FEAST - UNRATED (DVD; Dimension)

Mike LoManaco

Studio Name: Dimension (Maloof/Neo Art & Logic/LivePlanet)
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Disc/Transfer Information: Widescreen Presentation; Region 1 (U.S.) Disc Release
Tested Audio Track: English Dolby Digital 5.1
Director: John Gulager
Starring Cast: Clu Gulager, Balthazar Getty, Henry Rollins


THEY’RE HUNGRY. YOU’RE DINNER.



LoMANACO'S PLOT ANALYSIS:

Let me say this right now – holy !****@!@ is this film out of !!@%!@ ing control! Okay. Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, let’s move on…I felt the same way after the first time I rented the Wes Craven/Matt Damon/Ben Affleck/Chris Moore-produced Feast, but now that I finally have it on my shelf and in my personal collection, the extremities of gore and mayhem are simply amplified to a degree that can be wholeheartedly appreciated and analyzed.

Directed by Clu Gulager’s own son John (and starring father Clu himself!) , Feast is not for the squeamish, and it was one of a slew of horror flicks to come out of an onslaught of titles that went under the radar and out of people’s consciousness for the most part…these included Black Christmas, Shutter, Wolf Creek and more – but Feast is definitely the most memorable of them by a long shot, with unbelievable amounts of gore and FX fused with an uncanny wit and humor amidst the dialogue which really makes it stand out amongst other horror/comic titles like Return of the Living Dead (which ironically starred Clu Gulager as well). Interestingly, this graphic, over-the-top flick had its production chronicled on the third series of Damon and Affleck’s Project Greenlight, and you wouldn’t think something this gory would have come from these brains – but, alas, Wes Craven was on board to give Feast its tongue-in-cheek charm, and between all of them, the result was a quite memorable horror film in a sea of forgettable releases.

Along with a minor appearance of Naughty By Nature’s Treach early on in the film and the performance by seasoned veteran Gulager, Feast assembles a cast running the gamut from Alias (Balthazar Getty) to The OC (Navi Rawat), Surviving Christmas (Josh Zuckerman), Wonder Showzen (Judah Freidlander) and Unscripted (Krista Allen). We even get Henry Rollins in the mix for a cast that really plays up the humorous edge created by the writers; they all come together nicely – most notable is the ridiculously animated performance by the always-funny Judah Freidlander who gets a faceful of monster vomit and breaks down uncontrollably – but I’ll get to that.

What first-time filmmaker John Gulager does so well with Feast is delivering the suspense, shock and action right away with a bang, using a unique style of putting up each main character’s “stats” on the screen while their faces are frozen in hilarious poses in the first opening frames. For example, Clu Gulager’s bartender character has his “information” put up onscreen while a picture of his face is frozen, announcing his name, status and “life expectancy” in terms of how he is going to survive the coming onslaught of monsters. It’s very cool and interesting, and some of the references are hysterically accurate and sometimes vulgar. The story takes place without any need for serious psychological thought – which is a refreshing change in a horror film – and includes a simple, easy-to-follow plot that gets back to the basics of the genre…people terrified and running from an unknown grotesque life form. A tavern in the middle of what appears to be an American desert state plays host to our cast – Gulager plays the wisecracking old bartender, there’s an old lady lush who hangs around the bar and we see Treach from Naughty By Nature early on as “Vet,” a military guy who doesn’t last very long. Upstairs, the owner and boss of the bar is bangin’ a chick from behind while her kid stays in another room, and we’re introduced to Henry Rollins’ character who is a talent scout of some kind. There’s a couple of sexy chicks and a bartender, and then there’s Freidlander’s Bud Light beer delivery guy character – a brainless, nerdy babbling idiot that doesn’t fare well when it comes to the part where he’s confronted by our main villains.

Suddenly, in the midst of a rather quiet night at the bar, a dude busts in the front door, covered in blood and brandishing a rifle, claiming “something is coming” to ambush this bar – “Hero” (as he is known by his stats) doesn’t know what they are or where they came from, but before he can say “I’m the guy who’s gonna save your ****” he’s attacked and snatched away by some rapidly moving creature that breaks through the window he’s standing near. Moments later, the guy’s tough-as-nails wife (our “Heroine”) comes through the doors of the bar, demanding to know where her husband is. The remaining patrons of the bar inform her he’s been made into roadkill by these “things” (Treach has already been killed, believe it or not) and she lets them all in on what has been terrorizing her and her now dead hubby – and what is heading for this bar now.

