Review of Dead & Breakfast (2004) by Tim B — 18 Dec 2010

Watching this one again was a great way to start my holiday break from. I mean, I really couldn't ask for it easier or more. This was obviously made be people who love the genre and made it for people who love the genre.

There are references and conventioin pokes galore in this one and I stopped trying to actually count them about 10 minutes in. It also carried some hilarious sight gags and very clever dialogue. I found myself giggling uncontrollably at this one on several occasions.

And if it was gory or creative deaths you look for in this one, look no further. It was ludicrous, over-the-top and awesome in terms of the deaths and graphic set-pieces found here. A chainsaw to the neck, a cymbal to the head and much, MUCH more.

I gotta admit, for a parody and an oh-so-familiar premise, this one still feels unique. We get the hick town that enjoys partying, no matter what (even in death), we got a country singer that comes in to give his two cents every now and again via guitar (again.

.. even in death!) and we got the teenagers who actually all decide to fight back rather than duck and cover. The cast that were on top of their games. Ever Carradine rocked it as the main heroine of the lot.

She carried a determination that had me with her the whole way. Brent David Fraser underplayed it and his dry-witted performance worked on me. Bianca Lawson nailed the somewhat bitchy role and got some of the best lines.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan cracked me up as the confident sheriff. Erik Palladino rocked it as the alcohol-loving duder you'd hate to love. Oz Perkins had the perfect presence for his role. A little creepy and very campy.

He was awesome. Gina Philips was adorable as the vegan with a big heart. Jeremy Sisto pops up and gets to be a normal, cool guy once again. He's on the ball, as always. David Carradine gets a fun cameo to intimidate the guests (RIP).

Deidrich Bader probably made me laugh the most. Portia de Rossi has a very brief cameo and made it count. I almost lost it. Miranda Bailey give some fun times with her character. All-around excellent acting.

Matthew Leutwyler kept the movie very stylish. The presence that this movie keeps always had a sense of dread to it, even when I was cracking up. He also does some awesome split screen and I loved his random scene transitions displayed as cartoon stills.

On the slight downer, I felt there wasn't really enough set-up when it came time to get down and dirty. I had such a gay-old-time when the bodies hit the floor, that when it came time to go back to the story (which wasn't often) I felt that it slowed down the movie a tad.

That being said, I also think that the ending should been stretched on a bit further. They leave some potential suspense in there, but it didn't affect me one way or the other. Lastly, was this not a crass horror flick? Could've had a couple of naked chicks thrown into the mix.

Not one girl here even gives so much as a tease! That's just a matter of my personal, whiny taste though. You dig your humor, your EXTREME violence, your great casting, your oddball vibes and your clever references all in the same flick? Look no further, you get all that in high doses via Dead and Breakfast.