Hellbent (2004) User Reviews

Honest slasher.

[cedde6 · 6/10 · 11 November 2006]

Four gay men are out for a night of fun at the infamous West Hollywood Halloween Carnival but make the big mistake to moon at a muscular fella wearing a horny mask. Little do they know they just provoked a serial killer who can truly hold a grudge...

Make no mistake, this is classic slasher territory. The film opens with the murder of a couple making out in a car parked in the woods and from there, well I'm sure you can fill the gap.

The originality here of course lies in the characters and for once, thank God, they are not the clichés one could have expected and feared. They are fun loving young men celebrating who they are (as opposed to so many miserable gay characters of the past struggling with their sexuality) and witty as hell, which makes for some funny lines here and there.

Don't get me wrong though. "Hellbent" doesn't play the self referential game that most modern slashers do. At times, the movie is tense and, I must admit, the last part got me on the edge of my seat. The characters are sympathetic and humane, albeit not quite fleshed out. The movie is well shot, the acting is convincing and some death scenes are quite impressive.

Sure, the plot is a bit thin but then again: it's only a slasher (hardly rocket science). Far from redefining the genre or breaking new grounds, the movie is at least honest in its intentions.

"Hellbent" is actually less of a gay movie for a strictly gay audience than it is a pure pop-corn movie for any open-minded movie goer looking for a genuine good time.

The First Gay Slasher...?

[Schmeez · 4/10 · 23 September 2005]

Surely it couldn't be the first. But even if it is the "first gay slasher" it's just as bad as the last few slashers I saw for the breeder crowd. I hope the 2nd, 3rd and all subsequent gay slashers are better than this. I've seen better production values on an episode of "Degrassi Junior High." Not scary, suspenseful or even funny. And it seems that gay characters (even when created by gay men) can only be X-takin', circuit-party-frequentin', bathroom-stall-sex-havin' pretty boys. It's kinda tiresome. But hey - what's good for the goose is good for the gander, and if you're gonna have one-dimensional characters in a movie like "I Know What You Did Last Summer," why not have them in this one?

Hellbent to party.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 5/10 · 7 October 2012]

Having an interest to see a Slasher movie perhaps take a different route from the norm,I was surprised to recently find out that 2004 had been the year when the first ever Gay Slasher film had been made.Intriged by seeing the genre's supreme producer Joseph Wolf connected to the film,I decided to take a look at a movie which would hopefully look at the Slasher genre from a refreshingly different point of view.

The plot:

With the famous West Hollywood Carnival only a day away,the local police start to suspect that a serial killer is planning to turn the Carnival into a bloody mess,when the bodies of two men are found beheaded in a park.Not wanting to ruin his friends plans for the carnival,officer Eddie decides that he will keep his eyes wide open for the serial killer during the celebration,who will end up getting Eddie and his friends to paint the West Hollywood Carnival blood red.

View on the film:

Whilst the characters of Slasher films are seen (sometimes wrongly) as being a bit stupid,writer/director Paul Etheredge-Ouzts sadly makes Eddie and his pals some of the dumbest characters that I have seen in any film!.Despite the best efforts from the charismatic cast,Ouzts makes it almost impossible for any emotional involvement with the characters,due to their level of stupidity being miles away from the normal behaviour of having a serial killer constantly trying to chop your head off,with a number of Eddie's friends seriously asking the masked knife welding psycho if he wants a date for the night!.Although his screenplay is a disappointing,first time director Outzts keeps the movie moving at a quick pace and also shows a real flair for the set-piece murder scenes,with a brutal murder taking place in a toilet featuring an impressively done final shot,and a savage killing at a disco being extremely distinctive thanks to Ouzts wonderfully stylised directing.

Death never looked better!

[Alexstam54 · 14 August 2011]

Hellbent is the first gay slasher movie and it's great fun. The guys look great, there's a cute love story, the killer looks extremely sexy and there are some really gory scenes. The characters are nicely developed before some of them are killed. So you really care a bit about them, and that's more than you can say of most horror movies. Evidently it follows the rules of the slasher movie (the ten little Indians-scenario, the killer-behind-the door, etc.), but still it works. Sometimes the characters act just a bit too stupid, but that's just a minor point. I think that the ratings are really much too low, it's just a good slasher with some genuine scary moments. A great movie for a Saturday night.