Through a flashback sequence, the heroine tells the story of how her and hubby dropped her kid off at her mother’s house and then hit one of these things in the road, immediately inviting an attack by more of them. Finally arriving at the bar, these creatures have smelled them all out now and have decided to attack the tavern. The creature effects are grotesquely odd; they appear as fleshy, bloody clawed things that wear strange “masks” or some kind of animal coverings. The editing is quick and frantic, and we’re never really given a good glimpse at the things full-on until later in the film. A strange behavior of the creatures, however, is their tendency to “hump” objects and even each other, creating instant offspring; some of these sequences are horrific to watch, as two creatures hump each other and immediately drop out a “baby” as just before, one of them seems to “suck up” and consume one of their dead babies put outside by the survivors inside the bar. In my opinion, this was an odd decision by the filmmakers.

As these bloody, gory things attempt to break into the bar any way they could (the surviving patrons have boarded up all possible openings), one of the more memorable scenes of the film comes when one of the exposed monsters is seen through one of the unboarded windows and projectile-vomits a sea of slime all over Freidlander’s character. For the remainder of the film, he runs around screaming about being “puked on” by a “monster” as the other survivors can’t take hearing it any longer and continue to tell him to get lost; it’s hilarious to watch. The gore takes a turn for the extreme at this point, as the monster puke turns into maggots and then eventually Freidlander’s eye is ripped out by one of the creatures as he’s looking through a hole in a barricade. His gaping eye socket eventually becomes infested with fleshy, bloody maggots and it’s pretty horrific to watch, but gorehounds will have a blast. Meanwhile, other hysterical moments take place including Rollins’ pants being ripped off by one of the quick-moving monsters (and which he replaces by one of the girls’ pink sweatpants) and comedic bantering back and forth between the survivors, namely Balthazar Getty’s wise-cracking, foul-mouthed responses to the others; in one sequence, the old lady getting drunk at the bar says she’s in for trying to stop these creatures and Getty snaps back “What are you gonna do…throw your teeth at them?” The intensity of the comments and the distain for one another amongst the group make for an excellent, rare mix of brutal horror and comedic dialogue. Freidlander’s replies after he’s vomited on by the creature are hysterical to listen to as well, as he screams “This is ****, man!” over and over, as the group won’t let him leave the bar…additionally, his tirade about how the monsters are just simply some radioactive accident and that the military is “on route” to fix it is downright side splitting.

At any rate, in keeping with the usual formula of horror, the group of ultimate survivors comes down to a handful and then eventually less than that, setting up the sequel and Feast III, both of which I didn’t have any real intention of seeing. If you’re looking for hardcore horror though, with a healthy mix of comedic dialogue, definitely check out the original Feast.

FEAST REVIEW CONTINUED BELOW...

Mike LoManaco

FEAST REVIEW CONTINUED...

VIDEO QUALITY ANALYSIS: HOW DOES THE DISC LOOK?

Disappointingly, Feast isn’t available on Blu-ray but was previously available on HD DVD; the DVD version comes in a letterboxed widescreen transfer for this Unrated edition of the film, and it’s not a standout by any stretch of the imagination. Given the source material and low-level lighting elements and environments, coupled with the film’s ridiculously low budget, this wasn’t a surprise, though. Upconverted to 1080p on my Panasonic BD player, the transfer of Feast appears riddled with mosquito and artifacting noise and its image remains dark and dingy, making it difficult to make out what’s going on in many parts of the picture. Of course, because the film takes place in a dimly-lit desert tavern over the period of a night, the sequences are horribly dim and subdued, and they don’t hold up well on the DVD transfer. Colors are muted and border on nonexistent, and fleshtones went in and out of potency and authenticity, sometimes going pink and blood filled, other times appearing yellowish and oddly stained.

There’s a flashback sequence when our heroine is recalling her first encounter with the creatures with her husband, and this appears as a staticky, noisy mess which renders the sequence almost unwatchable – but the effect is intentional, and this cannot be placed at the feet of the transfer in terms of blame. I’m just pointing it out because it was ridiculously apparent. Otherwise, this was a difficult one to watch – the transfer for Feast was flat, noisy and overall dull, but it was most likely due to the aforementioned budget issues and the photography choices.

Right now, though, DVD is the only way to get Feast unless you want to buy it as a used HD DVD if you have a player, so if you can “sell yourself” on the fact that this is a “dingy, dirty looking horror film” that “should” look this way, you may be able to “deal” with the DVD transfer.

