CHIMERA: THE WEREWOLF CULT CHRONICLES (2003)



CAST: Tim Jahn, Pete Stepovich, George N. Thompson, Marcus McLucas, Charlie Pierce, Brandon Baca, Greg S. Campbell, Raymond L. Martinez, Mike A. Martinez, Dan Warlick
Reviewed By-Devin Kelly
DIRECTOR: Mike A. Martinez
PRODUCER(s): Fred Anderson, Jesper Pingo Lindstrom, Mike A. Martinez, George N. Thompson
Scythe Productions / Penguin Films
RUNNING TIME: 23 min. 06 seconds
VIDEO SOURCE: Review Copy from Mike Martinez



Talent over shines everything I see when I look at the wonderful films of rising upstart Mike A. Martinez, a young man with a passion that is all too evident for the world of film making. I first got to know Mike through the universal sub-culture of the World Wide Web, but didn't realize that he was more than just a cult movie buff until I got the opportunity to first see what he can do behind a camera, with the recommended AN ENRAGED NEW WORLD (2002). Since that time I have looked forward to more chances at seeing Mike's films, and this was no exception, as I was thrilled to have the opportunity to view and review Mike's take on the old werewolf tale. It's always great when a director takes an old idea and puts a new spin on it, and that's exactly what Martinez has done here with his campy short film CHIMERA: THE WEREWOLF CULT CHRONICLES (2003).

                            

A U.S./Swedish co-production partially produced by another talented up and coming name, Fred Anderson from beautiful Sweden, CHIMERA is almost a throwback to the campy werewolf and bigfoot flicks of yesteryear. This is not yesteryear though. It's the not so distant future, in 2019, a year us European cult movie fans are all too familiar with. Geez, first post-nuke destruction and now a rampaging hulk of a man-beast ripping off heads and spilling blood...it's gonna be a bad year! Unfortunately for them, the people in this film won't have to wait that long to die.

A scientific research team stationed in the Arctic have been suddenly thrust up against something they would have never imagined in their worst nightmares. For the last 5 days a massive and inhuman creature with the ferocity of a rabid animal has been shredding it's way through these unfortunate souls. With bodies strewn all over the outpost like the remnants of a holocaust, the remaining members have fled in hopes of saving their own lives. The dedicated and terrified Dr. Lesley White (Charlie Pierce) is the only one to remain behind, hoping to find answers. He better pray for help too. We look on as two hopeful soldiers sprint for safety away from the cold hell, and the flesh ripping fiend who follows them. Alas, it is not to be as one man is dragged away while the other is all too aware what the screams mean, and doesn't hesitate to keep going. There'll be no stopping for a breath either...the thirst for blood won't allow it. This becomes all too apparent as a quick stop for the second man, a Russian soldier, will be his last stop. A huge hairy white paw armored with razor sharp claws reaches around a tree and seals his destiny, crunching his head around full force, leaving only spurts of blood as the last movements from his body. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Who is there left to be afraid?


Along come the crack team of Sgt. Smith (Tim Jahn) and his top shot, Pvt. Harry Combs (George N. Thompson), totally unprepared for the havoc that has already been unleashed on their comrades. Upon their nicely edited chopper landing arrival, they meet up with the only other two soldiers around, Pvt. Johnson (Pete Stepovich) and Pvt. Mark Little (Marcus McLucas). Now this fantastic four lead by a stone cold serious front man in Sgt. Smith must go to war...but it ain't against the Nazi's or Middle Eastern madmen. This time it's something much worse. A savage monster who's history and existence is just as frightening as coming face to face with the beast itself. Where did the werewolf originate from? Is it possible for a four man Rambo squad to take this thing out??! Watch the ghastly, gruesome results and you'll be sure to find out.

I had a really good time with this flick and found myself wishing it was longer than a 23 minute duration. For me, it was a wonderful trip down memory lane to old school style monster movies, but centered around a detailed and highly original story. For what Martinez and his cast and crew had to go on in terms of budget and restrictions, they've certainly given the whole thing a very professional look and feel. A few really good explosions, believable weaponry and army attire, and passable acting that I didn't find that much amateurish at all. There was some amusing dialogue in there as well, such as when Sgt. Smith and Combs first meet up with Pvt.'s Johnson and Little . "He's Johnson, I'm Little sir", says the young troop. The sarge amusingly replies, "I can see that".

 



We don't get to fully see the creature other than in a drawing found while Combs and Johnson are investigating, but the effect of something horrible lurking around in the dark void of the arctic night is there. The stalking scenes in fact are quite creepy and the viewer well knows when an attack is about to occur. When people do get mangled, we mostly just see a huge claw swiping and mauling, but the gore in places has it feeling nasty, especially during the first kill in the opening minutes. The score was also pretty cool and fit the whole thing beautifully. Hats off to composers Thomas DeRenzo and Onieros on that one! Also well done by director Mike Martinez for the way he tastefully and inventively spliced in a little sacrificial footage from Sergio Martino's ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK (1972), during an excellent moment boasting some great GOBLINesque music.

I was more than pleased with the final result of Mike's efforts here and he's hit another out of the park with me. Very well shot and edited; A+ stuff from a guy who's going places...mark my words! Beautiful settings around Fairbanks, Alaska also. The end credits of this announces 'THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS WEREWOLVES'. I'm already anticipating the next installment!


3 BITCH SLAPS

 

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