The Disco Exorcist

Director - Richard Griffin (Exhumed, Murder University)
Starring - Michael Reed (Atomic Brain Invasion, Exhumed), Sarah Nicklin (Exhumed, Nun of That), and Ruth Sullivan (Beyond the Dunwich Horror, Nun of That)
Release Date - 2011
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline(s) - "Get down. To Hell" "Get down. Get dead" "He's the boogie man, baby" and "Get down, get dirty, get dead"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Director Richard Girffin has started working his up to be one of my favorite directors.  His films Atomic Brain Invasion, Dr. Frankenstien's Wax Museum of the Hungry Dead, and Exhumed are some of the best indie films I have seen.  All three are modern classics that will be played in my house for years to come.  It is because of these films I have slowly been collecting all his other movies.  Sometime back DVD distribution company Wild Eye Releasing sent me a package that had a lot of movies in it for me to review.  I have slowly been making my way through it when it was time for this film here.  I have heard a lot of good things about this one so I threw it in to see what Griffin had in store for me this time.
     Rex Romanski (Reed) is a dancing ladies man that loves drugs and disco. One night at the disco he finds a woman that rocks his world and the two become an item.  That is until Rex meets an adult star that he loves.  The two are inseparable and eventually make their way to the same disco Rex visited with his ex-flame.  Rex and his new love, Amoreena Jones (Nicklin), run into his ex and the two fight resulting in her pulling Amoreena's hair out.  She takes the hair and puts a hex, curse, or what have you on her turning her into a bloodthirsty demon whenever she wants.  This always comes at the worst times like at a porn shoot and an orgy...yes, an orgy.  When Amoreena is turned in to a demon she kills everyone in her path forcing Rex to don the clothe and perform an impromptu exorcism to try and save Amoreena's soul.

     When I popped this one in I had no idea what kind of movie this was or what it was about and then the opening credits happened.  From that point on I was in love.  The film is the perfect throwback to the 70s grindhouse films.  In fact, the film looks more like a grindhouse movie than most grindhouse films.  Griffin and his production team gave this film a lot of attention and did not skip on the details. The grainy film effects, the wardrobe, the sets, and all the props deliver that authentic 70s look and that is something I love.  A lot of films in recent years have attempted to make 80s throwbacks and that is good and all but there was also other decades that were visually pleasing and Griffin knows this.  The only downside to having a 70s style throwback is now it will be compared to the two Grindhouse Presents films, Death Proof and Planet Terror.  Sadly, neither of those films feel like a typical 70s flick other than the damaged film effect.  I like both of those films but even mentioning them in the same sentence as The Disco Exorcist should be a crime.  The acting in this one is amazing.  This is only the second or third film I have seen Michael Reed in and the first I have seen in which he takes center stage the entire duration of the film.  That being said, he was absolutely amazing.  He took the role and made it his own and completely dominated it.  Also, the world's prettiest indie actress, Sarah Nicklin, delivers another amazing performance and I wouldn't expect anything less.  The story in this one is great.  The film combines true horror elements with humor and the cliches of most 70s films.  Once again the attention to detail is spectacular and combined with all the other elements create one amazing film.  Finally, the film does offer some great on screen kills and special effects.  The kills may not be something to rival The Stuff or John Carpenter's The Thing but it does flow well with the movie and still entertains.  Overall, Griffin and crew crafted one tasteless, raunchy, and entertaining film.  I highly, and I mean highly, recommend it.