Thursday, January 05, 2012

American Maniacs and Staring at Monsters: A Movie Review


*full disclosure: a screener of this film was provided by director C. M. Downs.

**here be major spoilers.

Director: C. M. Downs.

Writer: Trent Haaga.

Cast: Aaron Champion, Amanda Culbertson, Ashlynn Yennie, Jason Curtis Miller, and John Redmond.

American Maniacs was previously titled Fetch and this film has had a recent release through Phase 4 Films on Video-on-demand (Comcast, Insight). This title was completed in 2010 and this is C. M. Downs first feature as director. From a script by Trent Haaga (Killjoy 3), American Maniacs blends all kinds of messed up characters together in what is essentially a heist or robbery thriller. However, the people eating dogs add in much horror while all the double-dealing creates some drama. Overall, this is "a dark film" as described by director C. M. Downs and this means that there is no light at the end of this dark cinematic tunnel.

The film takes place in the mid-west where a local semi-celebrity has changed from a potential actor into a serial killer. He has abducted a group of Christian do-gooders who are now locked in a series of cages. The Sheriff (John Redmond) is searching for the young group, but his ailing wife keeps him miserable and at home much of the time. Clyde (Jason Curtis Miller), the killer, has other problems outside of keeping the police at bay. His wife, Starlene (Ashlynn Yennie), is a stripper and an addict. She also likes to sleep around. Her other partner, Griffen (Kurt Hanover), has a plan to steal a rumoured 200K from Clyde's mysterious barn. All of these damaged characters come together in a climax, both sexual and otherwise, that ends in tragedy for almost everyone.

Clyde is the protagonist in this slightly dower film. He looks best when wearing a fetishist's leather mask cattle prod in hand. He takes out many of his sexual frustrations at home on the Christian girls. Starlene is the kind of girl that you would not want to date. She strips for men in a seedy bar, while giving ex-cons unpassionate lapdances. She is also scheming to kill her husband, Clyde. Griffen is a charming grifter with a penchant for violence and drug dealing. He wants his cut of the 200K as well. Where is the hero you ask? Sheriff Marcus is the only character that resembles a hero. However, he abuses his power by forcing young girls to perform sexual favours for himself in front of his very ill wife. There are no real heroes in this picture and there really is no one to root for either.

The film really takes a pessimistic look at humanity: "it is a big horrible world out there," says the Sheriff to his wife. That horrible film world is full of nefarious characters each of whom is trying to out swindle the other. And with this desire to do evil, all of the characters get their comeuppance. Whether it is an animal attack, a bullet hole or a stabbing, the characters are going to receive their karma through violence. What kind of karma will filmmakers C. M. Downs and Trent Haaga receive for delivering one of the most awkward scenes in cinema, a man masturbating during his wife's gore soaked demise?

Hopefully they received a lump of coal for Christmas. Yet this film, as stated by the director, is extremely dark and possibly even nihilistic. There just is no purpose in the story other than to harm others as the characters would have you believe. Not for the faint of heart, American Maniacs is now on Video-on-demand. If you rent the film, then expect to suffer along with many of the characters therein. This film is only given a half-hearted recommend to the most stalwart of horror or drama fans. Don't say this reviewer did not warn you!

Overall: 6.5 out of 10 (Downs uses some interesting directing techniques early but then drops them halfway through the film, solid acting, lots of scheming, very little hope, good dialogue).

More on the film's release can be found at Phase 4 Films:

American Maniacs at Phase 4 Films

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