Feast (2005)

 

Feast (2005)

Starring: Balthazar Getty, Jenny Wade, Clu Gulager, Navi Rawat, Henry Rollins

Director: John Gulager

*Spoilers*

It seems the lower the budget, the more entertaining and just overall fulfilling a horror movie will be these days. Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Wes Craven are executive producers on this puppy (as part of Project Greenlight), which is director John Gulager’s debut. The guy obviously has some love for the horror genre. How could he not, growing up with Clu Gulager as your Pop. The veteran actor has been in more films than you can shake a stick at, with some horror greats dropped in the middle (Elm St. 2, Return of the Living Dead, The Hidden) of the list. 

Anyhow, the film starts out fast and simple, with a very Tarantino-esque edge about it. In a small backwoods town, it seems the lowest of locals hang out in a shit shack looking bar to pass their days. You have a very colorful bunch of peeps here, a senior citizen hooker and a punk ass wise guy pool hustler, to name a few. Well, on one particular night a stranger comes visiting, carrying a hefty gun and covered in blood. He begins shouting nonsense about locking down the bar, evil monsters on their way and shit. He is documented as the film hero, the savior; and he is killed off before he lands a minute of screen time...fucking brilliant.

A few minutes later, in walks the film heroine, widow of dead hero. The crew has to stay alive, remaining hopeful for a rescue. However, these monsters (beasts that cloak themselves in animal flesh) will stop at nothing. They are hungry as hell.

The intro of Feast is fantastic. Every character is given a comic book like pause upon their introduction. Info such as their name, motto and life expectancy is given, and the movie sometimes strays from the written fate. Every happening in this 90-minute bombastic horror parade is out of nowhere and very unique.

Jason Mewes plays himself in a pool game against Balthazar Getty, and is surprisingly unlike "Jay". Henry Rollins plays an out-of-towner with an overdose of looking on the bright side of things. Clu Gulager works his magic as the bartender. Many recognizable genre faces, but the whole group does well all around.

This film has a massive crew for makeup department, and for the low budget, it looks fantastic. Hell, it looks better than a heap of big budget films. Gore is a little over-the-top at times, but this is a horror comedy. The death never gets in the way or runs over the atmosphere, though, which is a blessing. To name a few nasties, you get a head squishing, eyeball plucking, devourment, a monster's cock n' balls (that is right, folks!) and more. 

This is necessary for horror fans. Feast plays in the same ballpark as Slither, and has quite a few homeruns.

Well worth a watch!