Review of The Mangler (1995) by Al M — 28 Sep 2009

Based on a Stephen King short story, directed by horror legend Tobe Hooper, and starring Robert (Freddy Kruger) Englund, The Mangler could have truly been great, and it is good. But it is somewhat silly and shoddy, which detracts from its becoming a true horror classic.

It has a fascinating premise and message: it is a profoundly Marxist film about the capitalist's exploitation and oppression of the proletariat. Indeed, in this scenario straight out of Das Kapital, the machines are literally fed on the blood of the worker.

And the only workers who prosper are those who learn to (again, literally) jump into bed with Mr. Capitalist. Dark and somewhat eerie at times, The Mangler never manages to take itself seriously enough--it considers itself to be a B-level horror film and so it is one.

But it is fun to follow its detective character and his occult-obsessed brother-in-law as they investigate a series of murders and the potential that they originate from a demon possessed industrial pressing machine.

Good fun but nothing truly great here.