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[Slime City Massacre]
Plot:In the wake of a "dirty bomb" attack, a New York City neighborhood known as "Slime City" has been evacuated, except for the homeless ("displaced refugees"). Four squatters searching for food in the ruins of the Zachary Devon Soup Kitchen discover a supply of mysterious wine. When they drink the wine, they are transformed into hideous slime creatures driven to murder - an intermediate step as they are possessed by the spirits of cultists who committed suicide years earlier.
Cast:A. Lee Perkins,
Debbie Rochon,
Jennifer Bihl,
Robert C. Sabin,
Tommy Sweeney,
Kealan Patrick Burke,
Mary Bogle,
John Renna,
Michael O'Hear,
Angelina Leigh.
My Thoughts:Schlock horror for a new generation.
Review:In today's genre age of horror films with really good-looking casts of young 20-somethings who also double as pop singers...and indie horror movies which are always trying to land one or two horror vets, to give their movie some street cred..."Slime City Massacre", from director Greg Lamberson...is a brave attempt at schlock/gore horror in a 2011 world. Films like this would've worked in the 80's, and even early 90's.
But in 2011, can a movie like "Slime City Massacre" even be remotely enjoyable? Well...yes and no. YES...because I am a big fan of anything new that tries to be original. But NO because the lack of character development and coherency that 80's gross-out flicks had, can be very annoying in 2011. "Slime City" is the sequel (long awaited or not, you be the judge), to the late 80's horror flick where a cult's bizarre and mysterious elixir, sets off a chain of events that ultimately become deadly for all involved.
The sequel returns the mysterious elixir, as does it return filmmaker Greg Lamberson who directed the first movie. Not sure why Lamberson decided all these years later to do a sequel, as I think a return to the "Slime City" universe would've made more sense in the early or mid 90's. At any rate, Slime City at this point in time is now a pretty much lawless place. It's filled with vagrants and people are pretty much free to do whatever they please. And whatever pleases them. The films villains include the A-typical greedy land developers/slumlords. Who want to do away with Slime City's "undesireables", and turn the city into luxury condos and fill it with rent payers.
Problem is, once some of the city's new residents drink the elixir from the first movie, after finding it stashed away...they soon begin to take on the personalities of the dead cultists who committed suicide back in the day. And that's when the bodies begin to pile up. Along with other nasty stuff. "Slime City Massacre" makes sure to shore up it's cast by making genre scream queen Debbie Rochon, and rising B movie star A. Lee Perkins it's two main players.
While the films story is very throwback and simply put, the lack of character development hurts the movie in a few areas. Rochon's character Alice is nicely done, as she goes from a bitchy thrill-seeker...to the films evil queen later on, in some ways. But the other characters aren't too well developed at the beginning. But once the movies plot takes full shape, lines are drawn, sides are chosen, and decisions have to be made through the characters...the character development begins to strengthen a bit.
Obviously after being put under the right direction, and thrust into the right situation.
"Slime City" is nicely gory, bloody, and graphic so people who are huge followers/fans of the first movie should be proud of the sequel's refusal to keep the floor "clean" so to speak. The film though does one thing really well above all else. It keeps true to it's 80's roots. It has no real musical score. In fact, it hardly uses any music at all. The film is shot on a real shoestring budget, giving it that 80's look, feel, and appeal. And the characters even have big throwback appeal.
The film really makes it's money by appealing to genre fans who liked the first one, and are very familiar with the "Slime City" universe in general. While at the same time also being able to appreciate the 80's horror offerings of cheaply made creature features, monster movies, and gore flicks. The picture also has those crazy moments where the camera cuts to three of four different characters in a span of a few seconds. To see what is occuring with each one, thus advancing the story.
"Slime City Massacre" isn't a lot of fun or very entertaining at the start. But once the movie gets into a comfort zone...it really begins to get more and more of your attention. It works in a funny way like that, but it is what it is. The third act of the movie is also very strong, and includes some really gross and surreal moments that only Greg Lamberson could cook up.
I won't give too much away, but the films finale gives new meaning to the term "creepy crawlies". "Slime City Massacre" will delight fans of 80's schlock horror, 80's cheese-horror, and horror films that borderline on the B/C grade territories. If you like your indie horror pics more high-brow though. And aren't a fan of the cheaply made 80's flicks, that were simply more about fun and storytelling instead of impact and gloss, then you might wanna skip it.
Positives:The films third act is good. Debbie Rochon's character is very well done and she gives a good performance. Decent outing by A. Lee as well. Good throwback vibe all around, and some very skin-crawling moments at the end.
Negatives:Character development of the characters outside of Debbie and Lee was a bit weak. Also in acts 1 and 2, the films kind of moves too slowly and doesn't grab you enough.
Overall:2 and a half out of four stars.
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