My god, with this film I don’t know where to begin, nor do I know where I stand on my views of it. Chaos has become one of those films that is now surrendering itself in controversy, based not only on it’s content, but by the way the film has an effect on people. It’s pretty much become the black sheep of the film world. It’s like that bastard child who has way to many issues. And that’s what I’ll explain throughout the whole review.
First off this film can totally be classified as a remake of “Last House on the Left’. Both films are so similar that I’m sure Wes Craven might feel ripped off. However with all that aside, Chaos takes the cake in the exploitation and vulgarity. It is a film that does not hold back anything, and that’s what makes the film so effective and scary.
In the beginning of the film there is a letter from the filmmakers stating that the film in all it’s glory is meant to educate parents and teenage children about the risks of the evil in the world today. Now here’s my two cents on this film and why I can see how showing such acts of violence and depicting it on screen in such a uncensored way can really affect the thoughts of someone like myself. I am soon to be a father. I do not know weather or not my child is going to be a boy or a girl yet. Growing up my parents let my sisters and myself do whatever we wanted when we were teenagers. I never had a curfew, but my sisters always had to be home by 1am or call if they were going to be late. Luckily however my parents educated us enough to not get ourselves stuck in sticky situations, such as the girls in this film did. I guess you can say we were lucky, cause their were times where I knew I was in places that I personally knew I shouldn’t of been, nor did I want to be. But this film takes something like a rave in the woods, which is always a 50-50 shot in the dark, You could have fun, or you could end up overdosing or in the case of a female drugged and raped. Ok so any parents who don’t know what a rave is, should watch this film. Because I know dam well what happens at raves, and if my kid wanted to go to one, I don’t care how old they are. I’m not letting go. especially one in the middle of nowhere. In truth, most parents don’t care what their kids do, every parent thinks their kid is “A good kid”, but most kids are not so good, and they do things behind their parents backs. Because parents either don’t care or their too strict on their kids, where lying will come into play. The logical choice for any parent, would be to meet their child in the middle ground. Teach them the hard facts of life, and that certain decisions can lead to very bad consequences. Such is the case with the characters in this film. The whole message of the film is plan, simple and straight forward. If your stupid enough to go to a party in the wood where you know nobody. You try to buy drugs from a guy you don’t know, then really bad things can happen to you. Maybe not as bad as in this film, but who’s to say. That’s the message the film has for the parents and kids of the world. However there is another point where the film failed.
Now I know that film critic Roger Ebert gave this film a No Stars rating and there were words between the filmmakers and himself. I read both the letters they sent to one another after I watched the film. So here’s my two cents on that. first off stating above, I know Roger Ebert does not have any kids, so although the film is graphically violent, who is he to say that the film can’t be used as an education tool to snap the youth of today into some sort of awareness. This film depicts only one brutal scenario which can occur due to poor actions. Now it’s probably rare that any rapist or killer is going to do the things that were done to this girls in this film. I mean I think that’s a fare enough statement, but you never know. We as the human race just can’t turn our backs on such evils. In order to destroy evil, you need to know how it works. This is a film that shows the way evil works, it can’t be denied. However where Ebert is right, is that the film does not offer any sense of hope at all. I mean after all we are dealing with a film here. Movies are meant to be entertaining to thrill or scare us. This film takes all hope away. Sure our victims put up a good a fight, but overall they are doomed even before they know it. That’s where part of the film took a turn for the worse for me. Not one of the main girls in the film makes it to the last scene in the movie, Just like Last House on the Left. However in Last House their is some kind of justice served. With Chaos we don’t get it. Some may argue that fact however. But if you truly look at the character of Chaos he is just as selfish as the devil himself.
Now with all bullshit aside, and my two cents worth out of the way. (If it made any cents to you at all). (God only knows if I explained myself right.) I’ll give you my thoughts on the overall film.
We, as I stated above, do have a copycat plot. The film does have a very similar format to Last House on the Left. However it does have it’s differences. There is no shots in the big city. The whole film pretty much takes place in the mountains and woods of a small town in the middle of nowhere. The story, (As I did mention most of it above.) is about two girls (Emily and Angelica) who want to go to a rave that’s taking place deep in the woods. After speaking to one of the girls parents and letting them know about the rave, her parents (Emily) agree. Both girls arrive at the rave and want to score some drugs. They spot a guy who looks like the stereotypical druggie and ask him about getting some ecstasy. He then persuades them to follow him to nearby cabin where he tells them his friends have some that they can buy. Little do the girls know that this guy’s Father and his two thugs are there. And the only thing on their mind is to rape and kill any girls the boy brings back. They do so, and then end up at Emily’s parents house because their getaway van won’t start. Emily’s parents soon realize that the female (Daisy) of the clan is wearing their daughters belt, and proceed to take matters into their own hands. With the local police being of no help de to racism, and the killers being who they are. The film ends with one of the most craziest endings ever to be printed on celluloid.
My overall view of the film is mixed. As the story began it reminded me of a mediocre direct to video horror film. I felt that the only realistic acting in the film came from the members of the killer clan. They seemed to be the only actors who’s acting ability felt realistic. As for the victims, it seemed like half the time they were being feed their lines off camera. Even during some of the most brutal scenes the screams did not seem real. As brutal and inhumane as the murder scenes were. And trust me they are like no other murder scenes, I still had this sense of disbelief. I think anyone that is put in these situations would pass out either from the fright or the pain. I know dam well if someone stuck a knife up my ass, I’d pass out. The special effects in this film are brutal. There is no CGI, just a mess of make-up effects, which look very realistic and work.
My overall view of Chaos is mixed. I’m not sure if I liked or disliked the film. Overall this film has more issues than Time magazine. I’m trying to look at in the light of both aspects, as a film and as an educational video. I mean I don’t want to get into it, or I’d be here for a week writing down all my thoughts. I never in my life watched a film that can piss me off, yet amaze me at the same time. Personally from a horror fan standpoint, I loved the ending, thought it was one of the best horror ending in a long time. But then again I’m angry because I hated the character of Chaos so much, I wanted him dead. I wanted to kill the son of a bitch myself. I stayed up all dam night, thinking. What if someone did that shit to my kid, or my family. My opinion is truly torn. As a horror fan I’m mixed, and a soon to be parent, I’m thankful for the little bit of education this film offered me. If it did teach me one thing, it’s that parents should be more in tune with their children, and not only educate themselves but their children as well. As a person, as myself I’m personally enraged. I don’t want to get into as to why I am. But the film left such an impact on me. As a future parent, It personally effected me in more ways than one. And I’ll leave it at that.
So yeah, I’m mixed folks, I’m guessing it depends on who you are. This film will have a different impact on almost everybody. Some will be able to avoid it as just plain shit. Others will dwell on it, and others will just view it as another brutal horror film.
Note: As I read more and more, and think more and more about this film. My mind seems to be pulled in many different directions. Don’t think that this will be my last and final thought about the film. I’m sure I’m going to write something else about this film in the coming weeks.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
