Effects

Tony the Terror3.5

I really didn’t know anything about this movie other than it started Joe Pilato and really I think that’s the best way to go into it. So I won’t go into any plot details, but I will say that I loved the almost surreal atmosphere and overall quality of the film. It’s a slow burn, but I legit love a slow burn that pulls everything off in the end.Full disclosure: maybe don’t watch this under the influence of anything because at that time it just made no sense to me and left me a little weirded out. I mean if that’s what you’re going for then have at it, but I had to go back and rewatch it the next day because I actually wanted to understand it. I’m just saying.

Blake Bergman "Various Spaghetti"4.0

"Effects" is a 1979 exploitation horror film directed by Dusty Nelson. From a label standpoint, as AGFA is structurally set up to represent the exploitation blend of both those that are just structurally weird but also positionally advantageous in their unique identity, "Effects" easily fits this represented mold of things. It is on this level that "Effects" excels, as the film takes some genuine leaps to not stick to only formal narrative. It has an energy of somewhat breaking the fourth wall of things, but while it doesn't really do that (nor should it need to) it is really a testament to how advantageously different the narrative both is and dually executed. To make a long story short, the film is essentially a unique celebration of horror special effects in the best way that they could be celebrated, beyond simply being effects used within, but also as the actuality or conduit of plot and narrative that progresses forward. Laughably as I was watching this, I was thinking to the effect that this is very much the "Medium Cool" (1969) of horror movies, at least in energetic form. Now as "Medium Cool" merges real events in with fictional narrative, "Effects" is completely within the fictional resolve, but in that I can constructively say that casual viewership could easily be engulfed in thinking that "Effects" is real. This is the concept that the film easily wears on its sleeve, as the movie candidly puts the phraseology of "Duped" all over, and if viewership misses this, then it's on them. All the context as expressed above is the presented charm of the film in my mind, as it is applicably more complex than it appears at face value, and while I will be honest a say that direct narrative of the film slowly became a bit of a bore, my ability to shy away from the actual story and appreciate the direction is what brought me through to the finish line. Ultimately, the film is exceptionally well done in giving a narrative voice to application of special effects, and while these people don't predominately excel in the camp of crafting the story, the novelty of their side of movie making in the practical effects department shines through. It really feels like this is a movie made by special effects people for special effects people, and we are invited to watch as well with a drunk Tom Savini in an umbrella hat being our proverbial spirit guide throughout the process.

Lou (rhymes with wow!)3.5

Horror movies-obsessed psychopaths really are the worst kind of psychopaths.. 😱I had a great time watching this grimy, butt shot-heavy horror movie with Michelle.[Michelle's write-up]