Director:
Jeremy Saulnier
Studio/Production Company:
Lab Of Madness
Genre:
Horror
Sub-Genre:
Comedy
Length:
Feature
Awards Won:
Slamdance 2007 Audience Award
Vail Film Festival 2007 Best Feature
Hole In The Head Horrorfest SF Audience Award
Official Selection: SXSW, Fantasia, Toronto After Dark
Website:
http://www.murderpartymovie.com
Score:
4/5
Now don’t be confused, this is not exactly what they mean when they say “art film” although “Murder Party” is undeniably an artistic achievement of sorts, that rare film that can be excessively gory, frequently hilarious and often, perish the thought, intelligent. While the initial feature offering from a collective known as The Lab Of Madness, “Murder Party” gives Jeremy Saulnier writing/directing credit it becomes apparent from the special features that the film is a real collaborative effort, the result of years and years of backyard filmmaking with childhood friend, producer/star Chris Sharp amongst others who wear many caps in this production.
The story involves Chris, a lonely sad sack who literally stumbles upon an invitation to a party on Halloween and, apparently lacking anything better to do, dresses up, decides to go and shows up at a grungy warehouse, greeted by a gaggle of eccentric young struggling artists, all in costume and waiting for/wondering if, anyone would accept their invitation. It is not long before it emerges that all is not as it initially seems and that the party is less a celebration of Halloween as much as it is an elaborate stunt to impress the anticipated guest honor, Alexander, a smarmy patron of the arts who comes, dangling the promise of much sought-after grant money. Now Chris has unwittingly placed himself smack dab in the middle of a multi-media collaboration/competition between desperate aesthetes willing to die for their modes of expression --- but much more interested in having someone else die for them. Naturally, plans go awry and bloody, wacky hi-jinx ensues resulting in an odd mix that recalls elements of Hitchcock’s “Rope” and Scorsese’s “After Hours.”
As described by one of the creators, “‘Murder Party” is ‘The Breakfast Club’ with chainsaws” and while that is not completely accurate it does sum up the essential premise of a group of misfits thrown together into a confined space when conflict and chaos erupt. Most though, the film is good cheesy, gory fun with a healthy dose of scathing with directed at or coming from the pretentious art scene with lines like “Cause of death: Art” and “Art isn’t worth anything until you’re dead.”
For all the emphasis on gore and edgy humor, the filmmakers do not cut corners technically. Gorehounds will be pleased with the slicing and dicing but there is also some lovely, fluid camera work throughout. The film is definitely not for everyone because the sometimes subtle dark humor might escape those looking for a comedy and the knowing art scene in jokes might detract from the pure horror qualities sought by audiences hoping for something that faithfully adheres to genre conventions. However, open-minded audiences who can appreciate both of best world’s hybrids might find themselves pleasantly amused.
Jeremy Saulnier
Studio/Production Company:
Lab Of Madness
Genre:
Horror
Sub-Genre:
Comedy
Length:
Feature
Awards Won:
Slamdance 2007 Audience Award
Vail Film Festival 2007 Best Feature
Hole In The Head Horrorfest SF Audience Award
Official Selection: SXSW, Fantasia, Toronto After Dark
Website:
http://www.murderpartymovie.com
Score:
4/5
Now don’t be confused, this is not exactly what they mean when they say “art film” although “Murder Party” is undeniably an artistic achievement of sorts, that rare film that can be excessively gory, frequently hilarious and often, perish the thought, intelligent. While the initial feature offering from a collective known as The Lab Of Madness, “Murder Party” gives Jeremy Saulnier writing/directing credit it becomes apparent from the special features that the film is a real collaborative effort, the result of years and years of backyard filmmaking with childhood friend, producer/star Chris Sharp amongst others who wear many caps in this production.
The story involves Chris, a lonely sad sack who literally stumbles upon an invitation to a party on Halloween and, apparently lacking anything better to do, dresses up, decides to go and shows up at a grungy warehouse, greeted by a gaggle of eccentric young struggling artists, all in costume and waiting for/wondering if, anyone would accept their invitation. It is not long before it emerges that all is not as it initially seems and that the party is less a celebration of Halloween as much as it is an elaborate stunt to impress the anticipated guest honor, Alexander, a smarmy patron of the arts who comes, dangling the promise of much sought-after grant money. Now Chris has unwittingly placed himself smack dab in the middle of a multi-media collaboration/competition between desperate aesthetes willing to die for their modes of expression --- but much more interested in having someone else die for them. Naturally, plans go awry and bloody, wacky hi-jinx ensues resulting in an odd mix that recalls elements of Hitchcock’s “Rope” and Scorsese’s “After Hours.”
As described by one of the creators, “‘Murder Party” is ‘The Breakfast Club’ with chainsaws” and while that is not completely accurate it does sum up the essential premise of a group of misfits thrown together into a confined space when conflict and chaos erupt. Most though, the film is good cheesy, gory fun with a healthy dose of scathing with directed at or coming from the pretentious art scene with lines like “Cause of death: Art” and “Art isn’t worth anything until you’re dead.”
For all the emphasis on gore and edgy humor, the filmmakers do not cut corners technically. Gorehounds will be pleased with the slicing and dicing but there is also some lovely, fluid camera work throughout. The film is definitely not for everyone because the sometimes subtle dark humor might escape those looking for a comedy and the knowing art scene in jokes might detract from the pure horror qualities sought by audiences hoping for something that faithfully adheres to genre conventions. However, open-minded audiences who can appreciate both of best world’s hybrids might find themselves pleasantly amused.