(2007) ***1/2
Crispin Glover takes the role of Montag the Magnificent in this remake of the classic gore film. Edmund and Maggie attend Montag's show and attest all his illusions as smoke and mirrors. But when the volunteers from the audience begin showing up dead, Edmund starts to dig a little deeper into Montag's act. The more Edmund investigates the more confusing things get for him. He begins having dreams and visions of himself committing acts of gore. He goes to see Dr. Chong, a man who uses leeches in his practice, to seek his assistance. Eventually it all begins to come together in a much more coherent and less fantastical way then the original film.
I really liked this film but agree with JSP that it's not for everyone's taste. The plot is bizarre and somewhat confusing and it's filled with senseless gore. However, it does star 3 of my favorite man actors. Crispin Glover as Montag, Jeffrey Combs as the Geek and Brad Dourif as Dr. Chong. The zombie like trance that the victims are in is actually viably explained in this version. The theatrics are exaggerated and colorful and the audience is deliciously weird.
I do have to wonder though, what's with Montag's package? I couldn't help but notice it since it's well, so much larger than life.
Was he trying to achieve Alex's look?
All that aside I thought the film was very clever, everything I would want in a remake. Not just a carbon copy with better effects but they revamped the whole thing and made it their own. Great stuff!
2 comments:
I'm glad the re-make turned out to be good - not that I will probably see either one, but it just doesn't happen that often.
That package is quite distracting!
Always good to see Crispin Glover getting work.
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