Review of Monsturd (2003) by D M — 12 Jun 2009

One can't pass by a film titled Monsturd without a second glance. And there are only so many times that you can pass by a film titled Monsturd before you actually get around to seeing the movie. If there is a certain outcome that you can expect from a film titled Monsturd, I'm sure that what writers/directors Ricko Popko and Dan West have created with their film is probably what you are expecting to see.

Monsturd is an extremely low-budget horror film. The effects are very cheap, the acting is horrendous and the monster in the film is just ridiculously absurd. But amazingly, Monsturd makes good use of all its limitations and creates a film that is surprisingly entertaining, and highly enjoyable. You won't take any profound or life affirming message away from Monsturd, but you should be laughing enough to have a good time with the film.

The movie reminded me a little of Michael Cooney's horror film Jack Frost, in which a dangerous criminal comes in contact with toxic chemicals and is turned into a killer snow man. Instead of snow, the dangerous criminal of this film, Jack Schmidt (Brad Dosland), comes in contact with sewer waste after being exposed to dangerous chemicals. And he is turned into a giant walking pile of crap.

The design on the Shit-Man, or whatever you want to call Schmidt after he mutates, is pretty decent. It looks fake, especially around the limbs, but it does appear that the special effects department did spend some time in making the best possible monster they were capable of creating. And it performs an ample amount of hilarious kills throughout the film.

I'm sure that Popko and West set out to make Monsturd as silly of a film as they could. Which is why I imagine why the film has a lot of stupid aspects to it. I especially enjoyed seeing the police gearing up to do battle with the Shit-Man by protecting their bodies with diapers, and using Super Soakers filled with Pepto Bismol. I would imagine Rid-X would do more damage than Pepto Bismol, but whatever! And it was funny that they used flies as a way to combat the Shit-Man as well. Although, I didn't understand how the supplier of the flies carried them around in a pet carrier meant for cats.

Monsturd is a film that will work if you go into it with low expectations. If you take movies too seriously, or are turned off by cheap production values, this isn't a film that is going to work for you. However, if you do enjoy the occasional trash cinema experience, Monsturd is a film that should more than satisfy your love of terrible, but entertaining, movies.