AUDIO QUALITY ANALYSIS: HOW DOES THE DISC SOUND?

Feast is equipped with a garden variety English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track that gets the job done – there’s a volume ferocity to the track when the creatures are attacking that’s sometimes jarring if you’re volume is up too high. But there is clever use of the surround channels throughout, as the creatures move all around the bar and the characters, and there is enough LFE to be satisfying.


SUMMARY:

One of the more memorable truly gory horror films to be released in quite some time, Feast definitely entertains with its combination of graphic special effects and humor-driven dialogue. Standout performances by Clu Gulager, Judah Freidlander and Balthazar Getty are memorable, but don’t watch this one with or around the kids. There’s a plethora of obscenities in the screenplay, and the gore in certain places can be truly over-the-top.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

Recommended as a purchase, if you like horror – give it a rental as it makes good entertainment for this Halloween season. The Unrated DVD of Feast can be found cheap on Amazon, and even cheaper as a used version; let’s just hope Dimension gets around to bringing this to high definition and in the process, cleans up the visuals.

Mike LoManaco

Keiko wrote: »

I saw this on Showtime Network TV not too long ago Mike. Loved it!

Gruesome fun if you're into this kind of horror. I'll probably end up buying a used copy of this. There's also a sequel; Feast 2 - Sloppy Seconds. Haven't seen it, but if it's anything like this, it would be a fun ride. If I remember, I'll try to snag the rental next time I'm at the video store and post a follow-up.

Cheers,

Mike

Hey, My Fellow "Mike"!

Thanks for reading and for your thoughts -- indeed, snag a copy of this at least used; it is great horror fun, as I indicated! I'd love to hear your followup thoughts on it, so please post away when you can!

And indeed, I know there were two sequels, as evidenced by this closing statement in the review:

"At any rate, in keeping with the usual formula of horror, the group of ultimate survivors comes down to a handful and then eventually less than that, setting up the sequel and Feast III, both of which I didn’t have any real intention of seeing. If you’re looking for hardcore horror though, with a healthy mix of comedic dialogue, definitely check out the original Feast."



Thanks again for reading!

Mike LoManaco

Also, as a quick edit note, I mention at the very end of the review "let's hope Dimension brings this one to high def..." and that's not accurate -- they DID bring it to high def via HD DVD, just not on Blu.

My apologies.

danz1906

Mike if it comes out on Blu-Ray I will check it out.
Thanks again for another good review!!!

Mike LoManaco

Thanks Dan! I appreciate that.

I have reported the asinine, hurtful commentary by the trio in the "Bloody Valentine" thread that posted rhetoric simply to be childish and abrasive -- an entire section of film reviews should be "put on ignore"? Why? Because we're discussing them amongst each other? It was also suggested that these reviews have been difficult to find amidst the information in this section -- so THAT is why I suggested we begin a sub section for them, in the interests of ASSISTING those people. I don't understand why this calls for such distain and nasty response; at any rate, thank you Dan for your comments and look forward to hearing back from you about Feast!

dorokusai

Why this film even needs an extra review, beyond what is publically available, is beyond me. 100% awful.

Mike LoManaco

dorokusai wrote: »

Why this film even needs an extra review, beyond what is publically available, is beyond me. 100% awful.

What are you talking about? I merely posted it here as my thoughts on it so others could discuss as well -- it's not that it "needs" what you call an "extra review" but I posted it as my take on the film.

While you found it "awful" many did not; your opinion is respected though.

dorokusai

It's just a comment Mike, don't get your review panties in a bunch.

concealer404

I think we're all lost in translation again.... Doro was commenting on how bad he thought the film was. Not necessarily that he felt your review was useless or anything.

Mike LoManaco

dorokusai wrote: »

It's just a comment Mike, don't get your review panties in a bunch.

This kind of commentary is what I'm talking about -- is this really necessary? Why can't you just speak to people the way you'd want to be spoken to? What's with all the caustic, sarcastic replies like "Don't get your review panties in a bunch..."? It's completely unnecessary -- if there was a misunderstanding regarding what you said, then I apologize, but these kinds of responses aren't necessary.

Mike LoManaco

concealer404 wrote: »

I think we're all lost in translation again.... Doro was commenting on how bad he thought the film was. Not necessarily that he felt your review was useless or anything.

That's how it read to me -- that why would we need a review on it -- but thanks Concealer for bringing the commentary back on track and in focus; I apologized to Doro if there was a misunderstanding.

