(2003)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-GLEN BAISLEY CAST-JOE LAURIA, MICHAEL GINGOLD, DOREEN VALDATI, CAROL DIMARSICO, JOHN SUDOL, MIKE LANE, HERB SMITHLINE and DANIELLE RUSSO. SOURCE-BRAIN DAMAGE FILMS DVD NTSC REGION 1 RUNTIME-118MINS
Tenement: 1 : any of various forms of corporeal property (as land) or incorporeal property that is held by one person from another
3 a : a house used as a dwelling : RESIDENCE b : APARTMENT, FLAT c : TENEMENT HOUSE
2 :The forgot to include Glen Baisley’s interpretation of just what exactly one particular dwelling takes this to the max. THE TENEMENT is a fresh new look at just have evil a building can be. The effects past events that echo their very halls can project into another person’s life. Like James Brolin’s character in The Amityville Horror, a prior presents who has cause so much evil, can take effect on another’s soul. You begin to morpho, your looks, your habits, your thought and especially your actions. Stemming from the murderous rampage of a young horror fan, Ethan. Who cracks to the point of sheer evil. With his invalid overbearing mother, and continuous failures, his mind mimics those very same horror films he watches on a daily basis. Enter horror industry magnet and director, Winston Korman who is holding casting calls for an upcoming project. Though Ethan shows up just to deliver some black roses to him, he is mistaken as a potential killer in the movie.
Stumbling into the room, Winston Korman demands to see what he has. Does Ethan have the right stuff to be the film’s killer. Eventually being laughed out of the room in failure to convince anyone. As for shadowing tells us, guess who is going to be the first victim of the Black Rose Killer? This is only but the beginning in a series of short stories, capped off with an ending that intertwines everything together. Ethan’s murderous ways have soaked into the very cement and steel beams that make up THE TENEMENT. Evil passed from one soul to the next, beginning with a mute girl who is being stalked by a serial rapist. A man who is afraid to socialize walks home at night and is bitten by a dog, later he thinks he has become a werewolf. Lastly, a taxi cab driver who stalks and brutally murders young women only to meet his lovely match. Many of the stories show characters that seem to be interwoven between one another.
THE TENEMENT isn’t the strongest developed film by far. Acting and characters are really not the strongest, leaving little or no desire to develop any feelings for. May it be the script or the poor casting job. Many killing/action scenes are poorly executed, one in particular is when Ethan is seeking revenge on Winston Korman. The whole scene is but a laughfest intentional or not, Michael Gingold should stick to managing Fangoria. Sorry, but I’m going to tell it like it was while struggling to get through this grueling 118 minutes. The extras on the DVD were more entertaining then the film itself. There were some redeeming factors attached to THE TENEMENT, one story in particular did show some signs of potential. Those coming via the ending story of the serial killer taxi driver. It was an interesting mixture of the horror and comedy. How odd it is to find your match in the midst of killing your next victim. THE TENEMENT on a whole isn’t a borefest and will entertain those who have a different taste then mine. Those for a taste of that retro 80's slasher feel that many horror fans tend to not want to give up in their old age. I guess it was the black streak of comedy that turned me off of much of THE TENEMENT. I have never really been a fan of that TROMA style, that it seems to have adapted.
Plenty of gory details are spilled in THE TENEMENT, nothing too harsh that those weak in the stomach's can't handle. Low budget effects tend to hamper some of the scenes, but not all. Some scenes are actually quite real, one in particular when an arm is being cut, it seems as if a knife is really penetrating the flesh, leaving behind bloodletting grooves. While were on the several different details that combine to make this film, I would like to mention that the film's score was the highlight for me as a viewer. Provided by Ed Shelinsky and Sal Sirchia, very much like a score of the past. Similar to those classic black and white thrillers of the sci-fi era of the mid to late 50's and early 60's. Though the score does change for the present as with each story's dating, there is still that sense of historic theme throughout THE TENEMENT.
The Brain Damage DVD is packed solid with golden extras. The usual deleted scenes, photo gallery, and trailers are present. As well as some bloopers and behind the scenes fun. An interesting look at LIGHT AND DARK at Chiller and a few other goodies will keep the viewers busy for awhile. The film itself is presented in full screen, why? Carrying a digital audio track. All in all, I’m sorry if this review may offend some people but, this was just not my cup of tea. One can point out the though, THE TENEMENT was made by a fan for the fan.
STORY-2 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-2 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-2.5 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-3 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD-2.5 BITCH SLAPS For more info on this DVD or on LIGHT and DARK Productions
