EATER is unlike any of the other episodes of FEAR ITSELF and with Stuart Gordon at the helm of this one you know that it’s going to be one hell of an experience on prime time television. EATER in it’s own right could be one of those episodes that you can probably take and make it into a feature film. It has a plot similar to that of SE7EN but with a twist of FALLEN added into it.
EATER is about a famous cannibal serial killer who has finally be caught by police and is awaiting his transfer to a prison. A new female officer, Bannerman is one of the three officers on the graveyard shift at the precinct that night, her other two co-workers are not to found of the rookie female officer and play a lot of practical jokes on her as well as insult her to see if she can take the pressure. After getting some work done, she decides to go upstairs to check on the prisoner. She finds that the two officers on duty with her are no where to be found and that the EATER is fast asleep. Or is he? She soon finds out that there is more to this guy than him being a notorious serial killer with a taste for flesh, but rather he has supernatural abilities. Now trapped in the precinct with the killer on the loose she must defend herself at all costs and make sure that the EATER does not escape.
The script for EATER written by Richard Chizmar (Master of Horror: The Washingtonians, and the upcoming Stephen King adaption From a Buick 8) wrote this script along with his writing partner actor Johnathon Schaech (The Forsaken, Prom Night). Its a very gritty and brutal script that can easily be made into a feature script that would probably add to better character development. Sure the character of Officer Bannerman was developed very well, but that was about it. The script does give us somewhat of a background story on the eater, but not to much that we really learn a lot about his origin. The rest of the characters are expendable and rightfully so, because in a horror story we all need people that can be taken out to pasture, and the other characters in this film fit the bill and are your basic characters that we seem to see in many supporting horror roles. The script does have a good story but it is one that I wish was longer.
When it comes to the overall production director Stuart Gordon is the one to really praise. Not only was he able to capture the suspense and true scares that the script provided him, but he was also able to help his actors really get into the roles. I can write on and on about how well of a production Gordon put together here, but I don’t want to really get to deep into it. The acting was really good, even the supporting roles. The production value is also top notch with some great visual effects and some nasty make-up effects that were so well done they even put the fear in myself. Sure it is toned down for TV, but Gordon pushed his effects team to the limit of what NBC could really put on the air. The set design also really fit the mood with it’s dark looking atmosphere.
Overall, EATER is a dark episode, that’s full of a lot of scary and dark moments. Director Stuart Gordon is one of those underrated directors that deserves a lot more credit than he gets. EATER is just another one of the many great films that Gordon has directed over the years. It’s a very scary episode that I’m sure many horror fans will really enjoy.
– 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