A Travesty--A Blown Opportunity

[maestro7PL · 2/10 · 6 October 2005]

Do the readers of the posted comments for this film notice that the raves are coming from those who saw it at a gay and lesbian film festival somewhere? I don't know why but so many people who see films at festivals overrate them, as if the slightest gay reference in a film automatically makes it good. I missed it at last year's Outfest in LA, and heard that it was really good. I also wondered why it took over a year for this film to get released. Having finally gotten a chance to see it at a regular theater, I now know why. It was TERRIBLE! I can't understand why another Outfest entry that I saw--"The 25th Day" with hotties James Marsden and Scott Speedman went direct to video, and they bothered to release this trashy film. I am a fan of horror films. Hellbent is really the first "gay" slasher picture. Too bad it had to be done this badly--poor script, mediocre direction, laughable dialogue, paper-thin characters, an ending that can only be described as a complete let-down, and no insight whatsoever as to the killer. If you saw the poster to this film and the first make-out scene in the film, you saw the best part of the movie. Only the drag queen character was able to make any kind of lingering impression. The actor resisted the temptation to make his character campy, and so we have sympathy for him. Otherwise, don't waste your money. I am out 10 bucks and 90 minutes of my life that I'll never get back! I hope more talented gay filmmakers will try there hand at this genre, which has proved itself so profitably to str8 audiences. Openly gay filmmakers and writers such as Victor Salva ("Jeepers Creepers 1 & 2") and Kevin Williamson (the "Scream" movies and "I Know What You Did Last Summer" movies) have so far given us "eye candy" in the form of hunky guys, but their movies so far are engineered to mainstream str8 audiences. They have had their success commercially. It is time for them to "come out" and make a truly gay horror film like this one. What do they have to lose? Be yourselves, for Godsakes--don't pretend to be str8. Write what you know about and what you feel (that is, lust for guys, not for girls). If they ever do, maybe we will get the first GOOD gay slasher film! HellBent is certainly not that film.

Solid slasher film with great pacing and tone

[Jim-D · 7/10 · 1 February 2008]

As a longtime slasher fan, I'm always looking forward to a new entry in one of my favorite sub-genres. When I first heard about this one, I was wary. Not because it was a gay slasher film, but because I was worried that the characters weren't going to be portrayed as real people, but rather caricatures of gay stereotypes. In order for a slasher film to succeed, you need to believe the victims... and thankfully, with Hellbent, I did.

What I got in this film was a really solid slasher flick that was really fun from beginning to end, with beautiful cinematography, plentiful gore, and a very fun locale. While the killer has no direct motive, it works within the context of the story and the movie never gets bogged down with pacing problems.

The characters, while an eclectic bunch, are all believable and keep the story moving along. While the occasional stereotype shows up, one gets the feeling that these are real people in a real situation, which is refreshing. The fact that the central characters are gay quits being a gimmick after the opening scene.

Judging from other reviews here, it appears as though a lot of people didn't care for this film, but I really did have a good time with it. Its funny, gory, and entertaining - which is all I ever ask of my slasher movies. People wanting high cinema should look somewhere else... but if you want high cinema, you probably aren't a slasher fan anyways.

Straight guy review of gay slasher

[Stevieboy666 · 5/10 · 31 October 2017]

As a straight but open minded guy I have to admit that I felt somewhat wary about watching this film. Thankfully (for me) the sex scenes were all very tame (rated BBFC 15 here in the UK), otherwise - and I don't mean this in a homophobic way - I would have found myself turning away. My reason for watching Hellbent is because I love slasher movies, the good, the bad and the ugly. This one features a big, muscular dude wearing a devilish mask who likes to severe boys heads. Overall I found the movie to be pretty decent. The gore isn't terribly graphic but just enough to enjoy. Much of the action takes place at a massive Halloween party in West Hollywood, well done for that. Acting is OK. Obviously not to every slasher fans taste but I quite liked it.

Nice collection of gay scalps there, you sick homophobe!

[Coventry · 6/10 · 7 November 2006]

Quite a lot of people around here are referring to "HellBent" as being a genuine throwback to the 80's horror sub genre of slashers, but it isn't one, really. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't the whole point of slasher-movies the guessing along for the killer's identity and the search for a link between him/her and the people that got killed? Well, at least mostly that was the point, unless the culprit was Jason Vorhees (Friday the 13th) or Michael Myers (Halloween) who just massacred teenagers because it was in their genes. With his debut "HellBent", writer/director Paul Etheredge-Ouzts entirely disregards this operating routine, but not necessarily for the better. The film profiles itself as the very first gay slasher movie (although that's debatable) so that's exactly what happens! Queer boys are butchered and that's it…period! The maniac is an athletic type of guy wearing a devil-outfit and his chest is perfectly waxed. He dwells around the places that the homosexual crowd of West Hollywood considers to be paradise, like the park, dark bathrooms in clubs and the annual Halloween parade. After murdering a couple of boys in their car, he focuses on a group of gay roommates that anxiously look forward to a Halloween night full of wild parties, kinky costumes and – of course – meaningless sex with handsome strangers. Whose is the face hiding behind the mask is anyone's guess, as the script doesn't attempt much to provide this handsome devil with motives for his truly sick – he chops off and collects his victims' heads – killing spree. Is he a homophobe gone crazy? Is he a homosexual himself but too scared to come out of the closet? Did Michael Jackson assault him? You're not meant to know and, frankly, it doesn't matter because "HellBent" delivers exactly what it promises: bloody murders and a wide variation of eccentric characters. The players are all stereotypical characters that always appear in slashers, only they're all gay this time – duh! The main star is a yummy "scream-queer" who's friendly and looking for true love, while his friends circle contains the typical macho, the sex-addict and the overly shy and emotionally vulnerable virgin. Oh well, I'm really not in the mood to nag or complain too much about the weaknesses in this film. It's short and funny, the soundtrack is excellent and every cast-member is a fresh-faced youngster that plays his role with a lot of enthusiasm. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend "HellBent" to any horror fan that isn't too shallow.

