Deadhouse
Directed by Pablo Maysonet IV
Brain Damage Films

Deadhouse is something of a cross between The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the slasher genre. It has a plot that has been done numerous times before and unfortunately usually much better. It's not that this film isn't without its merits, but there is definitely a lot here that just doesnt work. As far as micro budget goes, this is average at best and despite being somewhat short is still rather dull in some spots.

Two sisters and a childhood friend are traveling when their car suddenly gets stuck down a dirt road. The group, along with a hitchhiker that they had just picked up, begins searching for a house to use the phone to call for help. Well of course they just happen to be near a house that happens to be occupied by two killers. Did I mention the house is old and falling apart? Did I also mention that one of the killers is always wearing a mask and is a big lumbering figure? So it really isn't hard to see the comparison to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The movie even takes the bits about the victims being used for meat. In this case they aren't being used for chili, but it is quite easy to see what film influenced Deadhouse almost entirely.

The acting is definitely a sore spot for this movie. This is the first film from the director and it really shows. There really isn't much in the way of tension and music is used rather poorly throughout the entire movie. Having a nu-metal song during chase scenes just seems to be lacking in effort.

The picture quality isn't actually all that bad but the audio is another story entirely. You really have to strain to hear the dialog at times and sometimes it is pretty much impossible to pick up what they are saying, no help from subtitles either as there are none included on the DVD. With clearer audio the movie would have been much more enjoyable as it is hard to enjoy a movie when you are straining to pick out what the characters are saying.

This really isn't a film that I can recommend. It isn't the worst film I have ever seen, yet at the same time there isn't much reward to watching the film. There isn't much in the way of gore, no nudity and the film takes itself completely serious making it dull and without any bits of humor.

Order Deadhouse here!