‘Don’t cry wolf’
The Snarling is a 2016 British comedy horror film written, co-produced and directed by Pablo Raybould.
The Shooting Lodge Productions movie stars Laurence Saunders, Joel Beckett, Julie Peasgood, Chris Simmons, Albert Moses, Julia Deakin, Pablo Raybould, Ben Manning, and Ste Johnston.
Plot:
When a new horror film is being made in their village, locals Les, Mike and Bob see their chance to cash in and become famous. As the local detective inspector and his hapless sergeant, Haskins eventually trace a link in recent bloody mutilations to the film, the race is on to stop the killings before the local heroes get caught up in the real blood and guts…
Reviews:
“Excellent characters, a solid plot and at least a joke a minute in its 83 minutes make this film well worth a watch.” Bromsgrove Standard
“It’s somewhat shambolically made, and some of the scenes go on far too long – I couldn’t work out whether this was intentional in a Mike Myers way – and the relentless gaggery is also a bit exhausting. But you have to give it points for enthusiasm.” Dark Eyes of London
“If anything, The Snarling short-changes you slightly on the horror, but more than makes up for it with the laughs. While the budget may have allowed for only a few attack scenes, there’s no cost attached to jokes – and this is where the film excels.” Horror Talk
Sadly, too much of the movie plays out like a horribly dated, barrel-scraping BBC sitcom, with dopey procedural humour (a police chief noisily eating a Black Forest gateaux while watching footage of the killings) interspersed with random gags about Lidl, Milton Keynes and the hero’s oft-mispronounced name.” Horrorscreams Videovault
“Lifeless, boring, and with scenes in a pub that seemed to go on so long it was as if it was some kind of Pinteresque subplot about the banality of Hell.” House of Mortal Cinema
“I have to give The Snarling credit for giving itself plenty of targets for its humor, werewolves, zombies, film making and all that comes with it. Not to mention rural English life and police investigations. And it does toss a near endless stream of gags at those targets. Unfortunately, they miss as often as they hit.” Voices from the Balcony
MOVIES & MANIA rating:
Release:
In the UK, The Snarling was released on DVD on 29 October and 5 November on digital in the UK by Left Films.
Buy DVD: Amazon.co.uk
Choice dialogue:
Haskins: “Werewolf? It’ll be druggies on skunk.”
Greg Lupeen: “You were going to use this… hideous gargoyle! And you thought he looked like me?”
Detective Inspector: “Haskins, I can assure you that that is not the least bit amusing.”
Cast and characters:
Laurence Saunders … Les Jarvis/Greg Lupeen
Chris Simmons … Mike
Ben Manning … Bob
Pablo Raybould … Detective Inspector
Ste Johnston … Haskins
Joel Beckett … Bruce
Julie Peasgood … Verity Metcalfe – Shaun of the Dead
Julia Deakin … Yvonne Mayor
Albert Moses … Hospital Patient – An American Werewolf in London
Running time:
1 hour 23 minutes
Trailer:
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