Review of Rampage (2009) by Chris L — 04 Jul 2010

Uwe Boll! Few names have the ability to cause all sorts of negative reactions when they are spoken, and Boll's career has more than enough films to qualify him as one of the worst directors of all time. Up until this point I think the highlight of his career was the film Postal, which I ultimately gave a 5/10 rating. With what that film had to offer I suspected that Postal would remain as Boll's best work. But like so many other impossibly true scenarios, here is an Uwe Boll movie that I am actually going to give a fresh rating. Yes folks, hell has officially frozen over, Uwe Boll has made a movie that I think is actually good.

Rampage is both written and directed by Boll, and showcases the best of his ability with film. What works in the film's favor is that it is a very small movie, and doesn't try to bite off more than it can chew like so many other of Boll's films. I imagine that Rampage had a very small budget, but Boll manages to use his limited resources to make a competent film. And aside from limitations in story telling and the occasional use of poorly created computer-generated effects, Rampage maintains a steady pace with rarely an embarrassing moment in the film's 85 minute run.

The movie focuses on Bill (Brendan Fletcher), who is a twenty-something still living at his parent's home trying to figure out how he is going to make it in the world. With the constant bombardment of his parents trying to get him to move out, his best friend filling his head with radical political beliefs and all of the otherwise harsh realities of the real world forces Bill to take on some rather drastic measures in response. Wearing a suit of Kevlar body armor and packed with all sorts of guns and explosives, Bill goes on a murderous rampage through his small town.

Ultimately I don't think Rampage has much of a meaning to its madness, but the truth is if someone were to go on a shooting rampage would there always be a purpose behind it? Boll manages to make this situation shocking without going too far, and he also prevents Bill's rampage from becoming exciting. It's so easy for a film like Rampage to become a film where we cheer this madman on, and it was great to see that wasn't the case. Never the less the fast pace of the film keeps you enthralled, and the twist at the end adds something I didn't expect from the experience.

Rampage certainly isn't going to be a film that will knock your socks off, but it might surprise you if you have an avid hatred of the films of Uwe Boll. It is a largely flawed film, but it still is a one that works. Boll has made a career out of adapting video games into feature length movies, but that recipe has always been disastrous. Maybe a career involving films like Rampage might better hone his abilities as a filmmaker. That way we won't have to continue loathing his upcoming work.