Cockhammer

Director - Kevin Strange (Dream Reaper, Dead Shit)

Starring - Kevin Strange, Joe Hammerstone (The Beast of Calvary Creek, Tales of Fear), and Devlin Wilder (Ghost Tenant, James vs. The Devil)

Release Date - 2009

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "Sanity is for sissies"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Many, many years ago I was a member of the message boards at Upcoming Horror Movies.  This was a forum that taught me so much about the genre especially indie horror.  I joined around 2006 but it wasn't until around 2009 or 2010 that I become more engaged on the boards.  It was here that I first heard about indie filmmaker and author Kevin Strange.  Several members of the forum had mentioned his films.  I never got to see any of his films but I did befriend him on social media where I read and reviewed several of his novels.  A few weeks ago Strange reached out to me to review his new graphic novel Cockhammer Lives.  I agreed and when I received it in the mail to check it out I was surprised to find a copy of the film Cockhammer inside.  I want to thank Kevin for sending this one over because this is one I had wanted to see for sometime.  

     The film follows two sex obsessed stoners who find their girlfriends missing after going on a drug run.  When they start hunting them down they discover that they were abducted by two hitmen working on the orders from former porn filmmaker turned occultist Cockhammer (Strange).  He plans on using them as a way to grant himself immortality.  It's up to the two stoners, who was dead set on getting their brown eyes pumped by dildos, must fight demons, drug dealers, and hitmen to get their women back.  

     I could only assume what how this film was going to play out after reading a few of Strange's literary work but I have to admit that the movie was nothing like I was expecting.  The movie was way more comedy than I was expecting but I really had a great time with it.  The acting in this one is not something I would call the best but it is fun.  The characters are all very enjoyable and memorable.  The cast has a lot of fun with the characters and it shows in every scene.  With that being said, some of the cast has little to no experience in front of the camera and it's obvious.  Regardless, I really loved the over the top and comical performances we get here.  The story for this one is one that I don't think I could explain and do it justice.  It has demons in drag, stoner humor, Lovecraftian nods, fleshlights with crabs, and so much comical dialogue that you will forget that you are night watching a Chris Seaver flick.  I really found this one funny and I loved how much Strange actually put into the story.  With that being said, some of the jokes are repeated, or at least similar jokes made, that they just wasn't as funny the second or third time.  It's a well put together story but some of the laughs are a bit forced.  Finally, the film has some gore and fun make-up effects.  We get one really fun and gore scene features demons in drag which also showcased some fantastic make-up effects that I was not expecting.  I also really enjoyed the make-up effects on Cockhammer when he transforms.  Aside from this scene in particular the movie is not that bloody.  Overall, Cockhammer is a horror comedy with a lot of stoner humor, sex jokes, and an Evil Dead/Lovecraft flair.  I really enjoy it I look forward to dig into the other films from Strange's Hack Movies.