Indie Horror Movie Review: Bread Crumbs and Bloodying Fairy Tales

*Full disclosure: a screener of this film was provided by Gravitas Ventures.

Director: Mike Nichols.

Writer: Mike Nichols, Kohta Asakura, Charles Black, Sam Freeman, and Anthony Masi.

Bread Crumbs is a low budget production from director Mike Nichols (Dead Calling) and a collaboration of writers, listed above. This title was released January 25, 2011 on DVD, with a recent showing on video-on-demand, through Gravitas Ventures (February). Bread Crumbs updates the age-old "Hansel and Gretel" story, with more blood and less ginger bread houses. The result is more mediocrity, despite the film taking place during a remote porn' film shoot.

Casting must have had a limited budget for this film, as director Nichols also plays one of the lead characters. His acting is that of an ambitious New Yawker filmmaker, who really wants to get his money shots on the shoot right. The other actors include Steve Carey an up-and-comer, Alana Curry (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), and Marianne Hagan (Stake Land). Their acting is never melodramatic, nor too understated, but none of the leads stand out, or rise above their characters e.g. porn actor/actress, make-up artist.

Also, the film asks you to take the side of two murderous teens, or those starring in adult films. At a party, this reviewer would likely choose the latter. However, both choices are less than adequate and the only real moral dilemma in the film, asks: "do porn actors/actresses deserve to die?" Of course, the answer is no, but the writing will not challenge viewers much, as moral choices are shallow and the dialogue is the tried-and-true: "why are you doing this?"

Finally, the believability of two older teenagers massacring 7+ adults seems a little ludicrous. Either the characters are written with very little intellect, or we are meant to believe that children are threatening and murderous. This is a big step for this reviewer to take and not since Tom Shankland's The Children, has this film lover been less afraid of killer kids. Bread Crumbs could have used a whole lot more of 1976's The Omen.

Using childhood mythology aka fairy tales in film is usually a good move e.g. Sleepy Hollow; the formula just does not work here. However, other reviewers have heaped praise on this film (reviews below) and other horror fiends might find a porn shoot gone awry charming. That was not the case for this reviewer, because nothing really stood out in this film, while the mystery, suspense, mythology, and tension were all MIA.

Overall: 5.5 out of 10 (some problems with audio and adr/sound, shot in one set, the film looks high quality, good satire on porn directors, nothing outstanding here).

Emily Intravia gives Bread Crumbs praise:

Bread Crumbs Reviewed on Rogue Cinema

The Oklahoma Gazette also praises the film:

Bread Crumbs Reviewed at the Oklahoma Gazette

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Posted in: bloody fairy tales,bread crumbs,fairy tales,hanselt and gretel,mike nichols,movie review,murder,porn actress,porn shoot,slasher movie review