PS (and SPOILER): Although "HellBent" is technically the first horror film with an all-gay cast, the formula of a homosexual murderer was used already once, namely in the long-forgotten and truly abysmal 80's flick "Hide and Go Shriek".

Brokeback Mountain for gore fans

[filmnut1 · 5/10 · 5 March 2011]

Gay and lesbian cinema is relatively unadventurous. Aside from popular erotic films, prominent homosexual characters can generally only be found in dramatic or comedic films. To take a popular genre such as the horror movie and populate it with out and proud characters marks an otherwise clichéd film as notable.

Before Hellbent (1994) came along only one director had been pushing the boundaries of acceptable sexual identity in genre movies. Under the Rapid Heart Pictures banner, David Decoteau has been churning out cheap, strongly homoerotic horror movies for years; notably the Brotherhood series made during the 00s.

His movies feature casts of chiselled male model-types who take off their shirts a lot in between death scenes. Almost always with a girlfriend or prospective female love interest present, the films could be said to use monstrous themes to represent the demonisation of homosexuality. Wolves of Wall Street (2002) is a perfect example of this subtext in action.

Unlike Decoteau's own slasher fare, such as 2001's Final Stab, Hellbent sets itself apart from that particular approach. While featuring it's share of handsome and muscular stars, Paul Etheredge-Ouzts' directorial debut avoids over-the-top erotica while being very frank about the sexuality of his protagonists.

Hellbent is a straight slasher movie (pun intended) with the exception of scenes of man-on-man affection, restricted mainly to kissing. Hellbent is upfront but very restrained. It's a slasher movie where the characters just happen to be gay. Indeed some of the cast are straight themselves.

This isn't a movie with an agenda beyond entertainment. Ageing producer Joseph Wolf has made a number of slasher movies, including Halloween (1978), and approached this project with the same perspective as all his others. He didn't care if the characters were gay, but I'm sure he thought it would be a novel selling point.

Like all good slasher movies Hellbent draws you in with engaging characters, some decent plot development and good death scenes and received a broad UK release through TLA Releasing, specialists in indie and homosexual interest films. Hellbent had a lot of potential to crossover and could be found in Blockbuster amongst similar fare.

I'm sure straight horror fans who might be deterred from seeing it after discovering it is gay would find much to enjoy. It's main flaw is that the mysterious, silent, mask wearing, wrestler-type antagonist is a thinly written villain. There is none of the complexity of a Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees or even Dr. Giggles (1992). Known only as the Devil, the sickle wielding psycho has a great presence but no depth.

With a likable cast and a fun soundtrack of underground gay punk, Hellbent is 80 minutes of simple pleasure. A unique take on an overly familiar story. But just as Brokeback Mountain (2005) didn't really change anything in Hollywood, Hellbent didn't change the bias toward heterosexual protagonists in B-movies. Even DeCoteau's characters are still in the closet.

I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[jvlcr · 6/10 · 7 November 2006]

I can't deny that this movie had its problems, but I really did enjoy it. They managed to make me really care about the main characters so then when one of the guys is getting stalked I'm routing for him REALLY hard. They did great things to heighten the tension... I was FREAKING OUT in a lot of parts. Also, despite what the other guy on here said, I think they did some cool things with the directing and the shots. Actually the ONLY thing that made me really angry was the lack of reveal and discovery at the end... kind of aggravating, but altogether I'd say, if you like slasher flicks, this one's got tension and blood galore! Rent it, what've you got to lose? ... 3 bucks?

Yeah, yeah...another slasher film...

[DJStevieBeat · 4/10 · 17 September 2005]

Yeah, yeah, another slasher film with a killer killing people. It's great that the movie centers around mostly a gay cast and I did enjoy some of the twist and turns, some scares and gross outs, and the acting, but you would think that by today's standards, in the era of the 'smart' horror film, we would get an answer as to why the killer is killing and who is he. I've seen all the horror films where people kill just to kill and I'm bored of that. If a reason was stated why this guy was killing, I would have most likely told people to see this movie. I felt just like the guy at the beginning of the movie who was getting a you-know-what, when the film was just about to reach climax, it cut its own head off!!!

