One hour and a half lost. Boring, uninspired, bland and cheap slasher flick overall. The protagnist isn't interesting, nor is any supporting character. First kill of the movie lets you believe that plenty of fun gore is coming; it won't. Also, the identity of the killer (and, therefore, his/her motives) is not even revealed in the end. What was even the point?
14 Reviews
Depends what you compare it to.
movieswithgreg31 December 2020
This is very much like a student film with a decent budget -- for a student film. So if you judge it on that basis, it's ok. If you judge it by other horror films you'll see in a theater, it's dismal.
First, the acting, driven by the director's creative choices, feels forced and inappropriately "dramatic." People are peeved for no reason, angry without cause, emotional without motivation, shake their heads in disbelief and/or disapproval far more than real people would, and just generally behaving inappropriately for the situation. In other words, its actors are directed like they were in a hotel porno. This is done partially to justify their subsequent victimization at the hands of a serial killer, since this is not a teen movie, hence the filmmakers can't use sexual promiscuity as the setup for the murders.
This thriller also lacks an essential item for serial murder flicks -- tautness. The pacing isn't tight, isn't compact. It's sloppy and diversionary, and because of that, it struggles to hold our interest, partly because it keeps releasing its hold on our attention, and partly because we stop caring about the characters nor their welfare, and we even stop believing there's a phantom lurking about this opera.
Maybe this director/writer is using these films to build his resume of "watch how many trick camera shots I can do to prove I deserve more investors for the horror projects I wish I could make?"
First, the acting, driven by the director's creative choices, feels forced and inappropriately "dramatic." People are peeved for no reason, angry without cause, emotional without motivation, shake their heads in disbelief and/or disapproval far more than real people would, and just generally behaving inappropriately for the situation. In other words, its actors are directed like they were in a hotel porno. This is done partially to justify their subsequent victimization at the hands of a serial killer, since this is not a teen movie, hence the filmmakers can't use sexual promiscuity as the setup for the murders.
This thriller also lacks an essential item for serial murder flicks -- tautness. The pacing isn't tight, isn't compact. It's sloppy and diversionary, and because of that, it struggles to hold our interest, partly because it keeps releasing its hold on our attention, and partly because we stop caring about the characters nor their welfare, and we even stop believing there's a phantom lurking about this opera.
Maybe this director/writer is using these films to build his resume of "watch how many trick camera shots I can do to prove I deserve more investors for the horror projects I wish I could make?"
The last joke
Stanlee10718 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This endeavours to make a film about a failing stand up comedian & merge it with a murder/ mystery. The jokes are flat and I believe the ultimate joke is on the viewer... The murderer is never revealed and with staff disappearing at an alarming rate & nobody believes the protagonist is ill conceived & unrealistic.
I thought it is about the comedian given one last chance to regain his 15 minute of fame. It's pain staking to watch as he is so unlikable & he is addicted to prescription drugs & the hidden killer is the guy wearing the V for Vendetta mask doing murder from Scream.
I thought it is about the comedian given one last chance to regain his 15 minute of fame. It's pain staking to watch as he is so unlikable & he is addicted to prescription drugs & the hidden killer is the guy wearing the V for Vendetta mask doing murder from Scream.
Like a student film made by a student who missed a lot of lectures
adamdoyle-4089316 September 2020
This film has no redeeming elements... firstly the sound mix is atrocious - two people will be having a conversation and each persons dialogue will sound like it was recorded at different times and edited together - it really strange, some scenes have a hiss noise under them and others don't and it jumps between this throughout the film.
I love slasher films, i have pretty seen them all and will watch anything if its a slasher, but the acting in this film seemed like most of the people were doing the director a favour by saying the dialogue. it was not acting. it was merely speaking - with exception to the girl playing Bethany who seemed like shed attended a few classes.
The death scenes are filmed in a really pretentious way - as if the director was trying to be clever and artsy but they are mostly incredibly boring.
The story arc of the main character and his dead girlfriend backstory ...i mean enough said ....but ill add that it was in no way fleshed out and became tedious real quick, potentially due to the lead actor's performance, costuming and the camera angles chosen by the director.
