Slashers (2001)

Director: Maurice Devereaux
Starring: Sarah Joslyn Crowder, Tony Curtis Blondell, Kieran Keller

Synopsis:
Six American contestants participate in a Japanese gameshow where they must avoid costumed killers to win big.

Impressions:
You don't need to have a big budget and you don't need big-name actors to be entertaining. If you like movies like The Running Man where games of death are a televised event, you'll probably find something worthwhile here. The low budget actually helps it feel more like a real Japanese gameshow, an effect that might be lost if they had more money to throw into the production values. While not incredibly well-written, it does do some interesting things with the characters and story. Lead actress Sarah Joslyn Crowder is pretty terrible (though it kinda works for her character), but Neil Napier is particularly entertaining pulling double duty as the killers Chainsaw Charlie and Preacherman (with Christopher Piggins coming in second as Doctor Ripper). If you're looking for genuine horror and suspense, you'll be disappointed, but it's a goldmine (or at least a silvermine) of black comedy. If you're willing to look past its flaws and limitations, it can actually be a silly, twisted little romp. If your sense of humor bends that way, give it a watch.

Rating:
Watch It