Entertaining modern slasher

[slayrrr666 · 8/10 · 13 February 2008]

"Hellbent" is a more than entertaining slasher with a new twist to the story.

**SPOILERS**

Out on Halloween night, Eddie Fitzgerald, (Dylan Fergus) warns his friends Toby Weatherton, (Matt Phillips) Joey, (Hank Harris) and Chaz, (Andrew Levitas) that a serial killer may be on the loose that is targeting homosexual men. Preparing for a night out at a party, they don't think much of the story as it will interfere with their partying at the big club later that night. Meeting up with Jake, (Bryan Kirkwood) at the club, they all indulge in their darkest fantasies and have a little fun in the process, which is welcomed by all in attendance. While they're out enjoying themselves, the killer starts to target them as well, putting them all at a dangerous position when they try to get away from his reign of terror.

The Good News: This one here is actually not that bad when it really came down to it. The movie has all the boys, booze and bacchanalia one could want, instead of the usual T&A of the standard slasher flicks. The difference in this case is that the horny couple are both male. In a pitch-perfect homage to old school horror, the film opens on a hot and bothered stereotypical horny couple making out in their car in the park at night in a secluded spot. As the young men grapple and pant, we're shown a shadowy figure skulking ever closer. The figure emerges in the moonlight, showing us a glint of scythe, a Mephisto-style devil mask before he strikes a fatal, tryst-ending blow, decapitating them both and takes the heads as trophies. These types of scenes play off the style and tone really well, making it appear to fit in with the genre while also keeping up its difference point all the better. When it decides to go for the horror aspects, though, the results are just spectacular. In one standout moment, a couple of club-goers find a headless body slumped in a toilet cubicle, covered in blood, initially thinking it's an elaborate Halloween joke until the body twitches which sends them all into hysterics is quite inventive. Another fantastic scene has the killer off a victim on a crowded dance floor, stabbing them in the gut with a sickle before decapitating him as the strobe-lights work overtime overhead. That works extremely well in the context of a slasher flick set around the theatrics and artifice of a Halloween night carnival. It also helps that the scene comes off like a real set-piece rather than just shoe-horned in, and is pulled off spectacularly. Easily the best, though, is when one character is outlandishly saved by his glass eye stopping the killer's sickle piercing his brain. The sight of the blade touching the eye with the metallic clink plainly heard, the suspense set up to ensure a great site, and tense moment leading up to it are played off perfectly and make it a superb scene in every sense. In fact, the slashing and stalking are purely stand-out in every way, and are there to ensure that it gets enough points about it to make for an entertaining film. The unnamed and ostensibly motiveless murderer is appropriately dark, shadowy, merciless and perfunctory in his killing. There's also some memorable kills, mainly through the use of decapitations resulting in many nice splatter moments. Mixed together with a stupendous pace and some wonderful humor, this one manages to be really entertaining.

The Bad News: This one here has a couple of flaws, though they aren't big and important. One is that the kills aren't all that graphic even though they are decapitations. It really should've used another style of death to help make an even bigger impression, but none of the kills are really as bloody as they could've been. The other problem with this is that there's nothing groundbreaking in the depiction of gay men behind closed doors or even out reveling in the wildness that is the West Hollywood Halloween Festival. That might have made this film a bit more interesting, instead of having it be just a different take on the tired old slasher clichés. Sure, we see some of the guys kissing but that's as far as anything sexual goes. If the film really wanted truly different, we would have seen more of what one sees in the typical slasher movie, the T&A and simulated sex, only in this film, it would have been male genitalia and ass with the simulated sex. This has plenty of opportunities to do so, and while those may not be for some out there based on it's very nature of it's themes, but these parts here are what really hold this one down.

The Final Verdict: An absolutely enjoyable homosexual slasher, with enough about it to be enjoyed by those who enjoy that style of film while also making it easy for heterosexual ones to get something out of it as well. Recommended to both styles, while those who can't get past the themes and issues should heed caution.

Rated R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language and strong sexual themes

Hell! Bent, But Not Broken!

[NJMoon · 7/10 · 18 September 2006]

Wow! What a fun ride! Just as good as any breeder teen slasher flick. Fun Halloween setting in West Hollywood gives the perfect opportunity for four hot guys to be beheaded at the hands of a 'horny' devil. The film adds a love story to the mix that miraculously never turns saccharine. The story (what there is) is skillfully doled out to provide maximum tension, so don't worry why someone working in a police department is not a uniformed cop, all will be revealed by film's end. Those looking for substance over style should look elsewhere, but if a homo roller-coaster ride to fright-land is what your after, this flick is it.

