American Scream King (2010) Reviews

• An indie surprise worth seeing. - Ambush Bug, Ain't it Cool News

  Frosty_Critic2012-01-07

  hough I can't find any images or websites to direct you to about American SCREAM KING, I do want to recognize it for the gem it is. I sift through a lot of muck watching films here for AICN HORROR, but little surprises like this film make the whole ordeal worthwhile. American SCREAM KING is as low budget as they come, but with some clever dialog and smart writing, it makes it easy to look past all of that. Two jerk-offs decide to make a horror movie, but the catch is that they really want to kill their cast. Though the acting leaves a lot to be desired, the words falling from their faces are clever and often downright hilarious. Writer/director/star Joel Paul Reisig does a fantastic job of mixing elements of SCREAM's self-referentialism with a CLERKS bare bones production mentality and self awareness. As Reisig and his partner in crime Jordon Hodges conduct casting calls for beautiful stars for their film, they call it like it is, citing BOOBS, BEAST, BLOOD = MONEY. Gratuitous boobage ensues throughout the entire film as the cast are blatantly asked and ordered to take off their tops, but it's done in such a ludicrous manner that the subtle mix of masochism/chauvinism/ignorance turns out to be charming. My favorite part of the movie is about an hour in when the two main characters note that they've only recorded about an hour of footage and need more to be a complete film. It's that kind of wink and nod and full on donkey-punch to the audience that makes this film shine. Equal parts IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILIDELPHIA (with its crass humor and unlikable yet likable characters), JERSEY SHORE (with the obvious douchebaggery permeating the two main characters), with heaping dollops of SAW as the killer filmmakers often barter for the survival by playing games with the victims, American SCREAM KING is an indie surprise worth seeing. Don't expect stellar acting. Don't expect epic storytelling. Don't expect high profile gore. But American SCREAM KING is filled with enough witty dialog and clever takes on the horror industry (and movie-making in general) to make you laugh at the situations these two idiots have created for themselves in search of an easy buck and instant stardom. Linked Review: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/52517

• This is the indie answer to Scream

  james_depaolo2012-01-20

  I am James DePaolo...I write for a few blogs..wickedchannel.com and also cinemaheadcheese.com so if you dig this check them out... Plot-In this very low budget dark comedy, this is a story about two guys who get a hold of a camera from a debt, they decide to make a horror movie since most of them are so bad to them. They decide to hold open auditions to cast for this film, but little do the women know they are casting actually are really going to be killed in the film. Puts new meaning to paying your dues. Review-This is Brain Damage films best film to date. This film had elements of difference but yet enough shades of things we have seen before to give it a similar feel without feeling like a total rip off. I mean, this is 2012′s indie answer to Scream. And like Scream, this film is almost like a social commentary about horror and the perception of what sells a film to fans. There our scenes in this film that Joel Paul Reisig is almost talking directly to the people watching. Early on, he shows he is not afraid to poke fun at his own past when he knocks his former film Fraternity House. He also shows a less is more attitude as well. Like he knows the obstacles he was against and almost focused on his strengths instead of trying to cheapen the stuff he felt the film needed. His strengths and lets be honest..he knows the crowd who will watch this film..young men and guys in general. And he catered to that crowd. Early on, he discovers people would like more realistic horror and he comes up with this horror 101 list. Which consists of Blood, Beast and Boobs. This film is almost like a Zucker Brothers take on auditions for indie horror. I mean, you have all these actresses auditioning and they range from overacting, to being not too bright, to just being so horrible, but instead of doing it serious, they are reading off written scripts on camera and not trying to be taken serious. And of course, each film role no matter what the dialogue is heading towards from Aliens raping both leads, it leads to the woman getting topless. And to me, where most films fail are a up and coming director or star, that thinks they are better than they truly are. This film avoided that obstacle all together and made it so tongue and cheek, where if someone says well they overacted, underacted or whatever..that you can point to them reading off cue cards, scripts and totally doing it on purpose. And for me that worked. They tie the girls in the basement and play games from spin the knife,( which is almost like spin the bottle) and a take on Are you smarter than a 5th grader, which I know now a model may not know who Rosa Parks is. There is also a intermission, where our two kings go on this bromance thru a weird montage. And, this film has twists and also some very clever dialogue that keeps the viewer occupied and interested. A scene that has a lot of people smiling in our community is the scene, that at the hour mark they acknowledge they filmed for a hour and do not have a complete film yet. All in all, do not expect the best acting, gore or the best storytelling. But, if you are asking for a small film that will deliver a huge punch to the balls or vagina for anyone watching it..this may be your film. 8.5 out of 10