Really this film could be shown to film students as a lesson in how not to make a horror film.
Also, the ending SUUUUUUUCCCCCCCKED
I haven't hated a film this hard in a really long time
I love slasher films, i have pretty seen them all and will watch anything if its a slasher, but the acting in this film seemed like most of the people were doing the director a favour by saying the dialogue. it was not acting. it was merely speaking - with exception to the girl playing Bethany who seemed like shed attended a few classes.
The death scenes are filmed in a really pretentious way - as if the director was trying to be clever and artsy but they are mostly incredibly boring.
The story arc of the main character and his dead girlfriend backstory ...i mean enough said ....but ill add that it was in no way fleshed out and became tedious real quick, potentially due to the lead actor's performance, costuming and the camera angles chosen by the director.
Really this film could be shown to film students as a lesson in how not to make a horror film.
Also, the ending SUUUUUUUCCCCCCCKED
I haven't hated a film this hard in a really long time
A Freak Show
anwarshaikhkaiser18 September 2020
Stand up death
BandSAboutMovies18 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Originally known as Killing Joke, this is the story of Myles, a comedian who has never properly dealt with the loss of his wife. Yet his manager believes in him enough to get him booked for one last shot at the big time. The show will take place in a gorgeous theater instead of a seedy comedy club and booking agents will be on their way. The staff is helpful, too. Everything seems to be going Myles' way until the blood starts dripping down the walls.
You may think that Myles has lost his mind, but there's also a slasher killer murdering everyone in the venue, turning this into the stand-up version of Soavi's Stage Fright. I say that as they're both set in a small theater that has a killer on the loose and not because this movie has the visual flair of that 1987 slasher. Don't take that as an insult - it's one of my favorite films and a hard bar to leap over.
Writer/director Jeremy Berg does a fine job here of keeping things tense and moving at the same time, which is quite a feat. He has a good lead in Steve Vanderzee, who lends Myles the right mix of humor, pathos and outright terror in the face of the realitization that his comeback may be his last night ever.
You may think that Myles has lost his mind, but there's also a slasher killer murdering everyone in the venue, turning this into the stand-up version of Soavi's Stage Fright. I say that as they're both set in a small theater that has a killer on the loose and not because this movie has the visual flair of that 1987 slasher. Don't take that as an insult - it's one of my favorite films and a hard bar to leap over.
Writer/director Jeremy Berg does a fine job here of keeping things tense and moving at the same time, which is quite a feat. He has a good lead in Steve Vanderzee, who lends Myles the right mix of humor, pathos and outright terror in the face of the realitization that his comeback may be his last night ever.
Mood spoiler
yuktaraj-997098 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
One of the.worst movies ever made in the history of cinema. I'm so annoyed, why did I even watch this. Made no sense at all. Worst story, worst screenplay, worst acting ever. And at least they should have revealed the killer. May be then, I would've given it 2 points.
Contrapasso
nogodnomasters29 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Myles Parks (Steve Vanderzee ) is a stand-up comedian who has seen better days before his wife died tragically in a car accident. He is on meds. His agent lands him a gig as an opening act for Reggie Ray (Lowell Deo ) who is making a come back tour after making films. The theater is believed to be haunted. It isn't long before the killings start.
The film does not have real closure, but it doesn't require it. Myles, who is supposed to be funny, we don't see him do his routine. The killer wears a mask and a hoodie and uses a Bowie. I don't think this was a good role for Steve Vanderzee or just a badly written character. They needed a better back story for the killer.
Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.
The film does not have real closure, but it doesn't require it. Myles, who is supposed to be funny, we don't see him do his routine. The killer wears a mask and a hoodie and uses a Bowie. I don't think this was a good role for Steve Vanderzee or just a badly written character. They needed a better back story for the killer.
Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.