Do not waste your time

[jaybob · 2/10 · 14 October 2006]

This so called gay slasher horror film is non of the 3.

It is so darkly lit & with constant facial close-ups,you cannot tell what is happening.

SPOILER ALERT, as soon as I saw one guy in flamboyant Drag & a cute young guy, I felt that they would be victims,

It was also filmed in West Hollywood, It sure did not look like the West Hollywood I know so well.

I feel sorry for those that spent $ 11:00 or more on this in the theatres. I saw this on NETFLIX so my cost was very reasonable

* 1/2 out of 4 36 points out of 11 2 IMDb

Not scary, not sexy, not worth your time

[filmguyCI · 13 November 2004]

Some may feel that queer cinema was due for a slasher film. But what is the point really? It's no longer enough for me to see a film only because it features attractive men with hot bodies. What about story? Character development? Acting? Are these not important?

The premise of this film is as follows. A psycho killer stalks a group of gay friends on Halloween night. That's it. More frustrating is the fact that at the end, the audience is given no indication as to who the killer is or why he did what he did. Honestly, if these were straight characters, would such an unoriginal film get released or even made for that matter? There wasn't even much humor in the film to make the excessive gore easier to take. I especially disliked the scene in the bathroom where the most likable character was beheaded right after he expressed his happiness about getting a phone number from a guy he liked.

So now we have our gay slasher film. A step forward or a step backward?

Three words: Gay Slasher Movie

[Vomitron_G · 4/10 · 16 March 2006]

There simply isn't any other possible way to describe HELLBENT than by saying it is the first gay slasher-movie. It just isn't about anything else. After seeing this flick at the Brussels Festival of Fantasy Films, I am a bit afraid of telling anyone that I'm a hetero-sexual male. Because this movie learned me that every single male is gay and they are all horny as hell. I can imaging a conversation between the producer (P) and director (D), that lead to the making of this film, going as follows:

P (enthousiastic): Let's make a slasher-flick and let's make it gay!

D: Okay, cool! What do we need?

P: Ehrr... Lot's of good-looking young men doing gay stuff and telling gay jokes!

D: And what does the slasher look like?

P: Well, remember that awesome Ben Affleck-movie where he plays that comic-book super-hero?

D: Daredevil!

P: Yeah, right. Well, we can make that the killer's costume and hope nobody sues us...

D: Well, we can situate the story during a Mardi Gras-like carnival, so we can get away with using the same costume.

P: Oh, clever one D!

D: What are the killer's motives?

P: Who cares? He just kills gay people!

D: Good enough! But do you think there's a market for such a film?

P: There are actually two markets: Gay people and horror-fans.

D: Nice, we're gonna have a hit! But P.... ehrr, sorry for asking, but are you gay?

P: Not at all, but I have nothing against it.

D (sighs with relief): Oh, me neither. But I'm glad we got that out of the way...

Do you people catch my drift? This movie has no plot whatsoever and we learn absolutely nothing about the killer. The only thing all characters think about is sex. Except for the killer. All he ever thinks about is decapitating his victims (thank God for that!). But there even isn't an explanation as to why he collects the heads. The movie has an awful rock-soundtrack and a lot of naked male torso's. None of the "Boo!"-effects actually work. But the death-scenes are good and bloody with decent effects. And since there are only 4 killings (I'm counting the couple in the opening-scene as one), I'm gonna give HELLBENT 4 out of 10 stars. And people, please don't make a sequel, but instead give us the first lesbian slasher-movie. Thank you!

cute guys get hacked to death...

[Duirmuid · 7/10 · 31 October 2005]

this film isn't going to change your life. it's fun and camp in a butch kinda was. these guys can act and they look good too.

the plot is simple and that is it's greatest flaw. there is almost a porn feel to it (or it could be that i've seen too much porn) and i'm getting confused.

I wouldn't sell this an seminal gay movie but it's good to see something which is like a mainstream movie in which instead of a girl in a bra running away from the killer you get to see a cute guy scream and run away like a girl, *smile*. I actually seem this with a room full of straight men (well the vast majority) and it got a round of applause.

keep 'em coming.......

A near miss...but a miss all the same

[moonmonday · 5/10 · 29 June 2015]

Billed as 'the first gay slasher film', Hellbent basically takes every genre trait it can and tries to combine them into a singular movie. It works in some ways, mainly as a pastiche with a twist since it's not the usual straight sex-crazed, drugged-out teens that have been served up as fodder for decades.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work in a number of other ways, and that's a real shame. I think the biggest way that it fails is that no-one really brings up the concern of a hate crime after the double-murder at the beginning. In reality, that would be all over the place, people would have heard about it, and it's very unlikely things would go on exactly as planned with a brutal double-murder the night before Halloween, especially when it was not even two blocks away from the centre of West Hollywood. Sorry, but I don't buy it.

