Recent Reviews
DVD Review: MOH: PICK ME UP
By Dave Dreher

Oct 16, 2006, 19:37

Just got done checking out the latest release in the Masters of Horror DVD anthology.  This time around it is Larry Cohen’s turn.  You should remember him from It’s Alive and Q, The Winged Serpent.  I don’t remember catching this one when it was on Showtime so it was a pleasant surprise to pop this into the DVD player.

Based on a short story by master storyteller David Schow, whom also adapted it for the series PICK ME UP tells the tale of not one but two serial killers who happen upon one another one dark fateful night.  To tell you to much of the story would really take away most of the fun of this one so I am going to keep details to a complete minimum, as a matter of fact I ain’t going to tell you a damn thing about it.  I will however discuss the actors.  In the lead role is veteran actor Michael Moriarty who most of you probably remember from his long stint on the hit TV show Law and Order.  Known for his top notch acting Moriarty this time around seems just a little off his game.  I had a really hard time understanding his dialogue in this one.  Not sure if it was an accent he was attempting to use or if it is just age doing what it does or maybe it is just me.  Anyway his physical acting was up to par but the vocal performance was muddled and muffled at its best.  The rest of the cast perform admirably and all in all everyone ends up putting in good performances.

The story is strong and sufficiently bloody.  A skinning scene stands out as one of the films high points.

As with all of these Masters of Horror discs this one is jammed with special features that make the disc a must have.  I really enjoyed the retrospect on Larry Cohen’s career.  Here are all the disc details for you:

DVD Features:

    * Commentary by director Larry Cohen
    * "Working With a Master: Larry Cohen " featurette on the director and his work
    * "Death on the Highway: An Interview with Larry Cohen"
    * "Behind The Scenes: The Making of Pick Me Up" featurette
    * "Fantasy Film Festival: Mick Garris Interviews Larry Cohen"
    * "On Set: An Interview with Michael Moriarty"
    * "On Set: An Interview with Fairuza Balk"
    * "On Set: An Interview with Warren Cole"
    * Script To Screen: "Pick Me Up"
    * Larry Cohen Bio
    * Still Gallery
    * DVD-ROM: Original Screenplay and screen saver

It is great seeing Larry Cohen get some much deserved credit and Pick Me Up is fun, creepy, bloody and worth adding to your DVD collection.  Pick It Up.

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