Review of Psyclops (2002) by Jason D — 21 Mar 2010

In another entry from low-budget, cult underground director Brett Piper (Drainiac!, They Bite, Arachnia, etc), we are given Psyclops, a story that focuses on over-excited amateur filmmaker Shep (Dan Merriman) whose latest project has him filming EVERYTHING going on in his life in an effort to make the longest film ever.

The film consists of making poking fun at his close group of friends, which includes his crush Diane Di Gregorio, touch chick Irene Joseph, and stud Rob Monkiewicz (a Piper regular). In order to film for so long, Shep raids the local pawn shop of all its video tapes until stumbling upon a mysterious tape (which viewers are shown at the beginning of Psyclops) concerning eccentric inventor Artemis Winthrop, whose apparently invented film and movies several decades earlier than recorded, unfortunately his invention also served as a portal to a vicious dimension where stop-motion (a fun, dated, special effect Piper loves to use in his films) bugs come out.

Naturally, Shep becomes obsessed, finds the machine, opens the other dimension, releases bugs, gets taken over by them, gets his face molded to his camera and becomes a killer psycho, thus going after his friends.

Zombies, titties, and witchcraft follow suit in this terribly campy, corny, yet uniquely different and inspired film. Most people won't "get" it and wind up hating it, but those who can see past low budgets and bad acting/effects will find a real charm in this film, especially those who are familiar with Brett Piper, whom I can't help but love his films.

He has a real knack of making a movie in 2002 and having it look like it came out of the late 80's/early 90's. Brett Piper films are just fun experiences for me; I can't help it. Overall, Psyclops was entertaining for me.