(WARNING: If my review seems erratic, let’s just say I was ‘inspired’ by this film)
The problem with horror films today is that they spend too much time and money on F/X and gore. Now, assuming you have a low/no budget and are out to make a horror flick, shouldn’t you spend more time on ACTING, SCRIPT and MUSIC application? This doesn’t require hiring actors, a composer or David Koepp (sorry, inside screenwriter joke). You simply rehearse often (with someone who KNOWS natural reactions), find a friend who knows how to APPLY music in the right places, and watch a few good movies for their DIALOGUE.
In which case, “Brainiac” is an ironic title for this film.(or perhaps they meant it that way)
Let’s begin with the gist:
***A doctor creates a drug, ‘Nirvana’, that causes endorphins so we can feel good all the time instead of turning to drugs and things of that sort….oh, meanwhile, there’s a face sucking killer (with bad genes) roaming about***
It begins with the killer. But halfway into this thing I’d forgotten about the killer. Far too many characters and sub stories. I guess the point here was to figure out who the suck face was…until they disclosed that halfway through, losing ALL suspenseful hopes. But I was a bit distracted by the story of the daughter and her boyfriend, the idiot cop, Dr. Morgan, the Harley guy, global warming…
But I gave it a chance, and after the hour long OPENING credits were finished, here’s what I was given…poor camera framing, an idiot cop, superfluous dialogue, pointless close ups, forced suspense, and inconsistent music. Now, here’s something I learned years ago about MUSIC in movies….
When my college class made a 45 horror minute film, I was able to do the original music for it. I made it as creepy as possible. After the first audience saw the film, I asked a few people what they thought of it. Most of them said the same thing: “The music was GREAT which was too bad, because the music was creepy but the movie was silly. It didn’t fit the music.”
You must have consistent musical themes and know WHERE to place them. “Brainiac’s” music was all over the place. It actually started out dramatic, filled with mood and atmosphere. I was impressed.
But it didn’t stop….a girl is walking down a HALL to dramatic music. I don’t have too many DRAMATIC hallways in my house. Use dramatics when dramatics are HAPPENING. Later on they turned to porn and punk music. Then again, there was nothing suspenseful about this thing, so perhaps they SHOULD have stuck with that.
Lastly, let’s remind everyone the FIRST rule of being an actor: DON’T LOOK AT THE CAMERA. And rule TWO: Don’t GRIN as the camera pans by you.
Lastly, lastly…I’d rather end on a GOOD note with a few things they did well:
1. Sound quality…music stunk but the general sound was consistent.
2. Dr. Sunday Morgan…this actress did a pretty good job considering the ‘talent’ around her had none.
3. The daughter (Kate)…cute and decent acting.
4. The monster mask was so BAD that it was amusing! I think I have one packed away in my Halloween decoration box.
Wait…am I done? Well…uh.. I spent the last 15 minutes of this film paying more attention to the font color on my Myspace page, so, uh, yeah…I guess I’m done.
– Matt – The Horror Guy!
- 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
