An American Terror (2013)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

An Exercise In Nonsense

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

First things first. See that poster? That guy is in the movie, except the guy in the movie is a fat hillbilly guy wearing the same gear. Right there, the movie fails. Hillbilly's are NOT scary, no matter how edgy you try to make them (in this movie's case, watching a cartoon and making love to a doll.. I think, I couldn't tell, whole scene was 99& darkness).Second, the protagonist is a emo dude who wants to do a school bombing/shooting with his friends. Right there? You stop sympathizing with him even till the end, when he changes his mind (and how is he not in custody over planning it all? they just let him get back to the school next day..) Third, the moment our "heroes" enter the lair of the guy on the poster, whole movie turns the contrast up 50% and increases the darkness level in all scenes. That means, good luck recognizing what is going on in 99.9% of the scenes. You won't be scared, you'll be just really REALLY annoyed.Fourth, the "big bad" guy on the poster is beaten up and defeated by two scrawny kids. Rest of the movie is a crappy school bombing plot, that never happens. In whole movie, only two people get killed and that includes a cop and the kid who bombs that cop. Yeah, that's the real terror, school shooting/bombing.So basically, this movie is trying to make a statement on school shootings, telling all of the nerds who get beaten up that "Don't shoot up the place, it isn't worth it.. just take the beatings and humiliation." There, I saved you the trouble of watching the movie. That was the message all along. Go watch some good horror movie.TIP: How to watch this movie for free? Turn off your monitor/TV. See that dark screen? That's the movie. Enjoy.

While this isn't the best horror/slasher movie in history, it is a very pleasant surprise. The "Evil" in this movie is more than just some demented freak in a junk yard, it's the evil that we do to each other to make ourselves feel better. The underlying themes of bullying and kids struggling just to make it through high school are pretty effectively presented and you find yourself understanding where the frustration and anger comes from, even if you don't agree with their extreme methods. In addition, the film even tackles complex ideas like redemption and equality, not something you routinely see in a slasher flick.I was very pleasantly surprised, the movie had a creepy villain and some characters you can root for in earnest. Not the best movie out there, but there are way worse movies to watch on something like Amazon instant video or netflix.

'A group of friends hatch a plan to get revenge on the bullies who have been tormenting them. In doing so, they stumble upon an underground torture chamber filled with unspeakable horrors. ...' While the director may be attempting something old school, like 'Halloween,' or 'Friday The 13th,' he pretty much fails at every aspect. The acting is fairly bad all around, and I'm not talking in a humorous way either. What really drives these types of films - is the villain. If you don't have a good villain, you really don't have anything to fall back on, and that goes for the old school 'classics,' as well.The villain here, or seen on the cover - end up being two different killers. The guy on the cover looks passable for a straight to DVD flick - Unfortunately, the guy on the cover didn't make it into the final release (Maybe the guy in the actual film ate him?) Instead, we get a 400 pound hillbilly who spends his time getting his inspiration from Woody Woodpecker reruns, kidnapping attractive cheerleaders, and having intercourse with his toy doll. Now, most real life serial killers are known for their sexual acts before or after killing their victims - but not this guy. I'm not sure why horror films avoid this detail, but I haven't heard of many serial killers who would choose a toy doll over an actual victim. Random Ramblings of a Madman: One of the reviewers of this film has been a member of IMDb for 15 years, and has 1 total review, which just happens to be of 'An American Terror,' which he makes a case for best film of the year. As you can probably tell, we're not in agreement.

An American Terror a throwback to the great films of my youth but it is a plausible story tangled and weaved intricately amongst a tangible, clever message; one that does not get lost. Nor does the entertainment value ever diminish because it is trying to do something with the subject matter. Graham Emmons , Louis MacDonald, Taylor Hulett, and Joe Abplanalp do incredible jobs as each of their characters gets their moments to show off what they can do. I am especially fond of Abplanalp's performance in this. He really has a nice balance in this movie, knowing when to do all that his character needs to do, and how to use subtle movements and small noticeable expressions to give you the senses you need at critical moments. He has an interesting quirk within his eyes but he never really uses that as a crutch, something that could have easily happened. You see the type of character he plays all the time go way over the top and I like that he was able to stay within the framework but also that he took advantage of his moments.Of course he is under the guise of a very talented Writer/Director in Haylar Garcia. Haylar is careful and detailed but he really sets a pace to the film that gives you opportunities to absorb when you need to absorb, get anxious when you need to get anxious, and frustrate you to no end. These are the 3 essential elements in my mind that create a successful horror film. Haylar accomplishes the rarity that you find these days in any film, not just horror, he really edits himself well. I am sure there were times where staying in one direction and not getting excited about going the other direction had make him crazy but he really stayed on point throughout. He also has some incredibly bright moments with dialogue. Moments that will catch on as more people see this movie.Graham Emmons is a great caretaker and leader of that conduit that is Haylar's vision. He knows at some point the audience is going to turn to him and he does all he is supposed with that. In fact the entire cast has incredible chemistry and they all give you the sense that they know they are in something special so they are careful, calculating, and perfect for the screen.Another great element that adds to this movie's success is the incredible production design. It uses the full potential of live locations and gives it that little bit of special feeling you need when you figure out where everyone is and what is going on. The details are very well covered here. Another common theme you will find with the movies that make my list this year is how the sets and designs are as much a character in the movie as the actors are. An American Terror probably has 2 of my favorite examples of that this year, cop cars and junkyards.Anton Fresco cinematography moves flawlessly throughout the engaging moments and settles you into the rare moments that Haylar allows you to catch your breath. Along with that, there are some great cutaways and overall aesthetic shots that just keep you right there and in the moment.As I said earlier this movie actually marries 2 nice genre ideas together and while it is such an awesome homage and throwback to horror genre of my youth, Haylar is good to throw in some of the more recent ideals that have worked from some of the better movies of the last 5 years. I think keeping it current really plays well in this instance but the nostalgia homage makes it unique.I think having the message this movie does also lends itself to standing out and being different. Make no mistake for me I liked the outright horror elements the best but you can't help but get absorbed to think about what is trying to be said here.That's what makes this movie a best of year candidate and one of my favorites of 2013. I am happy to hear that after a year and a few months of traveling the world in festival after festival, winning award after award that it is going mainstream for the masses to be able to see.If you are a fan of Halloween, Friday the 13th, and even something like Cabin in the Woods or Saw you have to see An American Terror.