Killer Tumbleweeds

This movie is like a train wreck. You can't help slowing down and staring at it until it fades off into the distance.

In my book of the worst movies ever made this one just pushed Plan 9 From Outer Space out of first place.

So why am I giving it 10 stars? Because it's a hoot, that's why. And I love Plan 9 From Outer Space, too.

The action is filmed in a quasi-documentary style reminiscent of the Blair Witch Project. Shaky camera work, ordinary people moving the story along.

The movie contains tropes from other genres. Like the prison road gang scene.

The news reporting throughout the movie harks back to the Orson Welles War of the Worlds broadcast.

Turn off your brain and watch it for fun.

Now that Amazon Prime Video is airing it, it's likely to also become a cult classic.

This movie was clearly made by a group of people that love to make films but have no idea how to actually make films. Painful to watch at times but does have a few laugh out loud moments mostly due to the horrendous acting. RiffTrax needs to get ahold of this movie if they haven't already. I gave it two stars only because I feel bad for the people that were giving it their all. It probably didn't take long to make the film because it's pretty obvious that most of the scenes were filmed in just one take. Even the subtitles are done poorly with incorrect sentences puts the icing on the cake. All things being said I'm playing on rewatching it soon.

Does that make it "good"? If a piece of artwork or musical performance moves you to tears, does that give it value? I say yes. This movie is, in an arbitrary sense, not a particularly good film, per se. It doesn't matter, because I love it. I personally know the men who made it and live in one of the places it was shot. This film is a love story to Middle America, thank you McCain Brothers. Bravo. If you have lived for years in Middle America, don't be surprised if you love it, too. The man playing the Sheriff was the local weatherman for like two decades in my home town, and most of us love him, too. Again, Bravo.

The idea of tumble weeds coming alive & killing people is an interesting albeit ridiculous idea. But haven't we seen some crazy ideas come down the pipeline in the horror genre before? However the writers/producers don't take themselves any more serious than you will take the movie. Watch with the idea that this was made on no budget by a couple of guys whose primary experience is in the talk show/news industry and you will be able to laugh along! I gave it four stars because it is low budget and most of the actors are obviously amateur even though I personally know Butch McCain (My Name is Bruce) ...I should have been easier on him. But I know his real talent is more in the acting/voice and even singing area than writing or directing! Still Killer Tumbleweeds is a fun watch mainly because of the concept and maybe one day a big studio will pick it up remake it into a legit horror or horror/comedy!

Tell me where the bad ratings are coming from, because this was the most fun watching a movie I've had in a long time.

The concept of killer tumbleweeds is insane. It's nuts. But the execution was do deadpan and unexpectedly insane that it's actually brilliant. The whole concept can be seen as some kind of satire, and as a standalone film it flawlessly imitates news media and features some really first-class, comical character studies.

All in all, I really enjoyed this movie. It was tongue-in-cheek horror, really first-class stuff. With the bad ratings, I expected something pretty lame and embarrassing. Instead I was impressed. Ten out of ten stars from me--one of the best films I've seen all year. And that little pup scooting away from the tumbleweed was seriously cute.

Final thoughts: if you like oddball horror comedy, you've got to see this. It's David Lynch mixed with Tim Burton mixed with true middle American. Love it!