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28 out of 39 people found the following review useful: Deserves to be huge, 26 January 2004 Author: Jeff Combs from Leicester
ames Handel's brilliant script for The Last Horror Movie has a lot to say and does it without preaching or getting heavy handed. It's an uncomfortable film, but a compelling one and that modern day rarity, a horror film that makes you think while scaring the hell out of you. Howarth takes centre stage throughout and is simply amazing as the unreadable Max - he himself admits that he's not mad, but offers no motivation for why he commits his appalling crimes other than that he wants to create the "last horror movie you'll ever see." The Last Horror Movie will work even better on video and DVD than it does on the big screen though one has to wonder what its prospects will be. With no big name stars and the still unshakeable stigma attached to British horror films, this could go unwatched by many who would love its perverse charm and uncompromising violence. And that would be a shame as this is one genre film that deserves to be huge.
22 out of 28 people found the following review useful: I am soo surprised, 18 April 2005 Author: ffej117 from Indianapolis, USA
After checking the vote history on this movie I am very surprised it the votes on this movie in my age range for males is so low.Let me explain; I am a male that grew up on the slasher and crap flicks of the eighties and still enjoy them for their cheese factor. Do not get me wrong. I enjoy a good jump in the seat as well as anyone.on with it then; this movie is brilliant {my opinion}. This movie is exactly what a low budget movie is suppose to be. It is not a movie that will scare you right now but will stay with you and make you look at people in society different knowing that this movie hits home because these people are out there. Let me say it again this people exist. That revelation alone should send shivers down your spine.The lead in this is perfect, and I hope he is in for a long career and will look for him in the future. The secondary characters including the victims are as real life as it is possible to do with film.I am not one for giving away parts of movies, so you will have to check it out to see what I am talking about. Just know that if you are looking for Freddy, Jason or Michael you will be disappointed. If you are looking for a film that will stay with you for a long time this is your flick.I really look forward to seeing more from the parties involved with this film as much as people looked forward to Tobe Hoopers future products.Enjoy this film.
13 out of 16 people found the following review useful: British filmmaking with an unnerving edge, 29 March 2004 Author: (a.f.beeton@brad.ac.uk) from Bradford, England
Though the title of this film might suggest conventional horror forthcomings, don't despair. The last Horror Movie is a unique cinematic exploration in to the mind of a serial killer. Wedding filmmaker Max Parry [Kevin Howarth] is a London bachelor who enjoys looking after his sisters' kids, entertaining friends and honing the art of murder. He decides to make his own horror film in order to help him discover his victim's attitudes to death. The commonsensical style of this movie is its real charm. It lacks the sardonic comedy that makes Rémy Belvauxs' Belgian film Man Bites Dog an obvious fiction, but henceforth the horror becomes much more feasible. Howarth conceivably becomes someone we could know, and like. His charismatic portrayal of Parry makes us open to his rational debates of art vs. humanity. The last horror movie takes the horror genre and turns it on its head; it pushes the viewer to challenge why they enjoy purveying murder and brutal senseless acts of killing. It forces us to consider the value of a human life and then contradicts our opinion with the general antipathy shown for human life in the third world. It tries to make us believe that murder is in essence a force of nature. The protection and reassurance of your own home is no longer a safe haven but a fruitful opportunity to gratify the predator among us. If you can stomach horror and gore then go and see this film. It's a powerful piece of British filmmaking with an unnerving edge. Director Julian Richards commented that the real horror of this film starts when you leave the cinema, a concept that entertained me, as I lay awake, convincing myself that the squeaking floorboards below were not as innocent as they sounded.
