|
 ou sort of have to grade these low-budget
independent horror flicks on a curve. Like when you have a class full of
lacrosse players taking "Intro to Spanish". Let's just assume
getting an "A" is improbable.
By that standard, some of the excrement I've seen in
this genre would go from zero stars to half a star, or at least from the
negative numbers back to zero. I feel like some of these celluloid
bed-wetters actually owe me a couple stars.
So, with the curve in mind, I'm giving the DVD release of "Hunting
Humans" a passing grade. Shocking, I know. Seeing the title and
reading the log line, you'd be inclined to think I'd tear this thing to
shreds like Rosie O'Donnell would a cupcake wrapper. Now don't get me
wrong: Stephen King can rest easy. (Assuming he stops riding his bike on
deserted roads.) But considering the minimal budget and the repercussions
it had on casting, effects, sets, film transfer, etc., this thing is
actually not half bad.
The director responsible is one Kevin Kangas. And what he's come up with
is the story of a serial killer named Aric (Rick Ganz). I'm not sure why
his name begins with A, unless it's a gimmick to be listed first in the
phone book under serial killers. This guy must have done well on his high
school aptitude tests though, because he really seems to have found a job
he loves. That would be random killings. Things get interesting when Aric
suddenly finds that he has become the target of yet another serial killer.
As premises go, the one for "Hunting
Humans" is pretty interesting. I mean right now in theaters is a
Spike Lee movie about some dude impregnating lesbians. By comparison,
"Hunting Humans" is King Lear.
On the plus side is the innovative storyline, including some cagey plot
twists. Enough that it doesn't turn into one of those "saw that
coming a mile away" jobs. Production value aside, the film is tightly
edited and flows nicely.
Not so good are the lame dialogue that furthers the plot and the wooden
acting. Yet if you asked yourself: With a larger budget could this
director have crafted a compelling film? You'd have to say: Well, how the
hell should I know? But you'd have to admit it's quite possible.
Sure, there's plenty of unevenness. Inexplicably, Aric's narration is a
completely different voice than that of the actor playing the role (Rick
Ganz, who is passable). Also, they use the word "prey" a lot.
Now, I don't personally know any homicidal maniacs (unless you count my
mother-in-law) but I get the impression they would think you were a poser
if you dropped the word "prey" into conversation all the time.
Basically, give Kangas a punch-up writer to inject some realism and
character into the dialogue and a few bucks to spend on higher-end actors
and production, and he just might churn out a darn fine horror movie. I
hope he gets the chance.
Of course, you can disregard all of this, because I'm simply trying to
avoid being hunted and killed by the guy whose imagination produced this
fairly disturbing concept.
I'm warning you, Kangas, if anything happens to me,
all six people reading this review will go right to the cops.
|