This was kind of blah and is only worth watching if there is nothing better available.
kevin_robbins28 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The Last Laugh (2020) is a movie I recently watched for free off Hulu. The storyline focuses on a comic who is looking for his big break and gets an opportunity to open for an established comic who is looking to reignite his career. The night of the big performance murders start happening backstage. This movie is directed by Jeremy Berg (The Device) and stars Steve Vanderzee (Betrayed), Eric Stone (Two Picture), Lowell Deo (Z Nation), Angela DiMarco (The Parish) and Meranda Long (Fall City). The storyline for this is very awkward. The acting was okay and believable but the infused horror storyline didn't work with the primary storyline for me. The kill scenes are just okay and primarily with a knife the killer carries, which were only so creative. Overall this was kind of blah and is only worth watching if there is nothing better available. I'd score this a 3.5-4/10.
good plot, terrible movie
nicksaxa15 September 2021
Deserves balancing:
KrisDiCaprio22 September 2022
I am probably the target audience, of which is maybe very specific, so obviously it works for me and i am biased:
This is great writing, great concept, anyone saying otherwise is not considering many things, budget for one. This is great use of location and lighting in certain scenes is excellent. The lead carries more and more as the movie progresses, and is supported by great cast, of which are not hollywood name actors, yet, but are actors.
Also, this industry meta type genre is for people who enjoy film and seeing new filmmakers create, with the understanding of filmmaking and respect for it, especially when you don't have a huge studio budget. I wish I knew the budget, but you can tell that there may be quite the resource compromises; the film is bigger than budget. When it starts getting dark about midway it especially looks great with shots and lighting.
BOTTOM LINE: it's an insightful type movie for filmmakers especially, and slasher horror fans. It's original, though the plot has been done before, it does it's own worthy version of the "Stage Fright" type movies. It's for the fans, the ones who love making movies and have dreams to overcome their fears and perform at the professional level.
This is great writing, great concept, anyone saying otherwise is not considering many things, budget for one. This is great use of location and lighting in certain scenes is excellent. The lead carries more and more as the movie progresses, and is supported by great cast, of which are not hollywood name actors, yet, but are actors.
Also, this industry meta type genre is for people who enjoy film and seeing new filmmakers create, with the understanding of filmmaking and respect for it, especially when you don't have a huge studio budget. I wish I knew the budget, but you can tell that there may be quite the resource compromises; the film is bigger than budget. When it starts getting dark about midway it especially looks great with shots and lighting.
BOTTOM LINE: it's an insightful type movie for filmmakers especially, and slasher horror fans. It's original, though the plot has been done before, it does it's own worthy version of the "Stage Fright" type movies. It's for the fans, the ones who love making movies and have dreams to overcome their fears and perform at the professional level.
Worst Movie Award Goes To...
arfdawg-110 October 2021
Dire!
vengeance208 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Had a feeling this might be bad, but wow, not as bad after watching!
The film sees a comedian who's been selected to be the opening preformance for the opening of a theartre! But, a series of murders take place in & around the theartre leading the man to wonder who it is, why & how he can stop it!
The film is terrible! I mean, at 1 hour & 16 minutes, it's a mundane slasher of a film that's clearly been made on the cheap! The deaths look really fake & themselves execution wise, are pretty unimaginative! The story & characters were poor also! The ending, whoa, don't get me started! That was one of the worst endings I've seen in all my days!
Overall, it's a dire film! It's a poor slasher with a paper thin story, annoying characters & poor gore effects with unimagaintive deaths!
1/10.
The film sees a comedian who's been selected to be the opening preformance for the opening of a theartre! But, a series of murders take place in & around the theartre leading the man to wonder who it is, why & how he can stop it!
The film is terrible! I mean, at 1 hour & 16 minutes, it's a mundane slasher of a film that's clearly been made on the cheap! The deaths look really fake & themselves execution wise, are pretty unimaginative! The story & characters were poor also! The ending, whoa, don't get me started! That was one of the worst endings I've seen in all my days!
Overall, it's a dire film! It's a poor slasher with a paper thin story, annoying characters & poor gore effects with unimagaintive deaths!
1/10.
Has One Great Scene I Will Remember
BethLovesHorror26 October 2021
Okay, so I started playing Tetris halfway through this movie, BUT, the first kill alone warrants a total rating of 4/10 or better. Why? That first kill was excellent and unique. You'll see. The overall movie barely kept me engaged, but there are a few good scenes. (I watched it a few days ago, and I barely remember most of the movie already. *shrug*)
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