16 out of 22 people found the following review useful: Interesting idea thats been done before, 10 December 2004 Author: diggler302 from South of Heaven
The Last Horror Movie is a cinema verite film. Done obviously on a low budget and this does show. But this really does just add to the authenticy that the film is trying to portray, a home made documentary about a serial killers life. Starring Kevin Howarth as Max, a seemingly normal, intelligent and suave gentleman who works as a freelance wedding photographer. The problem with Max is the fact he is also a cunning, evil and cannibalistic serial killer.This film does borrow heavily from the great Belgian film "Man Bites Dog" and even seems to have even gone so far as to steal a couple of lines of dialogue from the above mentioned movie.This film does hold up on it's own merits. It has some very cringe worthy scenes of extreme violence. Even I, who on the whole part am quite jaded had a chill down my spine on a few occasions. Though it is not a murder fest with every scene yet another depiction of ultra violence.Overall it has been done before, but is still a refreshing film due to the intelligence of the script and amazingly scary portrayal of Max by Kevin Howarth. If you are into more mindless violence it really deserves a out 5 of 10If you like a bit of story and character interaction then this gets a 7 out of 10
11 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Brutal and disturbing., 14 May 2005 Author: HumanoidOfFlesh from Chyby, Poland
Grand Rapids,Michigan.A radio announces that a serial killer,responsible for the deaths of six teenagers at a holiday camp,has escaped from prison.A waitress closing up an isolated diner hears a noise,steps on a Haloween masked,and is stabbed again and again and...Suddenly the face of an English man,Max Parry(Kevin Howarth),appears, declaring "The film you borrowed from the video store,I recorded over it...I think you'll find this more interesting" -and what follows is a homemade video of Max in London,murdering people,serving meals for his friends and family,shooting wedding videos for his day job("the best place in the world to meet women"),trying to persuade his retiring camera assistant(Mark Stevenson)to take a more participatory role,lecturing to camera on the moral underpinnings of his way of life,and slaughtering more people."The Last Horror Movie" by Julian Richards is a truly disturbing and grim horror film with hauntingly realistic central performance by Kevin Howarth.The film is clearly inspired by "Funny Games","Angst" and especially "Man Bites Dog",but it still manages to disturb.The killings are cold,merciless and extremely brutal and the violence is genuinely unnerving.Don't miss this one.8 out of 10.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: A fresh take on the serial killer genre, 8 April 2007 Author: DVD_Connoisseur from England
"The Last Horror Movie" is an effective film that could be described as a British "Man Bites Dog". Unpredictable, witty and thought-provoking, Julian Richards' film rises above the limitations of its budget and the result is a haunting production that is difficult to forget.The film's star and narrator, Kevin Howarth, is superb as the psychopathic wedding video organiser, Max. Howarth's performance is right on the mark. Like Bret Easton Ellis' "American Psycho" Patrick Bateman, Max reveals the thought-processes that go through his disturbed mind. The film has the ability to put the viewer in an uncomfortable place and some scenes have a genuinely surprising outcome. This won't appeal to viewers expecting an "August Underground"-style gore-fest but it does have moments where the visual effects are excellent.An ingenious film, this is worthy of a viewing. Unlike most films, "The Last Horror Story" works best on VHS or DVD rather than the big screen. 8 out of 10.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: An interesting addition to the serial killer genre., 6 June 2006 Author: BA_Harrison from Hampshire, England
Smooth talking serial killer and amateur film-maker Max Parry has made a fly-on-the-wall documentary about murder. By copying his movie onto a rental tape at his local video shop, he gets people to unwittingly start watching his opus, in which he delivers a snuff showcase of his greatest 'hits', whilst glibly commenting about the nature of killing.Despite borrowing heavily from Belgian movie 'Man Bites Dog', the classic 'Henry: Portrait of a Seial Killer' and 'American Psycho', and ending with a gimmick which is reminiscent of Japanese ghost movie Ringu, director Julian Richards manages to deliver a grisly film that succeeds in being genuinely disturbing. The catalogue of stabbings, beatings and strangulations are filmed with a gritty authenticity that will shock all but the most desensitised; but despite all of the nastiness, there is a knowing sense of ridiculousness which will appeal to those with a very dark sense of humour. Kevin Howarth's Max is both chilling yet comic; he claims to be sane, and talks intelligently about his project and his reasons for killing, yet he is clearly a few sandwiches short of a picnic. At times he is logical, calm and collected whilst going about his business, but we see just enough glimpses of his completely wacko side to know that he is far from 'mentally balanced'.A sharp script, impressive hand-held video work and some gruesome effects (try watching the burning scene without wincing) add to the realism of the film. The Last Horror Movie is a brave plunge into the dark world of an unhinged individual. Unashamedly violent and unflinchingly graphic, it is not a movie for the easily offended.
