting together and displaying a scenario that could happen to anyone at anytime. Especially if you're a young person.

The pic follows a group of kids who are hanging out at a cabin, when they are set upon by a large slovenly man wearing a mask. The man works for a ruthless White Slave Trade, and is looking to grab some new specimens for his boss. And after the bloodshed, and terror subsides, so begins the harrowing tale of a group of normal everyday kids, as they are whisked away unwillingly, and soon become human property. The film is definitely a horror pic, but isn't Hollywood Horror persay. There's no fancy sets, plastic-looking teens, current "it" girls, or guys, or anything that is direct marketing to a certain target demo.

The movie grounds itself in a really dark, twisted, and sad niche of reality that many people are trapped in every day. Which is basically human trafficking. The movie doesn't display a particularly sophisticated or high-end human trafficking ring, but rather a more American/Rural-based one. Ones that can or could be found in any southern or midwestern state here in the U.S. Which is where the film really makes it's money at. Being a realistic, gritty, and hard-hitting story of a true crime, with normal and regular-looking people.

The acting is a good display by both the films villains and good guys. The movie starts off with villains, but throughout the journey, develops good guys in the kids who were snatched and being held hostage, and now, have to find a way to escape this horrible predicament they're in. Tis is definitely not a film for the sunshine and rainbows crowd when it comes to horror. If you like your horror watered down with some comedy sprinkled throughout, you're looking up the wrong tree here. This film is dark, disturbing, and sickening and stomach-turning in many areas.

And it is one of those movies that shows the human condition as one of the most dangerous things in the world. Above any monster, creature, demon, or devil. It's a film that shows how horror can come from the things and acts we take upon each other. And how far into exploitation and animalistic behavior money and a lack of morals will drive some people. People who on the surface, would look trustworthy and normal to most others.

The darkness and evil they hide within themselves which drives them to viciously abuse others, and live secret lives that they will do anything to keep a secret from the outside world. The movies finale is a great race to the finish, and it has some major twists which wrap the film up very nicely, and in a very unpredictable fashion. Not that I thought the ending was a good or happy one in the usual sense, but it matches the tone of the film. Dark, hopeless, and really gloomy.

The ending is not for the faint-of-heart, and will really leave you with a shoked look on your face. While I won't give it away too much here, lets just say that it's not the recycled Hollywood happy endings that we're all used to and conditioned to expect or want. "Live Animals" isn't a terrifice film overall, but rather a film that is good for the story it tells, and the message it tries to portray, whether on purpose or not. It gives what it says in the plot line, and doesn't try to make any excuses for any of it. It's really an indie picture that hits you hard in many different ways, and doesn't apologize for it.

Positives:A really gritty and dark story. The villains are well perfomed by the actors involved, and you will hate them before the film is all said and done.

Negatives:Some of the decision-making by the protagonist-characters can be annoying at times.

Overall:Three out of four stars.





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