It seemed like the makers wanted to avoid stereotypes, but in so doing also managed to avoid realistic-feeling characters. Instead, the characters came off as pretty heavily stereotypical...just in different ways than is usually seen in gay-oriented entertainment, and at the same time included almost no recognisable figures that one would really encounter in a place of such a concentration of the gay community. Basically, like they were trying way too hard to 'normalise' gay men and gay culture, to the point where it just looks like obnoxious 20somethings at funky clubs on Halloween. The characters are all fairly ridiculously fit, though, which isn't really clever enough to be ironic.

It didn't deal well with the mysterious killer, who is never explained and has no real gravitas. It's just some bodybuilder in a mask, that's it. Nothing more is ever really explored. For that matter, the other characters were largely not that great, aside from the genuinely likable Chaz, which may have been due to the actor's own charisma. The main protagonist was awful, as was his unbelievable and obnoxious female friend; they also didn't really explain what he was doing working for the police since it was stated numerous times he failed his exam.

This said, though, the big flub of Hellbent is that it kills off the much more likable and interesting characters, does it far too soon in the story, and doesn't even do it well. The more annoying characters stick around, the story goes nowhere, and it ends about as you'd expect. The story doesn't make sense -- after encountering a weird, potentially dangerous guy at the scene of a murder less than 24 hours previous, they say nothing to anyone and aren't that surprised when he follows them?! The whole hate crime element is not really touched upon, and it's conspicuous by its absence, but it's not something that the viewer can really avoid thinking about.

Maybe that's the reason why Hellbent is one of a tiny few in the 'gay slasher' genre...because it's not really fun, and usually slasher films are kind of supposed to be. It tries too hard, and it doesn't try hard enough. It's basically just really depressing, and by the end of it all you aren't even fulfilled by a satisfying resolution. If it had been just another 'straight teens go partying on Halloween and there's a killer' film, not a single person would have cared. It doesn't have a sense of humour really, so you can't even say it's a black comedy. It's just sad.

The Devil Went Down to West Hollywood

[NoDakTatum · 6/10 · 2 November 2023]

We've seen it before. A slasher film that opens on two horny young people getting it on in a parked car before a masked killer relieves them of their lives; for example, removing their heads with a giant scythe. This film marks the first time in horror film history where the two lovers are both men, and all the major characters in the film are homosexual. Our hero, Eddie (Dylan Fergus), can't join the local police force due to an eye injury, and must instead fix law enforcement computers while scoping out hot guys on "Wanted" bulletins. It is Halloween, and Eddie takes notice of bad boy Jake (Bryan Kirkwood) while handing out flyers about the two earlier killings. Eddie has quite the variety of friends, typical for your average slasher flick: nerdy Joey (Hank Harris), oversexed Chaz (Andrew Levitas), and handsome comic relief Tobey (Matt Phillips). The four friends are shadowed by the killer, a buff shirtless dude wearing a devil's mask, while hitting the bars and an L. A. Halloween carnival. If you have ever seen a slasher film before, then you have a pretty good idea where the plot is headed next.

This is a typical slasher film with a twist in the characters' sexuality, and therein lies the main flaw. Sure, the slasher ingredients like violence, gore, and sex are here, but the story is no different than any other slasher film to come out since "Halloween." I really liked the cast. While all these polar opposites just happening to be best friends is a reach, the group has a nice and believable chemistry together. The direction is active and thankfully not heavy-handed, and the use of the deep garish colors gives the film a different look. The script moves along quickly, one interesting aspect is the lack of motive and background on the killer's part. With all the "surprise" killer reveals in the "Scream" films, among others, the film makers wisely spent more running time on adding characterization to a sympathetic cast, so once the killings begin there is some emotion when someone gets dispatched. When you toss in Eddie's surprise medical affliction, and very realistic scenes when he and Jake begin to get close, you might believe that "Hellbent" could revive the slasher genre in the same way "Scream" did, but this is still a typical slasher film with the added twist of gay characters. "Hellbent" is not nearly the disaster I was expecting in the wake of contemporary fare like "Valentine," "Ax 'Em," and "Cutthroat Alley," among hundreds of other examples, but the film falls prey to the mechanics of the genre, making me care for a new type of character before killing them off in the same old way.

Quite possibly one of the WORST films i have ever seen.

