I know. I can't even accurately predict myself sometimes.
The reason why I'll give something like this a pass whereas I won't for something like the movie version of "Bag of Bones" is this: a movie like "You Can't Kill Stephen King" is a low-budget movie where it appears the people making it have just decided to have fun. Gleefully low-budget horror comedy; it should only be taken seriously to the extent that it IS serious, which is probably not very much.
On the other hand, something like "Bag of Bones" has an actual budget, and is made by professional filmmakers who simply aren't talented enough to do better. And yet they insist on trying.
Think of it this way. Two people who cannot cook make me a meal: one of them tries to make me a fine Italian dinner, and produces something which is (at best) marginally edible; the other, knowing he cannot cook, makes me a ham sandwich and gives me some chips and a Coca-Cola.
In that scenario, I'm going to get a lot more enjoyment out of the ham sandwich.
Based on the trailer, I'd say "You Can't Kill Stephen King" is going to end up being like a ham sandwich. I'm okay with that.
"Gleefully low budget. . ." that's funny! And true. I hadn't thought about that, but I think you're right. Maybe that's why I've actually been kind of excited about thsi, too.
I have a love for that kind of low-budget horror. I find it -- when it's done well ("well" being highly relative, of course) -- to be very charming in a hey-gang-let's-make-a-movie! kind of way. It's very exploitative, but in a completely up-front way. By which I mean, nobody who makes these movies ever feels like they are trying to convince you they're making art. They know they're just making goofy, exploitative, fun trash; and they know you know what they're doing; and they know that you know that they KNOW you know it.
This is all making me want to sit down and watch a Troma movie. "The Toxic Avenger," maybe, or "Terror Firmer," or "Tromeo and Juliet." Or maybe the original "Sleepaway Camp."
I remember a fun one called "There's Nothing Out There," too. In that one, during a scene toward the end, one of the characters is being chased by the monster, and swings to safety on the boom-mic, which has dipped into view from the top of the frame! Genius, I tell you; genius.
“You Can’t Kill Stephen King” makes its world debut at the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival April 14, 2012. The campy horror film, shot in Maine, follows a group of friends visiting the vacation state in hopes of meeting King, but meet their fates one by one as they come face-to-face with a bevy of eccentric characters.
More Info: http://www.prmaine.com/2012/02/l-a-film-festival-you-cant-kill-stephen-king/
I was prepared to hate it, but it looks like a lot of fun to me. Sign me up!
ReplyDeleteyou are absolutely unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteI know. I can't even accurately predict myself sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why I'll give something like this a pass whereas I won't for something like the movie version of "Bag of Bones" is this: a movie like "You Can't Kill Stephen King" is a low-budget movie where it appears the people making it have just decided to have fun. Gleefully low-budget horror comedy; it should only be taken seriously to the extent that it IS serious, which is probably not very much.
On the other hand, something like "Bag of Bones" has an actual budget, and is made by professional filmmakers who simply aren't talented enough to do better. And yet they insist on trying.
Think of it this way. Two people who cannot cook make me a meal: one of them tries to make me a fine Italian dinner, and produces something which is (at best) marginally edible; the other, knowing he cannot cook, makes me a ham sandwich and gives me some chips and a Coca-Cola.
In that scenario, I'm going to get a lot more enjoyment out of the ham sandwich.
Based on the trailer, I'd say "You Can't Kill Stephen King" is going to end up being like a ham sandwich. I'm okay with that.
"Gleefully low budget. . ." that's funny! And true. I hadn't thought about that, but I think you're right. Maybe that's why I've actually been kind of excited about thsi, too.
ReplyDeleteI have a love for that kind of low-budget horror. I find it -- when it's done well ("well" being highly relative, of course) -- to be very charming in a hey-gang-let's-make-a-movie! kind of way. It's very exploitative, but in a completely up-front way. By which I mean, nobody who makes these movies ever feels like they are trying to convince you they're making art. They know they're just making goofy, exploitative, fun trash; and they know you know what they're doing; and they know that you know that they KNOW you know it.
ReplyDeleteThis is all making me want to sit down and watch a Troma movie. "The Toxic Avenger," maybe, or "Terror Firmer," or "Tromeo and Juliet." Or maybe the original "Sleepaway Camp."
I remember a fun one called "There's Nothing Out There," too. In that one, during a scene toward the end, one of the characters is being chased by the monster, and swings to safety on the boom-mic, which has dipped into view from the top of the frame! Genius, I tell you; genius.
“You Can’t Kill Stephen King” makes its world debut at the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival April 14, 2012. The campy horror film, shot in Maine, follows a group of friends visiting the vacation state in hopes of meeting King, but meet their fates one by one as they come face-to-face with a bevy of eccentric characters.
ReplyDeleteMore Info:
http://www.prmaine.com/2012/02/l-a-film-festival-you-cant-kill-stephen-king/
Looking forward to seeing it someday!
ReplyDelete