Brutal Massacre: A Comedy is a 2007 American comedy horror film about a down-on-his-luck movie director trying to make a successful hit after years of misses.
Written and directed by Stevan Mena (Malevolence; Bereavement), the movie stars David Naughton (An American Werewolf in London), Ken Foree (Dawn of the Dead), Gunnar Hansen (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre), Brian O’Halloran, Gerry Bednob, Ellen Sandweiss (The Evil Dead), Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly, Happy Anderson, and Mick Garris.
New Blu-ray release:
Brutal Massacre: A Comedy will be released as a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack on August 11th 2020 via Mena Films. The Dude Designs provided the new cover art which will also be on the limited-edition slipcover. Buy via Amazon.com
Special features:
• Audio commentary with writer-director Stevan Mena
• Behind the Scenes featurette
• On the Set featurette
• Brutal Massacre cast panel at Weekend of Horrors
• Deleted scenes
• Theatrical trailers
• Photo gallery
Plot:
Harry Penderecki, a once heralded horror auteur, finds himself on the outside looking in at Hollywood. He hasn’t had a hit film in years, and most in the industry, including his close friends, think he’s washed up. Harry is given one last chance to redeem himself with what could be his best or last picture.
Brutal Massacre becomes just that, as the cast and crew find themselves battling one mishap after another as Harry struggles to keep his sanity against overwhelming resistance to finish the picture and finds himself at the top once again…
Reviews:
” …a good grounding for a mockumentary with an impressive ensemble cast doing good to great work from a strong script that doles out amazing dialogue. There’s such a sense of truth to it all that we wonder how much Mena or his cast and crew actually lived through on previous projects.” Apocalpyse Later Fim Reviews
“The film is not perfect and could have done more, but what it does well it does subtly, but still with intellect and craft. The examination is really Brutal Massacre: A Comedy’s concentration and although it may seem light and fun at times, overall it really leaves us with some insight, questioning, and depth into horror films and the system they are built around.” The Critic’s Word
“Not on the same level as Spinal Tap or the other Christopher Guest mockumentaries, with less spontaneity and improvisation, Brutal Massacre: A Comedy is still an often giddily funny valentine to low-budget horror fans. It’s also the movie that finally, after all these years, has made David Naughton a household name. In my house.” HK and Cult Film News
“If you’re willing to give it a shot, and you have a quick-draw on the fast-forward button of your remote, then I give Brutal Massacre: A Comedy a mild recommendation; however, if your tolerance level for off-kilter filmmaking is low, you’d best look elsewhere for your humorous horror fix.” Horror.com
“If you love horror movies, if you’ve ever been involved in making any kind of movie, or if you just like “comedy of errors” type movies, this one is for you. Two severed thumbs up.” Son of Celluloid
” …everything here just feels too dry. While it’s not on the level of such fellow filmmaking spoofs like Hollywood Boulevard, I will admit I did mostly enjoy my ninety-or-so minutes with the film and I did get a huge kick out of the cast…” The Video Graveyard
Cast and characters:
David Naughton … Harry Penderecki
Brian O’Halloran … Jason ‘Jay’ Daly
Gerry Bednob … Hanu Vindepeshs
Gunnar Hansen … Krenshaw
Ellen Sandweiss … Natalie Vasquez
Vincent Butta … Bert Campbell
Ken Foree … Carl Perkins
Mick Garris … Self
Happy Anderson … Ivan
Betsy Baker … Gladys Oppenheimer
Tom Bambard … Barry Tideman
Francine Bianco Tax … Librarian (as Francine Bianco)
Laura Bozzone … Audition Girl #2
Keith Bredbenner … Patrolman #2
Timothy J. Bristoll … Cameraman / Grim Reaper (as Tim Bristoll)
Filming locations:
Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Technical details:
94 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85: 1
Audio: Dolby Digital
