Review: FRAT HOUSE MASSACRE

[Misawa]

Written for Screenjabber.com and posted here first.


Frat House Massacre ****

Reviewed by Adam Stephen Kelly
Starring: Rane Jameson, Jon Fleming, Niki Notarile, Chris Prangley, Ryan Ross, Adam Simon, Lisa DiCicco, Andrew Giordano
Certification: R (US)
Running Time: 95 minutes
Written by Draven Gonzalez
Directed by Alex Pucci


Horror being my favourite genre, I’ll watch absolutely anything that features a few bumps in the night or splashes of blood (though, the more the merrier), but these days Hollywood horror just isn’t quenching my thirst, or satisfying my bloodlust you could say. More often than not these films are dumbed down and cut to ribbons (not the good kind), and it seems as if the days of fun and guts are speedily drifting away into the past and being locked away in our cinematic memories of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Well, it certainly would be if you rely on Hollywood. And if that’s you, please hastily turn your head to the left and start marching straight towards Indywood, where genuine horror movies are very much alive.

My experience with Frat House Massacre began in October 2008 when I was invited to the European premier of the film at GoreZone Magazine’s Weekend of Horror festival in London by the film’s director, Alex Pucci. I had no idea what to expect having saved myself from watching the trailer as I was already pumped to see it. Sitting in front of the big screen, I had an open mind, and soon enough it was filled with sheer delight. Now, fast forward one year to my second viewing, this time on the small screen, and as the closing credits rolled I was left with that very same satisfaction.

Frat House Massacre is centred around the character of Bobby, who begins his very first day at university by enrolling in the top fraternity, Delta Iota Epsilon (DIE), who know no boundaries, in a quest to seek bloody revenge on those who killed his brother a year earlier in torturous fashion, which kicks off a series of gory murders within the fraternity. DIE plays host to a vicious campus underworld of sex, drugs and sickening violence, and is lead by the remorselessly brutal Mark, played chillingly by the cold-featured Jon Fleming.

In the same vein as Alex Pucci’s previous feature film, 2005’s ‘80s-set Camp Daze, Frat House Massacre takes place in the late 1970s, with meticulous attention to detail paid to making the 2007-shot film look authentic for its on-screen period, from the opening titles, vehicles and costumes, to even a phone booth. And as for the soundtrack, the film features an original retro score composed by the legendary Claudio Simonetti at his Rome studio, who, with his former band Goblin, received worldwide acclaim for their work with Italian master of horror Dario Argento on such films as Profondo Rosso (Deep Red) and Suspiria, to even George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. Simonetti’s blasting techno score is an extremely welcomed accompaniment to Alex Esber’s strong cinematography, and really gives it an edge that separates it from other independent slashers, especially when blended with the various homages to giallo cinema that are prevalent throughout the film.

Frat House Massacre is a must for any slasher fan and an ultra-violent triumph for independent horror. Alex Pucci’s gory vision is sexed up and savage with a retro sensibility. Be sure to head over to Screamkings.com for screening dates and to keep up with all the news on distribution.


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