[tika69 · 2/10 · 24 September 2005]

while i applaud the effort to make a "mainstream" horror film with a gay "edge", i have to honestly warn others of the absolute horribleness of this movie. the cast is compiled of D-list porn actors (no, really. it's true. check for yourself) with almost no known acting abilities other than getting my on their marginal good looks. there's even a part of the movie (i can't tell if this was an intentional joke or not) where they casually drop their age (22) but the actors are obviously about 30. if this movie had played up its camp value (ala Die! Mommy, Die!), this could have been a funny film. but since it takes itself seriously as a horror/slasher film, it just comes across as amateur. the video production is pretty bad too. i don't even think it is worth watching on video. for free. it's that bad. and i had really, really high hopes...

Hellbent

[Scarecrow-88 · 6/10 · 10 September 2010]

Four homosexual friends take to the streets during Carnival on Halloween night in West Hollywood as a buff serial killer(with a silver devil mask), who uses a sickle to attack victims(taking their heads after decapitation), follows close behind, waiting to strike each one when they are off by themselves. Eddie(Dylan Fergus), whose daddy was a policeman, is overly protective of his friends, and takes a liking to a biker in a leather vest(a manly gay man), always worried about his boys' safety because of the psycho running around(he saw the crime scene photos of the gay couple beheaded at the opening of the film, enough motivation to strike fear inside, or, at the very least, warranted caution). Bryan Kirkwood is Eddie's love interest, Jake. Hank Harris, Andrew Levitas, and Matt Phillips are the three pals of Eddie's who become targets of the killer. HELLBENT is probably my first male gay slasher flick and this, I figure, will be a strike against it because homophobes will find it hard to sit through as the movie emerges us into gay culture during a festive, energetic night on the streets where male homosexuals come out to enjoy the Halloween season with grand enthusiasm. Shot digital with the killings quite sadistic as the psychopath collects the heads of his victims! The killer's face is never shown and his motives are never clear. His presence and mask are pretty bitchin', to tell you the truth, and when he appears all you can really say is "Oh, sht!" While I mentioned that homophobes may find HELLBENT maybe hard to adapt to, there's an atmosphere and style I thought earned the movie brownie points; slasher fans, especially gay males, might consider this an underrated gem of a movie considering the genre hasn't too many flicks where the heroes are homosexual men. While we never see an actual beheading on screen, I felt that director Paul Etheredge uses impressive sound effects and camera work(not to mention buckets of blood)to compensate. We do see the bodies absent heads which are rather gruesome and the scene where the sickle's point isn't able to penetrate Eddie's glass eye is a showstopper. While the digital may seem grainy, I think Etheredge captures an authentic feel that works to the movie's advantage. You know, the activity on the streets, all the people, the crowds on every corner, packing clubs, it's a playground for a killer to inflict serious damage to whoever he so wishes to harm. There's one scene, for instance, where the killer is able to butcher a victim in a club with strobe lights protecting his identity. You just have to tolerate dudes kissing from time to time. I often get to see chicks engage in lip lock so it's only fair that guys do the same, even if I prefer the former, there are those who desire the latter and rarely get it..HELLBENT gives gay men just that, and the heroes are their own.

Gay Slasher Film Goes for Laughs & the Squeamish

[alvinvigil · 5/10 · 14 September 2005]

The killing of young, hunky gay men in West Hollywood (or anywhere for that matter) is no laughing matter. HELLBENT, does see to it that the audience is in for a joy ride. While there are low production values (you can see a PA in one shot making room in a crowd scene for the entrance of the four hunky lads walking into the Halloween Carnival), one can appreciate the B-movie flavor of America's first gay slasher film. There are many scenes that play out as pure comedy, be it unintentional or not, but also plenty of scenes with blood and gore. Most disappointing was the killer. Who was he? Why was he killing these gay guys? And in West Hollywood of all places? We never get to the root of his character. I can say he's a cross between the creature in JEEPERS CREEPERS and, well, nothing else comes to mind. He mostly appears in the dark as an image of demonic possession, beheading gay men. This guy must've really had some issues as a teen. Anyway, the last 1/2 hour goes for thrills, chills, and you'll be laughing at the over the top conclusion.

First Ever Gay Slasher Flick Hits It's Mark!

[augiedog · 10/10 · 31 July 2004]

I saw Hellbent near the end of the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. I'm so glad I saw it when I did - it was a super finale to the film festival. Hellbent is great fun, probably the most fun I've had in years during a horror flick. It delivers on all counts - it's scary as hell (sorry, I couldn't resist!), gruesome in a couple of well placed scenes, and funny without weakening the tension. In fact, it's one of the scariest films I've seen in quite some time. In addition, the action revolves around five hunky gay men who are pursued by the psycho slasher - a refreshing and welcome change.

