Not long ago, Slasher Studios screened their film "Don't Go to the Reunion" before a full house at HorrorHound Indianapolis. The crowd cheered, laughed, and it was a big hit. Maybe not scary, but the kind of movie you want to see with some friends and a few beers.
Now they're back... with a vengeance. That same great mix of blood and belly laughs, but with an improved video quality, some great camera shots, and a beautiful soundtrack. We even have a killer with black gloves, which can only be a nod to the great Italian giallo films. (Indeed, in some respects this is more of a mystery than a slasher, at least for the first half.)
"Dismembering" retains that independent feel. There is still some amateur acting at times (one actress in particular) and minor sound issues that come from not having a sound stage or boom mics, but it's part of the Slasher Studios charm. This is a low-budget, high-fun film. Most of the actors double as crew – including the director-editor (Austin Bosley) and makeup artist (Marla VanLanen).
And for being shot over 12 days, it comes off as quite professional. (Even notorious rush artists like Jim Wynorski typically allow 17 days in case of retakes.) Though he did get a "thanks" on "Reunion", hinting at some sort of involvement, director Austin Bosley is new to the Slasher Studios family. He has acted and directed a few things, but one hopes he sticks around with this group a while. He seems to have the magic touch. (With all due respect to Slasher Studios' former regular director Steve Goltz, who co-wrote this screenplay.)
Worth singling out is the actor who plays Mark: Baker Chase; he is the strongest of the cast – a good actor, with a good look, who has a bright future if he wants it. His IMDb credits show him very busy over the next year or two, and it would be no shock if he made the transition to mainstream films or television.
Slasher fans will have to check this out. Christmas and slashers have been going hand in hand since the 1970s, but never before have they been this highly entertaining. This Christmas, be sure to deck the halls with lots of bodies!
