Review of The Hamiltons (2006) by Javier U — 26 Jan 2013

The fact that The Hamiltons opens with a pretty young woman (Brittany Daniel) bound and gagged in a basement desperately trying to free herself and escape, let's us know right off that there is something far more wrong with the title family then dealing with the death of their father and mother.

And while the Butcher Brothers play this horror out to an extent like a family drama, this is far from your average family. The story is told through the eyes of Francis (Cory Knauf) the youngest of four siblings who is not only trying to deal with the death of his parents but, his role in this very unusual and very homicidal family.

Then there is David, (Samuel Child) the oldest and the one who is trying to keep the family together when not bringing home strange men for evenings that end in screaming. Next are Darlene (Mackenzie Firgens) and Wendell (Joseph McKelheer) the twisted twins whose lack of restraint keeps this family on the move.

And, finally, who (or what) is "Lenny" that needs to be kept locked up a cell in the basement and evokes fear even in these four. So just who are the Hamiltons and why do they keep captives and corpses in their basement? The Butcher Brother's answer all your questions and by the closing frames you may be delightfully chilled by the answers.

The directing duo (Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores by name) approach this material in a straightforward, no frills manner and it works as if we're watching some twisted and blood soaked Lifetime drama about a struggling family.

.. one with real skeletons in their closets, so to speak. The cast are all fine. Performances range from good to adequate. The real standout is Rebekah Hoyle as Samantha, one of the Hamilton's captives who overcomes her horror and fear to try to manipulate the troubled Francis into letting her go and running away from a family he doesn't appear to fit in with.

There are some disturbing moments and blood flows when the Butchers decide it's time to bring their slow burn to a boil. The Hamiltons is not a traditional horror film but, that's what I liked about it.

It kept me guessing and creeped out and then got downright chilling in it's final revealing act. A refreshingly offbeat low budget horror from a directing and writing team to keep an eye on.