Normally I tread very lightly, and expect so little from independent horror films. For some reason since the early 90's horror has been infected with VHS, DV, Mini DV, and HDV. You know, that good old shot on video filth and junk. Most of these types of low budget horror films consist of few friends in a backyard, with red dyed corn syrup, and one of the above terrible cameras. These type of video "film" making has even made it's way into the 2000's, just in a different format, something called DSLR. Still with the supposed technological advancements of camcorders I was yet to see a "video" compare to any film... That was until I saw Skid Row.
It was December 14th in Manhattan where I was lucky enough to be invited to a film festival dubbed "Torment of chaos film fest", by someone who new someone who has worked on the film Skid Row. Dreadfully I accepted (it was either stay home, or hit the bars with a bunch of Santacon nuts, or go to some film festival. Luckily I went to the film festival) and made it there just in time to see Skid Row. The theater (Anthology Film Archives) was unexpectedly a packed house, and the audience seemed a bit on the rowdy side. Never the less, when the film began, myself and the audience was completely captivated.
The film begins with a very attractive black woman (surprisingly attractive for low budget horror) giving oral sex to disheveled married man who attempts to short change her. It quickly follows her demise by a masked killer filmed in a very Hitchcockin manor. The film then introduces the two main characters Detective Kathy Lynch and Detective Vincent Ross. They quickly learn that they are on the path to find a vigilante serial killer.
Skid Row contains brilliantly executed shoot outs, car chases, a graphic rape scene, (that hand's down gives I Spit On Your Grave a run for it's money) a castration, and probably the best indie chainsaw scene I have seen in a very long time. The cinematography was spot on, and shot with a diamond cutter for an eye. In fact it hard to believe that this was shot on DSLR because the movie has such a film feel and look. The actors and actresses were stunning, especially Irina Babushkina (Detective Kathy Lynch) and Frank Stallone (Detective Vincent Ross), the character development between the two were of a Spielberg budget film. The second most notable actors where Robert Youngren (Mayor Irvine) and Schooly-D (Tyler). One of the most memorable lines from the film is when Schooly-D looses a finger nail to a pair of pliers and screams "Look what you have just done! What the hell man!!!" It makes me chuckle even now writing it, how perfect the dialogue is devised.
So overall Skid Row has changed my mind a bit, and I almost feel guilty for not giving a so many indie video "films" a chance. Granted it still has some audio issue's, but not many. Overall Skid Row is an amazing film that scores above and beyond the 10 star mark. So here it is, to the people who made Skid Row! Keep doing what you guys are doing! Revive Horror! I would love to see the creators of this film with a budget!
It was December 14th in Manhattan where I was lucky enough to be invited to a film festival dubbed "Torment of chaos film fest", by someone who new someone who has worked on the film Skid Row. Dreadfully I accepted (it was either stay home, or hit the bars with a bunch of Santacon nuts, or go to some film festival. Luckily I went to the film festival) and made it there just in time to see Skid Row. The theater (Anthology Film Archives) was unexpectedly a packed house, and the audience seemed a bit on the rowdy side. Never the less, when the film began, myself and the audience was completely captivated.
The film begins with a very attractive black woman (surprisingly attractive for low budget horror) giving oral sex to disheveled married man who attempts to short change her. It quickly follows her demise by a masked killer filmed in a very Hitchcockin manor. The film then introduces the two main characters Detective Kathy Lynch and Detective Vincent Ross. They quickly learn that they are on the path to find a vigilante serial killer.
Skid Row contains brilliantly executed shoot outs, car chases, a graphic rape scene, (that hand's down gives I Spit On Your Grave a run for it's money) a castration, and probably the best indie chainsaw scene I have seen in a very long time. The cinematography was spot on, and shot with a diamond cutter for an eye. In fact it hard to believe that this was shot on DSLR because the movie has such a film feel and look. The actors and actresses were stunning, especially Irina Babushkina (Detective Kathy Lynch) and Frank Stallone (Detective Vincent Ross), the character development between the two were of a Spielberg budget film. The second most notable actors where Robert Youngren (Mayor Irvine) and Schooly-D (Tyler). One of the most memorable lines from the film is when Schooly-D looses a finger nail to a pair of pliers and screams "Look what you have just done! What the hell man!!!" It makes me chuckle even now writing it, how perfect the dialogue is devised.
So overall Skid Row has changed my mind a bit, and I almost feel guilty for not giving a so many indie video "films" a chance. Granted it still has some audio issue's, but not many. Overall Skid Row is an amazing film that scores above and beyond the 10 star mark. So here it is, to the people who made Skid Row! Keep doing what you guys are doing! Revive Horror! I would love to see the creators of this film with a budget!
