Chompy & the Girls (2021) Poster

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6/10
My left foot
begob11 January 2022
When a troubled daughter turns up to meet the father who never knew she existed, they both witness a bizarre killing and go on the run from the relentless perpetrator.

Zany sci-fi horror that sort of mashes up It Follows with Body Snatchers. The opening scene is excellent and really got me hooked, but what comes after that is patchy entertainment. While the energy and the concept are engaging and the two lead performances good, I think this needed more development at the storyboard stage.

One mark of an undercooked story is that half the dialogue comes in the form of questions, and most of the scenes ramble around before deciding to put in a plot point. That looseness takes the snap out of the humour, and while there is character development it doesn't feel earned.

Still, the characters are likeable, and the switch of direction at the halfway mark allows the story to end on a satisfying note, with a reassuring reflection on how we can adapt to life, no matter how desperate our plight.

The music is light, some ominous stuff to accompany Chompy and the girls, and the camera work and lighting do give some ordinary locations a sense of spooky isolation.

Overall: Heart in the right place, slightly off on the writing.
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6/10
good enough
nublingnoob16 September 2021
Its a fun little film, the 'gimmick'of the film, chompy is a great idea, then it kind of fizzles a bit, but i had a fun time with it, kind of horror/comedy but quite light on both aspects, acting was great!
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5/10
Joe Dante's spirit - hardly the taste of it.
bmarchal24 February 2022
As much as I can find interest in broke horror-affiliated flicks that make the best out of their limited means, exploiting their economical poverty to give more boldness to their creative potentialities, Chompy & the Girls fails to raise its ambitions above an average bored-children-targeted show.

Poor special effects are never an issue as long as the plot is solid enough; this one isn't sadly. As enjoyable and delightful its absurdity can be, and beyond the 'wow-what-is-this?!' factor of the first appearance of Chompy, the writer plays it very safe and lazy. In retrospect, it feels like lots of original opportunities have been virtually wasted by a lack of imagination, and the story turns out very basic in the end making Chompy and his quest orphans of what could have been a really crazy tale.

The film obviously tried hard to counterbalance its loony side with the presentation of some human situations... that didn't convinced me more. Here again, the film misses its target: the young female character is too histerical, too superficial to bring about any valuable emotion to the father/daughter relation the writer obviously wanted to become the center of gravity of the plot. If the daugher's character is thin, the father's personality is empty (although I found the actor was good in all his restraint); and physically, really, he bears no resemblance at all to his alleged daugther - what at least could have make the possibility of a family link more tangible (there's still a doubt about the reality of the link however, but its too vaguely expressed to bear any relevance). As for the couple's crisis that abruptly reveals it-self towards the end, it is too very roughly sketched to make any sense at this point of the film.

The grand final is as funny in a good way as it is laughable in a bad way, and the happy-end epilogue drags like the crew didn't give a damn anyhow, what also raises the question of the editing and of the overall - messy - rhythm the film has. Again, like for many horror-tagged movies, what I miss the most here is an atmosphere, the sense of a peculiar mood that would really take you on a ride. Too bad, as its monster-ish character has a strong vintage Joe-Dante appeal and it could have opened to a more exciting experience.
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5/10
Something strangely appealing about the cast and oddball premise, but...
sogoodlooking3 December 2021
Something strangely appealing about the cast and oddball premise, but too much reads like an initial promising draft that wasn't pushed anywhere more interesting. However: Christy St. John is marvelous as one of the leads. How is she not a star yet??
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7/10
Nifty little low-budget mystery
alexdmcintosh14 September 2021
Like something lifted straight out of a nightmare and so surreal I won't be sure in the future if this movie exists or I just dreamed it.

The story kicks off within the first 15 mins with its intriguing inciting incident, which could have unfolded into a clone of something like 'It Follows' or any other generic slasher, but instead goes some place else entirely. The two leads are instantly likeable (one remains so for most of the film, and the other...) and I stayed invested as it twisted in directions I didn't expect, even at the end when the limits of the budget became distractingly apparent.

I appreciate that the director/writer clearly understands the premise alone couldn't sustain the albeit swift 90 min runtime and knows the characters have to be...well, characters. It does drag in spots as Jackson begins droning on in a schtick that wears thin, but it informs her character's place in life and Braband does a decent job establishing basic, understandable traits and desires with simple things like a noose and a pair of cowboy boots. As an avid viewer of low-budget trash, this was a welcome above-average effort for a film of this caliber, which earns it a 7 for me.

It never looks incompetent or cheap (except, again, until the last fifteen minutes), is well shot, edited and paced, and if Braband continues to hone this off-beat style, he has a bright future. I'm looking forward to his next film.
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4/10
A decent college project movie
JCinHB7 October 2021
4 stars Low budget, but decent to watch if you just wanna check out something different. Turn off your brain and trip out for a little while. This is something I could see ending up on Syfy channel.

Sorry, any rating higher than a 6 must be done by someone that was in the movie or is judging it based on how low the budget was.
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7/10
How to make a low budget work
psychofox-8851115 September 2021
There is no hiding the fact that this is a low-budget film. The special affects and CGI are passable at best, but mostly obvious. With the exception of Udo Kier's vocal cameo, the cast is pretty much unknown.

