BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS (2015)

 

(Director/co-screenwriter: Brian James O’Connell, who briefly appears as “Mail Room Boy.” Co-screenwriters: Sean Cowhig; Neil Garguilo, billed as Neil W. Garguilo; and Justin Ware.)

 

Storyline

In this comedy horror film, a new office manager begins turning his subordinates into the undead. It’s up to a quiet employee and his slacker co-workers to stop him.

 

Review

Fans of MAYHEM (2017; director: Joe Lynch) and SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004; director/co-screenwriter: Edgar Wright) as well as those who’ve worked in corporate offices might especially enjoy this entertaining, light-toned vampire film, a solid, balanced blend of silly and nerd-culture humor, splatterific violence and corporate malfeasance.

The pacing is solid, the characters are well-written and well-acted, its tone is consistent, most of the jokes land, it deftly mocks cliches, and has a refreshing ending that makes BLOODSUCKING stand out in a positive way.

The cast is top-notch. Fran Kranz (YOU MIGHT BE THE KILLER, 2018) is Evan, the responsible but exasperated manager. Pedro Pascal (THE MANDALORIAN, 2019-present) is equal parts charm, arrogance, and casual menace as Max, the corporate shark who replaces Evan. Joey Kern (CABIN FEVER, 2002) is Tim, one of Evan’s curiously dependable slacker employees. Emma Fitzpatrick (THE COLLECTION, 2012) is Amanda, Evan’s smart, driven girlfriend. Joel Murray (HOLIDAY HELL, 2019) is Ted, the friendly but suspect district manager. Yvette Yates Redick (INHERENT VICE, 2014), billed as Yvette Yates, is a blast as the ferocious Zabeth. An uncredited Matthew Lillard (SCREAM, 1996) is the “Phallicyte Executive.”

BLOODSUCKING is worth watching for a laugh, and─around the fifty-five-minute mark─gory, quip-punctuated supernatural action.

YOU MIGHT BE THE KILLER (2018)

 

(Director: Brett Simmons. Screenplay by Thomas V. Pitale, Brett Simmons, and Covis Berzyone, based on Sam Sykes and Chuck Wendig’s idea.)

Review

Unable to reach the local police, a panicked, killer-stalked camp counselor, Sam (Fran Kranz, THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, 2011) in the middle of nowhere calls his slasher flick-savvy best friend while she’s working at a multimedia-video store. Sam and his friend, Chuck (Alyson Hannigan, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, 1997-2003), try to figure out who the killer is, their motive(s), and how Sam can survive his terrible night even as he remembers disturbing details leading up to his current situation.

Said to be inspired by a conversation between Sam Sykes and author Chuck Wendig (who served as producers for the film), this TV-MA, dark-humored, and occasionally bloody (e.g., a quick shot of a slit throat) movie features deftly executed twist and turns, knowing-wink references to horror genre flicks, effective suspense and laugh-out-loud silliness in equal measure, and top-notch acting not only from its leads but its supporting cast.

Among its cast: Keith David (THE THING, 1982) as the voice of Sheriff James; Bryan Price (THE MONKEY’S PAW, 2013); Patrick R. Walker (SCREAM: THE TV SERIES, 2016); and Carol Jean Wells (JUG FACE, 2013).

Fans of slasher flicks, bloody comedy, a certain 1983 Stephen King novel, a certain 1988 William Lustig film, lively horror scores (this one created by Andrew Morgan Smith, JEEPER CREEPERS III, 2017), and other terror works might enjoy this fun, well-written and well-shot horror comedy that’s a high-mark work within its hybrid genre.