Absurd



Director - Joe D'Amato (The Blade Master, 2020: Texas Gladiators)
Starring - George Eastman (StageFright, Delirium), Annie Belle (House on the Edge of the Park, Forever Emmanuelle), and Charles Borromel (Ladyhawke, House of Lost Souls)
Release Date - 1981
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Pray you survive the hunt"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     I've been in a movie mood and wanted to check out some older horror films.  I love the modern indie horror flicks made with no budgets but sometimes I want that nostalgic feeling that older movies give me.  I started my vacation and before I left for it I checked out Joe D'Amato's Anthropophagous.  I enjoyed it for what it was but it wasn't as extreme or gory as I was lead to believe.  The only logical follow up to that was the tongue-in cheek sequel Absurd.  This film was released on blu along with Anthropophagous by Severin Films and I was lucky enough to get a review copy.  Thanks Severin for sending one my way!

     The film follows a man who has a blood clotting anomaly that makes him almost immortal.  He is mad and murders everyone he comes in contact with.  He is in an accident and rushed to a hospital where he regains consciousness and begins his murderous rampage all over again.  A priest is hunting the man and tries to stop him before he is able to kill more innocent people.

     I went into this one thinking Absurd was a sequel of sorts to Anthropophagous but was shocked to find that it did not share a story but similar elements.  The stories are very similar but the storyline themselves are very different.  Either way, it was still a fun watch and I actually liked it a little more than Anthropophagous.  The acting in this one is extremely uneven.  George Eastman's performance is the highlight of the film.  Watching him clubfoot around killing people is the highlight of the film but the supporting cast was not as entertaining.  The victims struggled to find the correct emotions for their situation which made some of the death scenes funny when they were meant to be taken seriously.  The story for this one is pretty simple and straight forward.  The film was written with John Carpenter's Halloween in mind and that is evident.  You get that slasher feel but set against the backdrop of Anthropophagous.  This surprisingly works for what it is but there is some issues with pacing.  The movie needs some fat trimmed with slow moving scenes and boring dialogue.  Finally, the film has several fun death scenes with amazing practical effects.  I typically enjoy the bright red blood but in this one it did take away from the top notch effects we get.  The kills are unforgettable and work with the story very nicely.  Overall, Absurd is a trashy Italian slasher inspired bloody mess that I thoroughly enjoyed.  The film may not be a direct sequel to Anthropophagous but it is in spirit.  Check it out on blu now from Severin Films.