American Guinea Pig: Bloodshock

Director - Marcus Koch (Rot, 100 Tears)
Starring - Dan Ellis (Gutterballs, Monsturd), Lillian McKinney (Infinity Girls), and Norm J. Castellano (The Uh-oh Show)
Release Date - 2016
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Japan's darkest secret is America's newest nightmare"
Format - Streaming (online screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Everyone views horror differently.  Some want chocking atmosphere and gothic tales of monsters and beast of legend while others want sharp written stories that make you think while delivering tension and leaving the viewer on the edge of their seat.  There is a select few who want blood and guts.  They crave it and will do anything imaginable to get it.  That is why the Guinea Pig series is such a hit among horror fans of the underground.  Fans loved how authentic the effects were and how simple the story was.  Torture and kill.  Pretty fucking simple.  Sometime ago Stephen Biro of Unearthed Films announced that he would be getting together with other filmmakers to bring Guinea Pig to America thus ushering in a new age of underground horror - the hyper-realistic snuff film.  The first American Guinea Pig film, Bouquet of Guts and Gore was a historical film but I did not care for it.  Honestly, I was bored.  When I heard Koch was attached to direct the sequel I was excited to say the least.  Koch is an insanely talented special effects artist and director.  If anyone could make a follow up to the first AGP it was Marcus.  A few days back I reached out to Stephen and he was kind enough to hook me up with an online screener.  Thanks Stephen!

     The film follows an unnamed man who awakens in a hospital of sorts.  He is dragged into a room by two men and chained down to a chair.  A man, presumably a doctor of some kind, proceeds to cut out his tongue.  The goons take him to a padded room that is empty to wait until the next day when they drag him back in and run gruesome experiments on his body.  Over time he begins to find notes laying on the ground in his padded room and quickly learns that he is not alone.  Someone else is going through the same hell he is in the room next door.  Their notes become his only ray of hope and will to survive until one day he has had enough and attacks the guards and doctor.  He frees himself and finds the one beside him where real love blossoms.  

     The Guinea Pig series is known for their relentless kills and little to no story.  They were gore flicks for the sake of being gore flicks.  That is why I have never had a drive to check them out.  I like story.  It doesn't have to be much but a story of some kind will hold my attention.  Cutting people up into little pieces with no story just bores the shit out of me.  That is one of the few reasons I did not enjoy myself with Bouquet but I was curious how Koch would deliver on his installment.  Would we have a story like he gave us with 100 Tears or would he stay close to the source material?  The acting in this one varies.  Most of the cast is decent in their roles but the characters are very flat. They have no depth nor do they offer up any real redeeming qualities.  With that being said, Dan Ellis was absolutely brilliant.  He pulled out some raw emotion in his performance and had me genuinely feeling sorry for him.  Very few actors have been able to do that in the past.  Koch did the right thing casting him because he really dedicates himself to his performance.  Very intense.  The story for this one is exactly what you would think.  It follows someone being tortured but this time it is for scientific purposes instead of entertainment.  The difference from this film and the first is that the viewer never knows what to expect.  We have no idea what will happen to this poor, young man from scene to scene.  All we know is that his next encounter with the doctor will be worst than his last.  Also, the ending is a huge surprise that I did not see coming...or cumming.  The story may not be the best thing ever written but it does it's job and holds the viewer just long enough to bring the gore.  Finally, this film is full of amazing practical effects.  As I said earlier, Marcus Koch is a special effects master who has worked on so many indie productions over the years.  His work is unrivaled and this film showcases that.  The torture looks great, the gags look perfect, and the blood is beautiful.  The film was made to show this off and it works!  Overall, American Guinea Pig: Bloodshock is worthy to carry on the Guinea Pig name.  The film has an amazing performance from Dan Ellis and the story hold's your eyes to the screen.  God damn if this film does not beg to be seen!  Check it out and experience the torment first hand!