Ricardo

Mike LoManaco wrote: »

Why can't you just speak to people the way you'd want to be spoken to?

Mark loves it when people talk dirty to him.

shack

Still whining.....:rolleyes:

dkg999

^^^ +1 ^^^

hockeyboy

I have to say I liked the review. I never had even heard of this movie and love horror movies. Now, to see if I actually like the movie by watching it! Thanks Mike.

reeltrouble1

dorokusai wrote: »

Why this film even needs an extra review, beyond what is publically available, is beyond me. 100% awful.

+1 a real loser on both ends.

RT1

Mike LoManaco

hockeyboy wrote: »

I have to say I liked the review. I never had even heard of this movie and love horror movies. Now, to see if I actually like the movie by watching it! Thanks Mike.

Thank you, Hockey -- it's my pleasure to write these reviews so you can figure out which ones are worth buying or renting; the idiots that have purposely derailed the thread, once more, to claim I am "whining" and then getting Ricardo into the mix to add yet again nothing but negative vibes and hurtful comments is typical and borders on pathetic at this point. I'm dealing with it with mods.

But thank you for your comments -- if you're a fan of horror films, you'll like "Feast"...give it a rental. It flew under a lot of people's radar screens, not just yours!

dorokusai

No apology neccesary since I could care less. Hey, I'm sure some folks loved it but I thought it was an awful movie and I LOVE horror movies. I especially like Henry Rollins but it had to be the worst casting choice of his life.

Not every comment will be rosey, filled with puppies and butterflies....sometimes a movies just sucks....regardless of the review.

Keep the faith and your pseudonym Mike LoManaco.

Mike LoManaco

dorokusai wrote: »

No apology neccesary since I could care less. Hey, I'm sure some folks loved it but I thought it was an awful movie and I LOVE horror movies. I especially like Henry Rollins but it had to be the worst casting choice of his life.

Not every comment will be rosey, filled with puppies and butterflies....sometimes a movies just sucks....regardless of the review.

Keep the faith and your pseudonym Mike LoManaco.

That's just great...you could care less...just great.

I wasn't talking about your commentary that may have or should have been filled with "roses and butterflies and puppies" with regard to the film -- I told you that I respected your opinion on the way you felt ABOUT the film itself; so your justification as to "sometimes a movie just sucks" isn't what I was referring to. I understand your position on the film.

F1nut

Hilarious!

Ricardo

Mike LoManaco wrote: »

the idiots that have purposely derailed the thread, once more, to claim I am "whining" and then getting Ricardo into the mix to add yet again nothing but negative vibes and hurtful comments is typical and borders on pathetic at this point. I'm dealing with it with mods.

Pathetic. Seems to me yo were missing the whole drama. You must be so happy now.

dorokusai

mike lomanaco wrote: »

that's just great...you could care less...just great.

I wasn't talking about your commentary that may have or should have been filled with "roses and butterflies and puppies" with regard to the film -- i told you that i respected your opinion on the way you felt about the film itself; so your justification as to "sometimes a movie just sucks" isn't what i was referring to. I understand your position on the film.

amen.

heiney9

Hilarious! A movie reviewer, which is probably one of the most subjective opinions on the face of the earth, is crying to the mods because he doesn't like the way people respond to his reviews.

Hilarious! This should have been a skit on MAD TV. It's just the internet............really, It's just the internet.

Thanks for the chuckle Mark, Ricardo and Jesse............I needed it this morning.

H9

shack

heiney9 wrote:

Hilarious! A movie reviewer, which is probably one of the most subjective opinions on the face of the earth, is crying to the mods because he doesn't like the way people respond to his reviews.

I wondered if anyone else found the irony in all of this...:rolleyes:

Pauly

heiney9 wrote: »

Hilarious! A movie reviewer, which is probably one of the most subjective opinions on the face of the earth, is crying to the mods because he doesn't like the way people respond to his reviews.

Hilarious! This should have been a skit on MAD TV. It's just the internet............really, It's just the internet.

Thanks for the chuckle Mark, Ricardo and Jesse............I needed it this morning.

H9

+1. Got a nice chuckle outta this too.

Pauly

Jstas

shack wrote: »

I wondered if anyone else found the irony in all of this...:rolleyes:

The REAL irony is in the fact that he's "dealing with it with mods" so he must be complaining about doro to doro. I mean, I know doro likes it rough but I never knew he was in to auto-flagellation!