And anyone who has seen this would agree; I'm pretty stupid to have any expectations for this little film. I mean, how uninspired of a title, and storyline. I realize the title has to do with an actual part of the film (not much, though) but still...couldn't they just call it Summer Camp Nightmare or something? I realize that's pretty low, too, but God, it's better than "Bloody Murder." But you can't give the makers of this film much credit. I mean, they chose the actors, they wrote the script (they didn't come up with the story, it's pretty much a combination of all the horrorr/mystery stories that are older than the hills--and this cheesy expression), and they thought that the public would like this...do you really think they could come up with an interesting title?
Anyway, I didn't rent this with any high expectations. In fact, I only rented it because the story was so blatantly unoriginal and predictable, that I had to see what more this could possibly be than all the other films like this one in its past. (Was that the plan for success? "Hook 'em with how stupid this is!") And then I thought, "Hey, maybe they've come up with an entertaining way of using this storyline!" (So maybe I did have expectations....) Well, finally I just watched it. And let's just say, no, they didn't come up with anything new, and no, there is no new format here. It's just what you would expect....
Here's a rundown: A group of teens head to a summer camp a few days before the campers are to arrive to set up. (Friday the 13th, verbatim, at this point.) One night, during a round of "Bloody Murder," which is basically Hide and Seek, but It hides, and the others look for him/her, and when they find It, It has to chase them back to base, one of the guys "disappears." This leads to another "disappearance," and then another, and soon, everyone's a suspect...and a potential next victim. (Ooh, a shock around every corner.)
Name a cliche, and this film's got it. The prologue with the unlucky couple...you got it. The creepy old man trying to warn the virginal star...you bet. The "by-coincidence, the 'missing for the rest of the climax' character saves the day" ending...sorry to ruin the surprise, but yes. And is every character made suspicious...irrelevantly, yes. All this film's missing is a cat jumping out at someone as a false scare, and someone saying, "This place gives me the creeps." Still, there is the obligatory line after someone, inexorably, frightens our focal character, "You scared the sh*t out of me." And of course, we have the numerous practical jokes posing as potential moments of horror towards the beginning, and one character being confronted by the killer and saying, "Okay, take off your mask," thinking it's the practical joker again. So, be prepared, you're in for nothing new.
There are also plot-holes a plenty. I lost count after a while, but the worst is the one towards the end, with the one character getting hit with an oar and knocked into the water. If it was done was by the character we'd all figure--and, being the only one who could have--done it, why wasn't he/she (I won't ruin the shocking ending!) the killer. I reeled over that for the rest of the film.
There are, I guess, I few positive points. The climactic chase scene was alright, and some of the characters were likeable. I couldn't stand little "Nancy Drew" Julie, the "heroine." But Drew, the alternate good-girl, was okay, and Whitney, I think, was supposed to be the bad girl, but came off as more of the heroine type. All the male characters were annoying, to a lesser extent Tobe, the obvious knock-off of Jaime Kennedy's aggravating character in the overrated "Scream." But for the most part, I was glad to see them all go.
One really interesting point, which I think is just the lack of storyline or ideas, was the one obvious fodder character seeing the final credits with his/her life intact. (Once again, I'd hate to ruin this shocking film for you.) I think those behind this work of art realized in the end, "Oh, wait, we still have to kill that one....Ahh, nevermind," and left it how it was. In any event, it was worth mentioning.
Now, here's why I really hate the movie. (I know, you're tired of this review, but I'm coming down the home stretch now....Wow, another overused saying.) "Bloody Murder" promised me a chainsaw. I thought, being a huge "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" fan, "Well, great, a chainsaw, works for me!" Did I get a chainsaw? Well...yeah...but only for about a minute! In the opening prologue, there was a letdown of a chase scene with the "legend by the film's plot" killer chasing our unlucky fellow (his pregnant girlfriend got off without an on-screen death, or one at all, you don't really know) through the woods with his saw. Was I brought back to the thrills and chills of good old TCM, with the ominous Leatherface, and wonderful Sally?....No. A letdown indeed.
Just in case you cared, there is a legend of some killer with a chainsaw for a hand (didn't look attached to his arm to me) killing in "those there parts," and the filmmakers remember only in the end that that was a part of the story, and incorporate it in, but it's useless, and adds nothing to this.
