All the Boys Love Mandy Lane [DVD]

`All the Boys Love Mandy Lane' is a teen slasher film in the style of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13th and Scream and is about a girl named Mandy Lane (Amber Heard) who becomes something of a hottie over the summer break. All the guys want to be with her and all the girls want to be her. Then one weekend a group of horny teens head to one of their parents' ranch and are then picked off one by one by someone in the darkness.

I watched this film with low expectations as a majority of these types of films tend to be rubbish, but I was pleasantly surprised that this was actually quite different. The basic formula is the same as other slashers where scantily clad teens run about and getting killed off in various brutal ways by an unknown killer, but the thing that stood out in this movie was the ending which really was an excellent twist and quite a shock. The killings aren't all that original and there aren't that many of them either. In fact, the first person doesn't actually get killed until over 30 minutes into the film, which I felt built up the tension and the story a lot rather than just jumping straight into the murders. The killer is really obvious and if you don't get it within the first few scenes, you must really not be paying attention. It's not that important though as the suspense and surprises more than make up for that.

One thing I strongly advise though is NOT to buy this on Blu Ray as the picture quality is absolutely terrible - at times even worse than some bad quality standard DVDs.

Overall this is a watchable, enjoyable and typical teen slasher flick that is one of the better ones that have been released over the past few years and has some believable performances from the cast (after watching the interview with Heard, she must be a good actor as she seems quite intelligent in the film!) and a good story that is very easy to get into. Probably worth a rent rather than a buy as it isn't one I'd watch again, at least for a long while. This definitely has the potential to be a cult hit, I just hope that they don't follow this on with numerous unnecessary sequels.

I had seen some quite positive reviews about this one and was quite pleased when I saw it advertised to be shown on TV because I could give it the once over before deciding whether to add it to my ever growing collection and I'm glad I did because this is one huge let down.

With the exception of Amber Heard (Mandy), who still wasn't brilliant, the cast are uniformly awful and are typical American Stereotypes. The film follows the plot of loads of other Group of Teens (Insert location) in trouble movies and falls completely flat.

I felt no sympathy or emotion for Mandy in the 'build up' of the film, which you are meant to considering how she is treated by everyone and I was just praying for them all to get picked off quickly so that the film would end.

The twist ending, when it eventually arrived, was the only saving grace of the film but I might perhaps have spotted it if I hadn't been so busy trying to stay awake.

Without wishing to sound rude I suspect this will appeal to a younger audience who seem nowadays to lap up these second rate attempts at horror/ slasher movies without question. I see here in another review that someone has proclaimed it as the best movie of its type since Scream and given it 5 stars!! If that floats your boat then fine but if I had seen that review earlier I wouldn't have even bothered watching it on TV. It's precisely this type of film that unfortunately gets plenty of exposure in todays market that gives Horror a bad name.

and too be honest, the best bit in it (or rather the only bit I can really remember) is when her hot mate gets naked - but that's by and by... and brief, so don't buy it for that either.

ATBLML is an average slasher flick which is a quite acceptable way to pass a few hours. It's very much like Scream, except set in the country in a Texas Chain Saw Massacre type setting. The twist is pretty good and there's nothing particularly bad about this film, but noting particularly good either. Mandy Lane is mediocre. But then what else did you expect from a film of this ilk.

Truly outstanding slasher flicks are few and far between. I suspect if you're a teenager you'll love this film, but if your want a gore-fest that's a bit more adult and a good film in it's own merits, I suggest you try 'The Devils Rejects': The Devil's Rejects - Special Edition [2005] [DVD]