Claw

A horror to think a crew put more than 5 minutes into putting this thing together.

So-called friends who have little in common and argue often. Flat, awkward dialogue. No real momentum. Nonsensical scenes - such as how the killer can walk around in broad daylight outside the house but they don't see him. Crappy blood and effects.

This is a bad movie among bad movies.

Scream-queen icon Tina Krause (Witchouse 3, Camp Blood 666) stars alongside Justin Pavia and Lina Tanille in this gory and entertaining horror romp from director David Palmieri (Witchcraft 14,15 and 16) and producer David S. Sterling (Camp Blood, Witchcraft XI: Sisters in Blood).

"Claw" is a film about three friends who rent an old house in the country for some rest and relaxation, only to be killed off one by one by a sinister madman that dwells in the old barn next door.

The setup is pretty basic, but the dynamic between the three lead characters is interesting and there is enough interplay and backstory that you find yourself engaged when the danger begins. Lina Tanille is especially solid in her role. She plays Tiffani as a little bit of a loner; she has a complexity to her that doesn't need to be spoken in dialogue. Tina Krause plays her role well too as a free-spirit who doesn't take life all too seriously. Justin Pavia does nice work as well in his role and gets a chance to really shine toward the end of the film, but I won't reveal any spoilers.

The killer himself is interesting, with a blood-stained welding mask, an interesting main weapon in the form of a detachable claw and an assortment of ways to do in his victims. I also liked the touch of him playing classical music while getting down to business in the old, sinister barn. This added to the creepy atmosphere in the film.

The twist ending is great as well and appreciated in a film like this. Many time, lower budgeted slasher flicks don't try anything interesting, and I appreciated the extra effort to throw off the viewer and provide something new and refreshing at the end of the film.

I would love to see a "Claw 2" directed by David Palmieri. I think he does a great job with the tools that he has available. He created a fun, exciting, atmospheric slasher flick that was well paced and very well shot. He utilized some cool timelapse camera work and his setups for the camera angles were well done as well. I commend his efforts and look forward to seeing more from him in the future.

I've seen better acting in a child's Nativity Play. This is just awful. The idea of the story line isn't too bad, but this as a film no. 90 mins of my life I won't get back!

'Claw' drew me into seeing it, with a cool poster/cover, an intriguing premise and as someone with a general appreciation for horror. That it was low-budget, which from frequent personal experience is rarely a good sign due to that there are so many poor ones out there, made me though apprehensive as well as the low rating and poor reviews.

It is sadly however yet another film seen recently, hence some reiteration because the exact same strengths and flaws those films have are present here, that to me was incredibly disappointing considering its potential which it doesn't do anywhere near enough with. 'Claw' is terrible, with a plethora of problems (huge ones too) and doesn't do enough with its potential, which was hardly small. There is next to nothing to recommend.

Lets start with the sole positive. The scenery is atmospheric and spooky.

Unfortunately, the scenery is not done justice by the rather direct to video schlocky way it's shot and edited and the drab colour palette, so much so it was hard to appreciate it, it was very clear that the film was made in a rush with no care or enthusiasm. In particular, the camera work was a nauseous assault on the eyes with its excessive amateurish-ness.

Going on further to the negatives, the story does feel paper thin, disjointed and over-stretched and some of it feels vague, under-explained in the last third where the film especially became duller, more predictable, more senseless and less scary. Too many characters are too sketchy and with nowhere near enough to make one want to endear to them. Their annoying and illogical decision making and behaviours frustrates.

Making the film feel bland and forgettable with not enough heart put into it. The effects are ropy at best, the sound quality is obvious and utilised cheaply (being too loud in the build ups and people's reactions) and it's best not mentioning the uniformly lumbering and histrionic acting that shows a huge indifference to the situation and what is going on.

Dialogue can be stilted and rambling, with lots of clichés and no depth whatsoever, while the pace goes to a standstill very quickly and drags on forever with very little going on worth caring about and useless padding, never recovering. Found too many the supposedly shocking moments not surprising or scary and the supposedly creepy atmosphere dreary, due to the excessive obviousness, a lot of dumb and vague moments and explanations and the lack of tension and suspense. Would not have minded the lack of originality (the film is extremely derivative and in a dumbed and watered down way) if the story and atmosphere were at least alright in execution, in reality they were both very poorly done.

A lot of 'Claw' has underdeveloped plot elements and often nonsensical and confusing character motivations, while too many of the things to make you jump or shocked are far from creative or scary and are pretty tame. The ending makes the film finish on an incomplete and confused whimper.

There is not enough threat, and what there is of it tends to be used poorly, it is completely unimaginative and more odd than creepy, completely failing to show any sense of horror or creativity. Everything here is neither creative, suspenseful or nail-biting. Some badly sagging momentum too. The direction is leaden and like their heart was not in it or ill at ease, with the chemistry between the characters and actors coming over as constantly random and aggressive with the subtlety of an axe (do agree that they didn't look or act like friends).

Overall, awful with no redeeming value apart from an element that is difficult to appreciate with it being complemented so badly. 1/10 Bethany Cox

These people talk about meaningless crap throughout the entire film and there are a few kills. Yippie. Claw is one of the most derivative, sluggish movies I have ever seen. The only reason I was able to sit through this is because the chick Lina Tanille made a part of me rigor mortis. Claw is like a combination of a student film and a soap opera. Nothing interesting ever happens. Even the nude scenes were boring to look at. The kills were pathetic and for those who like gore will only get some splishy splashy moments. Does have an interesting twist towards the end but chances are you'll turn this s#!+ off before you reach the hour mark.