Well, there's "Bloody Murder" for ya...and congrats, you made it through this review without a sip of drain cleaner. Now, do I recommend this? Well...of course! Prepare to be shocked...at how formulaic, how cliched, and how dull this film can really be.
Anyway, I didn't rent this with any high expectations. In fact, I only rented it because the story was so blatantly unoriginal and predictable, that I had to see what more this could possibly be than all the other films like this one in its past. (Was that the plan for success? "Hook 'em with how stupid this is!") And then I thought, "Hey, maybe they've come up with an entertaining way of using this storyline!" (So maybe I did have expectations....) Well, finally I just watched it. And let's just say, no, they didn't come up with anything new, and no, there is no new format here. It's just what you would expect....
Here's a rundown: A group of teens head to a summer camp a few days before the campers are to arrive to set up. (Friday the 13th, verbatim, at this point.) One night, during a round of "Bloody Murder," which is basically Hide and Seek, but It hides, and the others look for him/her, and when they find It, It has to chase them back to base, one of the guys "disappears." This leads to another "disappearance," and then another, and soon, everyone's a suspect...and a potential next victim. (Ooh, a shock around every corner.)
Name a cliche, and this film's got it. The prologue with the unlucky couple...you got it. The creepy old man trying to warn the virginal star...you bet. The "by-coincidence, the 'missing for the rest of the climax' character saves the day" ending...sorry to ruin the surprise, but yes. And is every character made suspicious...irrelevantly, yes. All this film's missing is a cat jumping out at someone as a false scare, and someone saying, "This place gives me the creeps." Still, there is the obligatory line after someone, inexorably, frightens our focal character, "You scared the sh*t out of me." And of course, we have the numerous practical jokes posing as potential moments of horror towards the beginning, and one character being confronted by the killer and saying, "Okay, take off your mask," thinking it's the practical joker again. So, be prepared, you're in for nothing new.
There are also plot-holes a plenty. I lost count after a while, but the worst is the one towards the end, with the one character getting hit with an oar and knocked into the water. If it was done was by the character we'd all figure--and, being the only one who could have--done it, why wasn't he/she (I won't ruin the shocking ending!) the killer. I reeled over that for the rest of the film.
There are, I guess, I few positive points. The climactic chase scene was alright, and some of the characters were likeable. I couldn't stand little "Nancy Drew" Julie, the "heroine." But Drew, the alternate good-girl, was okay, and Whitney, I think, was supposed to be the bad girl, but came off as more of the heroine type. All the male characters were annoying, to a lesser extent Tobe, the obvious knock-off of Jaime Kennedy's aggravating character in the overrated "Scream." But for the most part, I was glad to see them all go.
One really interesting point, which I think is just the lack of storyline or ideas, was the one obvious fodder character seeing the final credits with his/her life intact. (Once again, I'd hate to ruin this shocking film for you.) I think those behind this work of art realized in the end, "Oh, wait, we still have to kill that one....Ahh, nevermind," and left it how it was. In any event, it was worth mentioning.
Now, here's why I really hate the movie. (I know, you're tired of this review, but I'm coming down the home stretch now....Wow, another overused saying.) "Bloody Murder" promised me a chainsaw. I thought, being a huge "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" fan, "Well, great, a chainsaw, works for me!" Did I get a chainsaw? Well...yeah...but only for about a minute! In the opening prologue, there was a letdown of a chase scene with the "legend by the film's plot" killer chasing our unlucky fellow (his pregnant girlfriend got off without an on-screen death, or one at all, you don't really know) through the woods with his saw. Was I brought back to the thrills and chills of good old TCM, with the ominous Leatherface, and wonderful Sally?....No. A letdown indeed.
Just in case you cared, there is a legend of some killer with a chainsaw for a hand (didn't look attached to his arm to me) killing in "those there parts," and the filmmakers remember only in the end that that was a part of the story, and incorporate it in, but it's useless, and adds nothing to this.
Well, there's "Bloody Murder" for ya...and congrats, you made it through this review without a sip of drain cleaner. Now, do I recommend this? Well...of course! Prepare to be shocked...at how formulaic, how cliched, and how dull this film can really be.