It would be easy to write Chompy & The Girls off as just another low budget indie flick, but it really is so much more than that.

The general plot is, admittedly, ridiculous. Bit the way it plays out is brilliant.

We have dark humour which is totally on point. Plot twists that nobody will see coming. Relationship drama that is presented comically, but also very honestly and realistically.

There are moments in this movie that, despite the absurdity of everything else that happens, really hit an emotional nerve; it really doesn't take itself too seriously, but can still pack a punch when it wants to.

Ultimately, this is a film that does wonderful things on a shoestring. Make no mistake: it's an absurd, silly story. Anyone wanting a serious, cerebral horror will be disappointed.

On the other hand, if you're willing to go along with the crazy story and madcap events, you're in for a wild, entertaining ride.
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1/10
Terrible flick
annnonymous2896 July 2023
I usually go for movies like this, and enjoy them. This movie, however, was a nightmare. The two leads are not bad at all, their acting is well done. The premise of the story is not that original, or that catchy. I had a hard time identifying with, or feeling bad for, any of the characters in this movie. It got more ridiculous, story-wise, the longer I watched. The ending absolutely ruined it for me. There are too many questions I have, that I would prefer be answered, in a movie for me to enjoy this flick. The ending was absolutely disappointing. Talk about a let down. All this build up, that I had hoped would end in something really cool, ended up just being something that could be fixed in a matter of mere minutes. Old movies, like the New York Ripper, are absolutely ridiculous but super fun movies to watch. A movie like this is just ridiculous without the fun parts. It's not engaging at all. I certainly wish I had watches something else last night. I rarely feel that a movie is a total waste of my time. But this one, sadly, was. I can't recommend it to anyone that likes a good horror/fantasy/sci-fi.
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7/10
Fun movie. Slow start. Stick it out until the action starts.
groomsjw15 September 2021
Fun movie. Slow start. Stick it out until the action starts. Very creative.
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1/10
Nope. Not even a fun 'concept'.
pedronunesnomundo18 September 2021
This is a complete mess.

I've read someone talking about a 'good starting point' gone wrong but in my opinion this movie doesn't even got to that point. The only outrageously funny thing is the graphic concept of 'Chompy'. And that's about it. Period.

You are free to spend your time as you like but later you can't absolutely complain you weren't warned in advance...
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8/10
Definitely low-budget gold
carlos-pires9 October 2021
This is definitely low-budget gold.

A crazy little flick that mixes in an assortment of themes (from girl with daddy issues, suicidal depression, drug addiction, paranormal entities, bad driving and "mouth angels") and shows some weaknesses (like the Lotus character, who is a complete bust - just remove it from the final cut, you'd get a better movie), but proves to be an entertainingly weird and original piece.
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7/10
I almost didn't make it through..
daniel-193-62191318 September 2021
Seemed a bit budget at first but could wind up a cult classic. A fantastic must watch for any fan of the horror comedy glory days when Hollywood wasn't afraid to make weird, authentic movies. This should be continued on a larger budget with the same cast!
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1/10
Painfully Stupid
ant36au15 September 2021
I honestly wish I had never watched it, disjointed ,yelly, horrible acting with no rapport between the actors, horrible, childish script, everything about it stinks don't bother.
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7/10
Not boring and quite interesting
sanjeevmuniandy16 September 2021
I thought with the name like Chompy and The Girls it was going to be another waste of time BUT no, it's not! Much to my surprise, it's a fun and interesting movie albeit low budget but that' ok. All the main actors acted quite decently.
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6/10
quirky story with an It Follows feel
killercharm2 August 2022
Delightful quirky story with an It Follows feel. An estranged daughter and father who have only just met for the first time mere minutes ago witness a man open his mouth to gargantuan size and swallow a tween whole. Then he comes for them - running. It's a goofy and great story about figuring this thing out with the help of a wise magician and the wife. It speaks to the possibility that there are ways to handle things that don't involve fighting or running.
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6/10
chompy is ok
warehousereviews2 December 2021
Watchable. Not a great film by any stretch but the practical effects were really above and beyond what I was expecting.

Christy St John played her role really well, and was a stand out, the dynamic between her and her estranged father was funny and borderline believable.

Well done.
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10/10
Pleasantly surprised by this!
leabroadwater19 September 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! VERY creative premise, and I was completely engaged in it the whole time. Even though it was low budget, the great casting, the weird twists and turns, the humor, and great character development made the lack of budget a moot point.

All of the main actors were very believable, and really sucked me into the story. The lead actress was fabulous - I hope she gets many more roles after this. I highly recommend this movie! Also, ignore all the 1 star reviews....those people clearly have no taste, no sense of humor, and probably rush in droves to go see the next BIG action movie when it hits the theaters.
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7/10
Can you make a magic circle?
nogodnomasters29 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Addy Jackson (Christy St. John) is having a bad day, having failed at suicide. Sam Gladwell (Steve Marvel) is not having a good day communicating with his wife (Julie Dolan). Out of the blue, Addy texts Sam and informs him that he is her biological father from his college days. They meet and witness a man (Reggie Koffman) they call "Chompy" swallow a young girl (Seneca Paliotta) whole by extending his jaw. When Chompy shows up at Jackson's house she flees to her estranged father and they flee to seek out Lotus (Hari Williams) who knows all about aliens and magic with a "k". This go from very odd to bizarre.

