NEAR DEATH
PLOT-A trio of paranormal researchers stumble upon cannibalistic ghouls while investigating an old Hollywood ghost legend.
VIOLENCE-Heaps of graphic grue and murder (par for the course when you're dealing with a Joe Castro project). Heads are sawed off, guts are eaten, people melt, throats are slashed, a guy's face is cut off and his skull is removed.
SEX/NUDITY-A brief breast shot in the opening, and a shower scene with the lead actress.
WHY I WATCHED IT-Joe Castro is one of the best directors and FX artists working in the independent horror genre today, and his films are consistently fun and disgusting. I really loved TERROR TOONS, MANIACAL, and BLOOD SISTERS, so I was really looking forward to this new one.
THE DOPE-NEAR DEATH is a kickass ghost story, plain and simple. Castro has moved onward and upward with each project, and this one is his most jam-packed effort yet. His H.G. Lewis influence shows through more and more each film he makes, and this one will have fans of the "Godfather Of Gore" jumping with joy. The atmosphere is creepy, the shocks are plentiful, and the gore is dee-licious. Plus, there's a fair amount of visual effects that work in conjunction with the makeups to create some truly original and horrifying moments, some of which defy description. Combine that with great acting, a cool story, fantastic sets, and stylistic camera work, and you've got one damn enjoyable movie. So often these days, people like me feel like they've seen it all, or at least seen the best, and not much really grabs us anymore. Thankfully I can always count on a Joe Castro flick to satisfy my need to be jolted and freaked out. He never repeats himself, and comes up with all kinds of neat ways to trick the eye and turn the stomach. NEAR DEATH is definitely one of those movies you can show your friends and watch them go, "EEEW! GROSS! SICK!" over and over. And that, dear readers, always warms my heart, because it is the mark of quality entertainment.
MEMORABLE SCENES-A woman's head is cut off, and for the life of me I couldn't tell if they used a fake body or not. As I've said many times, Joe Castro's trademark is the way he films his nastiness. The man is good. Convincing and puke-inducing.
NOTES-Visit the Slaughterhouse Cinema website for all the info you need on this and other fine features by Joe Castro. And hey, check out these nifty pictures from the movie!
(Stills provided by SLAUGHTERHOUSE CINEMA, INC.)
(May 2003)