Review: ‘Jack Brooks, Monster Slayer’

Travis:

I’ve been itching to see this for months now. I am such a sucker for fun monster-filled b-movies and ‘Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer’ doesn’t disappoint. Having finally had an opportunity to screen this future cult classic, I can say it was worth the wait. Director Jon Knautz’s creature FX symphony made my eyes tear up a little while watching because I hadn’t seen a good film from this small but popular sub-genre since the ‘Evil Dead’ movies.

I do have to be honest though. I was hoping for a bit more of the monsters than the movie ended up with, but I’m not complaining. The film stars Trevor Matthews as Jack Brooks, a kid who witnessed his entire family attacked and eaten by a savage monster in the forest. Jack grows up and develops a severe anger management issue as a psychological result of his trauma as a child. As he struggles to come to terms with this ailment of his, mostly through highly ineffective psychiatric therapy, Jack works to hold down a career as a plumber while taking a night class in science. [That’s the only class that was offered.] This is how he meets Robert Englund…

Professor Crowley [nice subtle homage to the genre] is played by Robert Englund. Crowley is a mild-mannered science teacher who happens to have gotten a killer deal on a big, creepy house up on the hill. Turns out the house is cursed and Crowley ends up hosting one nasty demonic possession. Aside from his legendary creation of Freddy Krueger, this is probably my favorite performance from Robert Englund, allowing him to spread his wings just a little wider than what Krueger’s character encompassed. He’s funny, he’s creepy… he’s Robert Englund at his best.

The creature effects themselves are really well-done considering this was a lower budget production. The cinematography is about what’s expected from such a film, but the soundtrack and the not-cheesy-at-all dialogue pick up for the average camera work. While it’s not “everything” I hoped the movie would be, it is far more than itcould have been and I am glad for that. Perhaps we’ll get a sequel, but I doubt it… probably for the best. If you’re into well-made monster b-movies that don’t insult the viewer, that youshould treat yourself to ‘Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer’.

[rating:3.75/5]

Michelle:

‘Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer.’ This kind of movie harkens back to a time when, as a kid, any inkling of “monsters† and I was there. From beginning to end, I found myself overcome by that same slappy-happy feeling for this film.

After seeing his family’s horrific murder, a young Jack Brooks (Trevor Matthews) is left with an inner rage that he constantly fights to control. Years later, Jack works as a local plumber, is in a bad relationship with his girlfriend Eve, and takes night classes at the local college. One night, Jack attempts to fix his professor’s old, rusted pipes, but unknowingly unleashes a baddie. This demonic power lures Professor Crowley (Robert Englund) where he discovers a monstrous black heart that quickly forces its way inside of him, turning the professor into -SURPRISE!- a gruesome monster. Like all true slayers, Jack realizes he can’t run from his past and quickly discovers his true purpose.

‘Jack Brooks’ had a successful showing at the Slamdance Film Festival back in January and the filmmakers and actors hosted a panel discussion at Comic Con last month. According to some reports, the film had a special nighttime showing on August 12th at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery with some of the cast there including Englund and Matthews. The screening was free and about 300 people bravely showed up. Seeing this movie, surrounded by a plethora of tombstones, is akin to watching JAWS while floating around in the dark ocean at night.

In the same vein as ‘Buffy’ and ‘Army of Darkness,’ I had such a fun time watching this movie. Director Jon Knautz proves a horror film can still be just as scary by simply using more makeup and fake gore and less CGI. With a unique blend of horror and comedy, ‘Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer’ has the makings of a franchise with a faithful cult following. Check out its website here. The movie opens in limited release today, with this she-geek hoping that Jack Brooks finds his way to St. Louis.

[rating: 4.5/5]