Four gay men go out in West Hollywood on Halloween night to have a good time, unaware that the previously mentioned psycho slasher has his eye on them. The boys party like only gay men can, and one of them talks to another hunk that he's seen around who joins them. One by one the boys are picked off until the final confrontation. What makes this film differ from others in the horror/slasher genre is the concentration on and the respect for the characters of the film. Paul Etheredge-Ouzts develops well-fleshed characters for the film, giving the performers much to work with in the story. The cast is terrific, in addition to being great to look at. Matt Phillips is particularly effective, funny and even touching, showing the vulnerability of his character even through drag.

I had the opportunity to meet Paul Etheredge-Ouzts and Matt Phillips at the film festival. I was fortunate to be able to compliment them on their great work for Hellbent. I hope to see Hellbent again soon when it's released on a national scale. It's great fun - and I'll be looking for Hellbent 2 soon!

A fun campy slasher flick

[acidburn-10 · 6/10 · 14 July 2012]

I caught this title a while ago as I became quickly intrigued for obvious reasons namely an all male cast and the fact that it's the first gay slasher movie, I caught the trailers online and became quickly interested, even though "Hell-bent" offers nothing new or original to the genre, a pretty much by numbers a routine slasher movie, but with a fresh approach. Although there have been gay characters in other horror movies, this is the first time that a movie centres round a group of gay men. For the movie itself, it's very well made nothing groundbreaking though and plus it's full of classic clichés and an interesting group of characters and a decent cast.

The beginning we have the cliché couple making out in the car and then quickly killed off, quite violently but fun none the less and as the movie goes on its a pretty simple straight forward movie that never gets over complicated . But the fact that the killer's motive is never revealed seems rather lazy and uninspired, and the dialogue at times seems inane, and plus it lacks tension in certain places and the killer wasn't scary looked more like a gay porn star, I was more like falling in love than fearing his presence, but he did do some pretty decent kills, quite slick. But I just thought that this movie could have pushed the boundaries a bit more, as it doesn't feature any sex scenes which did kind of disappoint me in a way, but I still found this movie really fun and entertaining and the set pieces were shot brilliantly, like the carnival, the nightclubs and the final chase were all made decent good use off.

Another factor that I liked about this movie was the decent cast that could have easily been one dimensional typical gay characters that feature in TV shows but gladly they weren't they were well rounded and well written firstly there was Dylan Fergus who plays the obvious final boy Eddie was just heart-warming and lovable, well at ease in his role and someone to root for in the end. Bryan Kirkwood who plays the love interest to Eddie was rugged and cool in his leather jacket and made the romance sub plot interesting and wanting more. Hank Harris who plays the shy boy Joey whose in love with the football player was very likable and gave a quite touching performance, definitely one of those characters that you'll miss. Andrew Levitas who plays the slutty character Chaz was a definite stand out for me, he oozed charm and worked well with the material he was given. And finally Matt Phillips as the drag queen Tobey, who to be honest annoyed me at first, I dunno maybe it's the fact that we never see him out of the drag costume, but I warmed to him as the movie went on, okay his acting wasn't perfect but he still had great chemistry with the other cast members.

All in all "Hell-Bent" is a fun enjoyable movie that although doesn't offer new (apart from the gay angle) to the slasher genre or change your life in any way, it's still entertaining.

Are gay people stupid?

[limau · 3/10 · 1 July 2006]

It is customary that in a slasher film like this, the victims should behave like idiots, heading towards danger when every senses tell them that they should run away. This film, however, has simply surpassed all previous standards in victim stupidity.

A murderer is on the loose cutting people's head off, a young man (who should warn people about it) see a stranger with a sickle at the murder site, thinks nothing of it, instead parades his and his friends' asses at the murderer. Asking for it, huh?

One murder after another, one at a crowded dance floor (the victim didn't even seem to notice initially he's been attacked as it looked like the killer cut off his dick first), and no one screamed. Gays are that stoned and stupid to notice someone's head has been cut off?

So Eddie - your friends died, someone just chased after trying to kill you, you still haven't a clue that you friends died, or worried as to what happened to your friends (didn't tweak that the guy who attacked you is the same one you bared you backside to, so perhaps you might want to warn your friends?), or that you are might be still in danger?

We even has a killer who is stupid - why not kill Jake when he is lying there injured instead of going after Eddie who didn't seem to care if the killer is dead or not and just leaves Jake conveniently with the killer?

I don't think I have ever got so angry after watching a film. Did someone said it's an AIDS allegory? If it is, from the way the film goes, someone unkind might deduce that gays deserve to die of AIDS because they are just so stupid and degenerate. Perhaps that is indeed the viewpoint of the director, we are shown that all gays are interested in is getting laid, and one of them was so desperate for sex he was practically begging to be killed (he didn't know he was going to be killed, but does it matter to someone so stupid losing his head since he didn't have a brain to start with?). And we have gays people here praising this film, so little expectation they have of gay films and so low an opinion they have of themselves.