7 out of 9 people found the following review useful: An excellent movie, just make sure you watch it alone :), 21 June 2006 Author: maurice_k_69 from Australia
I really enjoyed this movie and how it all came together at the end. Good original movie with great acting. I also love how there is only one copy of the movie in ever video store. When i went to watch it i had never herd about it and i just found this random R rated horror movie. My family was staying at the cost at that time and i just bought 5 or 6 to watch to kill the nights. I was all alone in the house when i watched this movie (recomended) and it messes with your mind at the end. The circumstances i found it in added a lot to it and you literally find yourself at the end locking doors and windows :P, great movie, i can highly recommend it
6 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Evil? Certainly likable!, 27 February 2007 Author: christopher-underwood from Greenwich - London
Very assured twist on horror from Julian Richards and excellent performance from Kevin Howarth. He plays the serial killer/movie maker who has imposed his product upon the unsuspecting viewer. Intelligent and funny the film plays with our expectations of horror and toys with the notion of snuff and just how prurient we as viewers are. Amusing and disconcerting by turn, this holds the attention and persuades even when we are, ourselves, being accused. The way he tells the rich guy, before he sets him alight, that there is no point screaming because his nearest neighbours are far away because he owns so much land is great and the episode where he breaks off to discuss how we are viewing a double murder is brilliant. Evil? Certainly likable!
5 out of 7 people found the following review useful: One of the most original plots of all time, a brand new horror icon, and you become part of the show! A must see!, 1 August 2005 Author: eched
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Spoilers! Spoilers! If you have not seen this film then you might not want to read this! I want to go the extra mile here. A lot of people reviewing want to keep the plot under raps so they don't wreck the fun. But I wish to comment on the plot, so don't read if you don't want to know.You, yes you, have just rented out this movie and are now seeing it at your home. But, a few minutes into it a man named Max Power(wonderfully played by Kevin Howarth) pops up on the screen and quickly explains that he is a real life serial killer that has taped over your film with his murders. This brings up the question, is this really just your run of the mill horror movie, or are these people on your big screen really being killed off? Right off the bat you can tell that this is a smart movie. Like Max Power would say, "It does something that has never been done before, or at least I've never heard of it being done before." Indeed this films plot is unlike any other, and it does do something that I have never heard of. It makes you into a main character! Threw out the film Max talks with you and even pauses so you can talk back, and yes, talk back, you are not enjoying the film to its fullest unless you respond.Not only do you get to have your say, but this film has just so much more to other. It has a rather odd sense of humor to it. You would think with a plot as dark as this one and with it being so violent, and trust me, it does get violent, that it couldn't be funny. Well, thanks to Kevin Howarth, who can somehow make anything funny, this thing is painfully funny in spots.But, unlike some other dark comedies it doesn't make death into a joke. It keeps the comedy and the violence separated. When Max is out hunting laughing will be the last thing on your mind. I think this is a better approach to dark comedy. Death is not funny, and it shouldn't be treated as such. When someone dies the film gets series and then after it has paused for a while to let the shock run off Max makes a wise crack that lets you laugh off your discomfort.And about Max Power. It almost makes you wish there would be a number two, even though this is a stand alone film. Max is an instant horror icon if there ever was one. It's odd how hard it is not to like the guy. He just so darn likable, even if he goes running around killing people.Now, this film is well done. Shockingly well done. Given the plot of this film and how real and gritty it looks it really does pull you in and makes you part of the ride, and what a ride.The deaths are never gory, but some are very violent. Some viewers could be disturbed by such a film, and that's very understandable. It is very dark when it needs to be.Now, on what a film like this is actually trying to say. It poses a question, "If you can stop death and you do not, what makes you any better then a cold blooded killer?" Max indeed tries to make you look as bad as him in one scene when he says that you wouldn't bother to sell your TV so you could send the money to a company that could save lives. You just sit there and do nothing and of course more people die from your lack of funding. Doesn't that make you a serial killer? But that isn't the only theme of the film. There is also a comment on balancing what you want with what should be done. All the people in the film except for Max give up on there dreams and according to Max live horrible lives because they never do what they want to, where Max on the other hand always does what he wants to and lives a great life. But, of course this causes Max to run around killing people so that's not a very good way to live your life either is it. The film is trying to say that a balance between the two must be found. You shouldn't always do what you want, but you shouldn't forget what you want either. It shows this theme by showing the two extremes, kind of like the book "The Cat in The Hat" does.Well with that in mind, Kevin makes for a wonderful cat in a mind blowing, one of a kind film.
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