Director: J.P. Petty
Starring: Clifton Collins Jr., Clancy Brown, Andre Royo, Robyn Rikoon, Macon Blair, Stephen Gevedon
Running Time: 85 Minutes
Certificate: 15
The horror genre is at a very strange place at the moment. It seems odd to think that a little over 15 years ago, it was dominated by fantastic slasher films such as SCREAM, NEW NIGHTMARE and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER. Now the once great genre is split between a rock and a hard place with a choice of laughs or jump-scares thanks to SCARY MOVIE and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. With that being said there’s nothing wrong with either subgenre, although they have become a little bit repetitive. It may be a case of me getting increasingly nostalgic as I venture through my twenties, but I do miss the days of immortal serial killers barely breaking a sweat whilst chasing annoying adolescents through murky forests. However I digress, HELLBENDERS predictably (and disappointingly) falls into the category of the former, resulting in a film that feels incredibly familiar.
Having said that, there are some original elements to HELLBENDERS that are relatively refreshing. The camerawork used in the film has a slight documentary-esque feel to it, which could be interpreted as either low quality production values or inspired, visionary film making. The film is introduced using these documentary-style inserts which gives it a unique and quirky feel that immediately sets it apart from other direct-to-DVD releases. Although HELLBENDERS can be quite funny at times, it does seem slightly confused as to which tone it is aiming for. It is clear that comedy is the predominant sub-genre of the film (despite misleading marketing materials), however there are frightening moments throughout the narrative that indicate otherwise. However, whichever genre the film is attempting to categorise itself within, it is obvious that director J.P. Petty has been inspired by the current ‘ensemble/team-up’ craze. The banter and atmosphere amongst the cast gives off a distinctive EXPENDABLES vibe that can also be found in SABOTAGE. Although those films are of a completely different genre, HELLBENDERS is clearly attempting to replicate this formula for Horror fans.
The casting of fan favourite Clancy Brown (Superman: The Animated Series, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET) seems like the kind of stunt casting that may get some die-hards excited. Having said that though, the actor doesn’t seem particularly interested throughout the film, despite the fact that his trademark deep vocals and intimating presence are on full display here. Clifton Collins Jr. plays the generic bad-ass team leader of HELLBENDERS (in a role far beneath him), however he is incredibly entertaining to watch on screen and luckily he brings all his charisma from PACIFIC RIM with him. It also seems like Jr. may be channelling a little bit of Adrien Brody in the role, which adds even more to his captivating and watchable screen persona.
Overall, it seems as if HELLBENDERS bites off a little bit more than it can chew with a poor quality EXPENDABLES-esque Horror-Comedy, that is intended capitalise on current, modern trends in the film industry. Unfortunately however, much more attention should have been paid to the films script due to its poor pacing issues and lack of character development, which means that quite a bit of time passes without much happening. For all its flaws though, HELLBENDERS does have a uniquely awkward sense of humour which proves quite hilarious at times. And on top of that the final sequence is one hell of a fun ride (pun intended), despite the fact that feels like an eternity before the film gets there.
[usr=2] HELLBENDERS is available now on DVD courtesy of Koch Media.
