Slash [DVD]

After attending the funeral, and spending some time with Mac's family, the band assumes they can be on their way. However, coincidentally, their bus seems to be out of commission and they must spend subsequent nights on the farm with Mr. MacDonald and his odd farm hand Billy Bob. Keith, the band's keyboardist has a rather difficult time with Billy Bob, they get into altercations, and Keith leaves the farm never to be seen again. Only, he's not the first nor the last person who falls victim to the twisted "harvest of blood" that is tradition in the MacDonald family. Mac must decide whether he wants to remain faithful to his family heritage or to his band members and friends.

I must say that for a cheesy, b-rated horror flick, the script is very well done. Not only that, but the acting is also above what one might expect, even if barely. Some of the characters do tend to get obnoxious throughout the duration of the film, but I believe that was the anticipated result. The soundtrack seems fitting, but also seems to get on the viewer's nerves at times. Another complaint of mine is that the pace can be somewhat slow. What little tension there is gets dropped in between scenes and doesn't come back until much later. There is little suspense, and absolutely no bone-tingling horror/terror to be found here. The plot is very much predictable, and at times even laughable.

Rent this movie if you're looking for something interesting to view on a lonely weekend night at home, but it isn't worth investing in the DVD for your own personal library unless you're a die hard b-movie slasher flick collector.

Anyone guessing that Slash is a routine direct to video teen slasher would have guessed right. One thing that distinguishes it from the rest of the pile however is its location and its strong cast of actors. Filmed in and around Johannesburgh South Africa, anyone seeking a cinematic glimpse into that country won't be disappointed as the viewer is offered many scenic shots of the South African countryside as the band members pursue their road trip. The movie starts off fairly well, with its picturesque locale and chill music vibe. The characters are a likeable bunch and the actors do a formidable job. Anyone who thinks the acting was bad in Slash has definitely not seen enough of these types of films.

Like so many other movies of its genre Slash slowly degenerates into routine slasher fare but not because of any major missteps or plot holes or acting handicaps. It's just that despite the nice setup and style, it takes forever for the picture to go anywhere. Two thirds of the movie's length go by before any of the band members get hacked up or even realize anything is wrong. Once the scarecrow starts to let loose things get entertaining again but it seems a little too late. The scarecrow looks quite menacing, with its tall figure, long black robe and ridiculously sharp-looking scythe. But the fear factor of his appearances are somewhat ruined by an incredibly annoying and laughable techno beat that plays in the background whenever he appears. But I've seen much worse and Slash is elevated over other similar types movies by its strong cast of characters, especially the character of Keith, a know-it-all motormouth and Suzie, a sultry Michelle Rodriguez lookalike.