From HouseofHorrors.com
DVD Review: AFTER DARK HORRORFEST: THE HAMILTONS
By Dave Dreher
Mar 10, 2007, 22:01
Being original in the world of horror today can be difficult at best and to actually find a film that discovers a way to stand out without being controversial or over the top is almost unheard of but one such film does exist and soon you'll be able to add it to your collection.
I'm talking about THE HAMILTONS which LIONSGATE will be releasing to DVD on March 27th. You all should remember it as part of the AFTER DARK HORRORFEST that graced theaters nationwide back in November and LIONSGATE is releasing 7 of those 8 films on the same day and obviously THE HAMILTONS is one of them.
SPOILERS AHEAD - PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION!!
I'll try and give away as little as possible but just general discussion could ruin the viewing for you so please, only proceed if you don't mind knowing a little behind the scenes stuff.
We meet The Hamilton family and are quickly introduced to the assorted brothers and sisters. We quickly learn that Mom and Dad have passed and older brother David is the one attempting to hold the family together. On the surface they seem like your typical suburban family attempting to live through a family tragedy and making the best of each day. You have the nerdy reclusive brother, the always in trouble rebel brother and the goth-queen sexual misfit sister and of course older brother David trying to keep them all together. It becomes evident very early in the film that a lot of what The Hamilton family does is just a cover for a much more sinister secret that all the family members share.
Through a series of increasingly disturbing and violent events we find out the family has had to move a lot because of "problems" and we are led to believe that one of the family members may be a little bit of a serial rapist and killer and that is true to a point but it runs much deeper than that.
Rebel brother picks up a couple of hot ladies who are traveling the countryside and promptly kidnaps them and hauls them home were he hangs them in the basement ala Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It is at this point that we learn the whole family is aware of what happens we also learn that they keep something / someone locked up in the cellar, something they call Lenny. We only hear Lenny but he don't sound happy and he sure sounds hungry.
I won't and don't want to disclose the twist in this one but just trust me when I tell you that directors THE BUTCHER BROTHERS have crafted a tight story driven film that while wild and fantastic also hits home with touching very human performances by all involved.
An ensemble cast of virtual unknowns powers this horror drama and like most excellent films this one works because you actually care what happens to the characters. THE HAMILTONS is an odd mix of family drama, coming of age and horror that on the surface sounds awkward but in reality is nothing short of amazing.
THE HAMILTONS is horror with heart and that is something that we don't see much of these days. With the recent trend of sadistic shock oriented films it is refreshing to settle in and watch a film that in the end you actually wind up liking the characters involved and don't need to run and take a shower after watching it. This film attempts to take a horror mythos and turn it on its ear, to reinvent it a bit and it succeeds.
Get ready to be shocked, get ready to be moved but most importantly get ready to be entertained.
THE HAMILTONS is a must own additon to your collection.
Here is a breakdown of what come on the disc:
THE HAMILTONS PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The Hamiltons seem to be the picture-perfect American family. They are hardworking community members who give to their local charities, attend town hall meetings and are always respectful of their neighbors , except for the fact that they usually end up killing them. The film was the highly-acclaimed winner at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Malibu Film Festival.
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
Deleted Scenes
Bloopers
Audio commentary with co-writers/co-directors The Butcher Brothers and actor Cory Knauf
CAST
Cory Knauf: Sweet Insanity
Samuel Child: Lurking in Suburbia
Joseph McKelheer: Dirty, Nightstalker
Mackenzie Firgens: Rent, Nail Polish, Sweet Insanity
© Copyright by HouseofHorrors.com
