Disturbed and Floundering in the Serial Killer Genre: A Movie Review

*This excellent review was written by fellow writer Ed Sum.

**Full disclosure: a DVD screener of this film was provided by Echo Bridge Entertainment, for review.

Format: direct to DVD release.

Directors: Randy Aldridge, and Brian McLaughlin.

Writers: Randy Aldridge, Melissa Deverian and Casey Stouffer.

Stars: Melissa Deverian, Alex Aldridge and Peyten Aldridge.

One huge problem with the slasher-film genre is that it takes more than a mentally deranged villain to make it work. In Randy Aldridge’s production, Disturbed, what happens here is the entire family getting involved in the shenanigans of making a movie. Parts of the team are in front of the camera, trying their best to be actors. A few of them are even pulling extra duty behind the scenes.

That’s one reason why this film is oddly interesting. The tale isn’t without its flaws and the writing team of Randy Aldridge, Melissa Deverian and Casey Stouffer could do with some lessons in how to write effective visual narratives.

But as for understanding the dynamics of the core audience they want to reach—teens and young adults — that’s one part they’ve at least nailed down.

For a younger viewing audience, they can identify with the issues involved in growing up as a nuclear family. It’s like watching an episode of the "Simpsons" with no Marge or Homer in sight. Mom and pop are away for the weekend and it’s up to the most adult of the group, Ashlee Fontaine (Melissa Deverian), to take care of the clan.

But with the punk-ass attitude she gets from the teenage Alex (Alex Aldridge) and her attempt to watch out for her younger sister Peyten (Peyten Aldridge), she has too much to deal with. In between being a real estate agent and watching out for her family, that is a lot. The chemistry works between these performers, because there is an assumption that the actors know each other very well in real life.

Then the film switches back to a slasher-flic and there is nothing hugely original here. Charles Mason (Randy Aldridge) has escaped and he’s out for revenge. The Fontaine family is his target because the senior, a former prosecuting attorney, put him away.

Interest in the film starts to fade when one sees the killer in action. The problem is that Randy isn’t all that menacing. Now make him something more than what Marquis de Sade takes pride in and maybe he’ll be remembered.

And with a name like Charles Mason, one has to wonder how many viewers will confuse this killer with the more infamous real life Charles Manson. There’s no comparing the two and Manson would eat Mason up for breakfast when considering how tame this movie is.

Disturbed can be purchased from Echo Bridge Entertainment below, or through Amazon (also below):

Disturbed at Echo Bridge

This film can be purchased in a DVD format or as 48 hour video-on-demand:



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Posted in: 2011,brian mclaughlin,casey stouffer,charles mason,disturbed,echo bridge entertainment,melissa deverian,movie review,randy aldridge,serial killer,serial killer movie review