I liked the humor and character of Jackson. The plot was different from other films. Udo Kier who does the voice of Chompy leaves off his odd conspiracy political commentary and gore.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.
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6/10
Great right up untill the end
ncolen9 October 2021
A strange and fun low budget effort with a funny script and some solid performances from the two leads is really let down by a terrible ending.
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7/10
Marks for originality
bowmanblue29 April 2024
Some people say that all the best stories have been told. Others point out that there are only really a handful of stories to tel and that it's all about doing them differently enough to pass as something even vaguely original. I watch a lot of (bad, straight to streaming service) horror films. They're just a monster stalking your average bunch of teen until they're picked off one by one. Most are bad, some are okay, but none really stick with me on account that they really aren't anything new that will actually stand out.

I'm not saying that - the weirdly-titled - 'Chompy and the Girls' is an amazing film which will stay with you until you die, changing your life for the better. But it certainly is different. And, in this case that was good enough for me.

The premise is that a teenage girl is meeting her long lost father for the first time in the park when they notice a strange man with a jaw which can dislocate, expand then seemingly swallow an innocent little girl whole. Naturally, seeing this only a few meters away freaks them out and they do what most of us would do in their predicament - run.

The only problem is, 'Chompy' (as they christen him) starts to follow them round with his mouth open, as if he's selected his next two meals.

Yes, this film probably sounds a bit wacky and 'out there.' It is. You have to let your brain accept some pretty crazy premises to get anything out of this. But hopefully the characters should keep you invested. They're hardly a particularly brave and noble bunch, but, starting out like this, it does give them a long way to go in terms of growth as the movie progresses.

I'm not sure I'd call this an outright 'horror' movie. Sure, it has some horror elements, but more creepy scenes and a lot of black comedy and banter between the main characters. It's not perfect. The main character can be a little annoying with her brat-like behaviour, but she learns a lot on the way. Otherwise, if you're in the mood for something a little different from your typical Hollywood output then this is actually quite fun.
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10/10
Fantastic
alyssaacket16 September 2021
LOVED this movie. Actually felt for the characters in this film. Interesting and original premise and kept us riveted the whole time. Some really funny parts.

This does seem to be a low budget film, some of the acting is a little off but it was still a super enjoyable, strange film.

Would highly recommend if you have a dark sense of humour and are looking for something very different!
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10/10
Great indie
jtao-0933015 September 2021
A troubled teen contacts the father who didn't know she existed (she was born following a college fling), only to discover that his life is just as dysfunctional as hers. Then all of their lives are turned upside-down by a monster who seemingly eats little girls. And that's just the first 15 minutes of the movie, before everyone learns that there's much more here than meets the eye.... A clever and fun movie that's suspenseful but not too scary for kids, worth the watch for those looking for a creative story that doesn't trod the same old Hollywood path of superheroes and theme park rides.
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8/10
I really enjoyed this Solid effort!
nidude2 October 2021
This is a great example of doing a lot with a little. Very Solid overachieving Comedy that's going to be enjoyable for most people. I worked in an independent video store in the 80s before Blockbuster ruined everything. This is the kind of movie that we would have recommended to people who were looking for something different. If you liked movies such as "Safety not Guaranteed", "Little Miss Sunshine" with perhaps a very light dose of "Greasy Strangler" then you should enjoy this too. Again think lower budget. I really enjoyed the two lead actors and think they did a tremendous job selling a pretty outlandish story. Christy St. John could be a star. Nice work to everyone involved. Hey Hollywood ~ Give these people more money to work with!
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9/10
Kind of sloppy and cheap but
ritera122 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
...very charming and fun.

Some of the flaws in mechanics of the story and some in the very low budget.

Good solid writing, character development and humor only exceeded by some very good actors, especially Christy St. John (which sounds like a porn name). It felt like she had some very original comedic instincts outside of the strong script. I'd like to see her again.

Eventually the story elements shadowed addiction. Nice move.

It was and did look cheap due to money. A few plot elements were vague and sloppy, too, but for the greater good to keep the story moving along.

9 might be a bit much but more than 8.
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9/10
One of the best indie films I've ever seen
K_Rad8827 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Went into this having read the reviews - I thought 'I've watched basically all there is to offer, why not try some budget film?' I was gripped from the first scene!

From the character detention of Jackson at the beginning to meet up with her estranged father who didn't even know she existed... she chose the lowest day of her life where she had even tried to end her life, and it turned into a wild adventure with low budget Mouth Angels and people sucked into vortexes... it was insane.

Something about it was charming, gripping and fun. Give it a chance, the people giving it low ratings have no imagination and expected some sort of expensive masterpiece but it's a brand new, original concept and I dug it!
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