When I was younger, I absolutely loathed horror comedies. I didn’t see any place for a film to be both funny and terrifying. Sure, I made exceptions for flicks like The Evil Dead or Dead Alive. Other than those and perhaps a select few others, I wasn’t having it. Now, older and wiser, with open arms, I welcome the marriage of the two genres. The latest film that utilizes this lovely union successfully is Crispian Mills’ Slaughterhouse Rulez.
The Plot
Slaughterhouse is an illustrious boarding school. When its very grounds become a fracking site, a sinkhole appears, unleashing horror from deep underground. Can the students survive the terror and each other?
My Thoughts
Other than the awesome cast featured on the cover art, I knew nothing about Slaughterhouse Rulez going in. I prefer this type of movie-watching experience these days, as there are quite frankly no expectations to be met.
Speaking of the cast, there is no question about the amount of talent packed into the film’s 104 minutes. With the likes of Michael Sheen (the Underworld franchise, Apostle), Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad, The Wolf of Wall Street), and of course the duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost of Shaun of the Dead fame, you know you’re in for some top-notch performances.
Accompanying this pack of veteran actors is a slew of younger talent. Asa Butterfield (Netflix’s “Sex Education”), Finn Cole (“Peaky Blinders”), and Hermione Corfield (Rust Creek), just to name a few, all do wonderfully with their respective roles as students at the prestigious boarding school.
This group, along with a few others, comprise the main cast of characters that must fend off this new breed of terror that has been unearthed by Terrafrack, the company responsible for this disaster.
Without spoiling too much, Slaughterhouse Rulez is a comedic creature feature. It takes a bit of time before we see any of the actual monsters, but once they are finally introduced, things ramp up rather quickly.
Never losing its comedic footing, Slaughterhouse Rulez does a tremendous job of melding the two genres together once the creatures begin ripping their victims apart. This is largely due to Crispian Mills and team’s clever writing, but should also be credited to the delivery by all cast members.
This new “subterranean subspecies” that is terrorizing the students of Slaughterhouse are created using a mix of both practical and digital effects. While some may stray from films with digital creatures, I can assure you that you do not want to miss out on this one.
The monsters look very impressive and the amount of killing they do will surely distract you from any qualms you have with their digitized creation.
The Verdict
Slaughterhouse Rulez is a fun new monster flick that everyone should be watching. It is perhaps a bit longer than it needs to be, but that does actually help flesh out some of the characters’ backstories more than your average horror comedy.
The acting is superb, the writing is clever and entertaining, and the effects, both practical and otherwise, are top tier and gruesome when necessary.
Slaughterhouse Rulez will be available on DVD this Tuesday, June 18, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Be sure to pick up a copy of the movie and let me know your thoughts.
I give this one 4 dabs of snuff out of 5.
