U.S. DVD Release
One night while driving home, Kristel Lodema (Victoria Koblenko) and her father Martin (Martijn Oversteegen) get into a rather serious accident that sets the family mini-van on fire. Kristel is able to escape the wreckage but her father and would-be rescuer are blown to shit when the gas tank catches fire. Unable to do anything Kristel is forced to watch her Father perish knowing her last words to him were during an argument.
After the funeral Kristel is charged with the task of traveling out to an old mine in order to pick up some of her Father’s belongings including a manuscript for a book he was writing on child murderer Andries Martiens (Robert Eleveld). Apparently Martiens was given the opportunity to decide his fate…face the noose or journey into the mines with a torch and “clear away” any methane gas remaining in the tunnels. Many condemned convicts chose to ignite the gas and face the flame in the hopes that they would survive the flaming wall of gas and walk away with a commuted sentence.
Martiens received no second chance and perished in the mines.
Before leaving, Kristel and her friends agree to a quick tour of the mines and are accidentally trapped below. What better time to whoop out the Ouija board and establish a connection with the spirit world wouldn’t you say?
Believing they’ve contacted Kristel’s father Martin, they soon find themselves lead about in the mines and hunted by a dangerous body jumping entity eager to complete a bloody ritual that will open the very doors to hell itself!
As I stated above there’s absolutely nothing new here including the expendable characters but I must admit that the stupidity and wonderfully undeveloped characters only added to the entertaining experience. It had incredible gore, a few hot chicks and some sweet demonic possession and so long as you know that’s what you’re getting when you watch this you won’t be in the slightest bit disappointed. There’s no sub-text…no deep dialogue…no inspiring monologues…no memorable characters poised to go down in horror history…nadda. Zip. This is adrenaline infused slash and dash horror!
Slaughter Night is popcorn cinema for those that demand absolutely nothing from their entertainment but entertainment itself. I gotta admit there were a few times I let a “Holy shit!” slip out and that don’t happen often!
You know I wholeheartedly believe bad films can be just as fun as good films and not in that lame “so bad it’s good” way. I’m talking about the kind of fun movie that has you laughing your ass off, getting drunk and shouting “RUN!” at the screen! I guess the question I’m left with is, “If a bad film puts a smile on your face…is it really all that bad?”
For viewers interested in delving deeper into the minds behind Slaughter Night, Tartan Video has hooked us up with a nifty little “making of…” featurette, some outtakes and the original trailer. If you’re in the mood give it a once over, there’s some interesting chatter about the creation of the film and some goofy outtakes from Koblenko and crew.
I’m sure some would argue that the Netherlands has better horror cinema to offer but I was impressed with this bloody little gem and I’m sure many of you will be as well. By the way…what the hell does the front cover have to do with the movie?! Looks like somebody has been taking lessons from Lionsgate!
