Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh

I rented this movie several years ago solely because I could not pass up on a movie with this title. And believe me baby, it delivered! I am a huge fan of B-movies and this is one of the best. It had a great mix of humor and horror that isn't seen enough in this millennium. The plot was a little non-sensical but who cares? The Murders were carried out in such outrages situations as an electric (yes extension cord needed) piece of lawn care equipment, butchering a victim in a telephone booth. Rock On! The lead characters are an odd couple detective duo and the movie does a great job of poking fun at this formula. The one detective is a grizzled veteran and his partner is a weak stomached sissy. Let the carnage and puke flow! The character of the wife was also humorous. Well anyone who needs to use a voice box at any point in anything is what I would consider funny. If you are a fan of the old time Z-movie of the B-movie horror Comedy pick this movie up. You will be seriously surprised by it's quality!

My review was written in May 1991 after watching the movie on Paramount video cassette.

The cutesy title fronts for an occasionally amusing horror/comedy mishmash. Pittsburgh is the locale, and Tom Savini provides some gruesome makeup effects for diehard fans.

Direct-to-video release was produced in 1988 with the title "Picking Up the Pieces". That monike more accurately reflects a case surprisingly similar to "The Silence of the Lambs", as Pittsburgh cops are trying to apprehend a serial killer who mutilates women and keeps body parts for some strange ritual.

In a parody of a down-on-his-luck detective, Jake Dengel is the policeman with no stomach for his job. He calls in his former partner from Las Vegas who has expertise in this area, but the crony's daughter, spunky Susann Fletcher, shows up instead to assist.

Key clue of notes containing hieroglyphics, left on the corpses, leads to a cult working on eternal life via an ancient Egyptian formula. Porno veteran Jane Hamilton (a/k/a Veronica Hart) has fun as the slapstick villainess. Rest of the cast is nondescript.

Filmmaker Daan Tschetter's mix of gore and yocks strains, the equation that exaggerated blood equals black humor. Savini fans may get something out of this one but as "Silence" proved, this material is better off played straight.

Do you like B movies? REALLY like B movies? This is the one for you! If you prefer to watch REAL FILMS, don't bother. I doubt the Academy ever watched this one, and they certainly wouldn't be nominating it for any awards.

A twisted comedy/thriller (listed as horror, but thriller seems more appropriate), this flick -- I dare not call it a FILM -- was refreshing, like a spring rain. Think Naked Gun on a low, LOW budget. Serial killer, brutal murders of prostitutes (with the most enticing weapon selections), a cop who vomits at the sight of blood, AND a porn star (Jane Hamilton as dull-witted roller-skating waitress Grace) . . .

There's no point in discussing cinematography; I'm guessing film-school camera work and editing. Better than Blair Witch, not as good as Suspiria. Acting is mediocre, but at a level appropriate to the genre.

Keep your eyes open for occasional sight gags, and your ears open for the one-liners. Corny sometimes, but again, appropriate to the genre. A few good laughs, some pretty good gore (much more convincing blood than Argento uses), and a fun plot twist.

If I've learned one thing from this movie, it is: If you are a prostitute, and your trick brings a generator, run. Fast.

No pun intended - I had no idea what I was getting myself into. And some may feel the movie had no idea what it was supposed to be either. I think it is fair to say, that the movie is as silly and cheesy as it can be. And quite bloody overall - although deleted scenes on the disc I own suggest it could have been worse/better (depending on your own taste I reckon).

The scene with the hat quite early on will be an indicator if you can bare it - do you like the humor (silly - I repeat: Silly!) or do you find it annoying as it can get? This will inform if you should continue watching. If you can dig it, there is some fun to be had along the road of course. An oddity I had no idea existed ...

Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh stands as a testament to the chasm between ambitious titling and actual execution. The film's wonderfully absurd moniker promises a gonzo horror-comedy romp that sadly never materializes, leaving viewers with a decidedly conventional police procedural dressed up in genre clothing.

The cinematography feels workmanlike rather than inspired, capturing Pittsburgh's gritty urban landscape without any particular visual flair or atmospheric depth. Tschetter's direction lacks the manic energy necessary to elevate what amounts to a straightforward serial killer investigation into the realm of effective horror-comedy. The film's tone wavers uncomfortably between genuine police drama and attempted camp, never finding the right balance to make either approach compelling.

Jake Dengel delivers a serviceable performance as Detective Sweeney Birdwell, bringing a weary professionalism to his role that anchors the film's more grounded moments. Joe Sharkey, as Detective Joe Blocker, commits fully to his character's squeamish nature, though the recurring gag of his vomiting at crime scenes grows tiresome quickly. Susann Fletcher brings energy to her role as Deedee Taylor, the detective's daughter who becomes involved in the investigation, though her character feels somewhat underdeveloped. Beverly Penberthy, who also served as co-producer, provides occasional comic relief as Birdwell's chain-smoking wife attempting to quit through extreme methods.

The film's greatest asset comes from Tom Savini's makeup effects work, which provides the visceral punch the story desperately needs. However, even these expertly crafted gore sequences cannot compensate for the film's fundamental lack of narrative drive or comedic timing. The script repeatedly returns to the same handful of running gags without developing them into anything more substantial or amusing.