Title: BruiserDirector: George A. Romero
Starring: Jason Flemyng, Peter Stormare, Leslie Hope
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2000
Source: Generation X Video
For a film that marked the return of Romero after nearly a decade, I sure expected more. I really, really adore Romero and not just for his Dead movies either [see my Martin review] so when finally picking up Bruiser I was expecting quite a bit more.
First, I don't see anything entertaining about this. Nothing at all. Man wakes up with a mask as a face and doesn't dare question this, instead decides to start a slight killing spree? His maid is caught stealing from him, so he kills her on sight? But his recently caught cheating wife doesn't even get a raised voice from him? Nor does his boss that is having the affair of sorts with her?
Prior to being faceless, he's a gutless man without a backbone that lets the world walk all over him, then the minute he loses his identidy he becomes this complete opposite within moments? No questions asked, no lead up, nothing. There's something missing, it's called the middle of the movie.
There is also nothing exciting once things take the slasher turn. The murders are lacking originality, there's no real lead up on the victims leading to zero sympathy, and the main 'Bad Guy' still echoes the same spineless personality from the beginning. I'd like to have something nice to say, but there just isn't. Sorry, Mr. Romero- I still love you. Kiss, kiss.
Not recommended.
j.
2 comments:
I was also completely underwhelmed by this. No, more than that, it actually made me angry by being as inept as it was. Because I'd listened to fanboys lament for years how Romero would kick ass if someone would just give him the money to do what he wanted, without studio suit interference or changes to his vision--and then he gets the chance to do an independent film completely on his own terms, from his own script, and the result is...this.
You're completely right about the abrupt shift from spineless schlub to psycho, totally unearned and unbelievable. I could see some possibility in the faceless idea, but Romero handles it like a high school AV geek here. And what the fuck are the Misfits doing with a frikkin' LASER BEAM? Huh?
Very poor showing. I hate to say it, but I feel Romero's best work is well, WELL behind him.
When you are someone like Romero- you can afford to put out stinkers and only some people are going to call you out on it. I guess there is enough blind fan kids that will call anything with his name on it a masterpiece. Silly.
And sadly, I gotta agree. I think his best is well in the past. But that doesn't mean I don't have high hopes for anything released in the future. ;)
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