Machine Head (2011) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Jim Valdez
Starring: Sharon Hinnendael, Nicole Zeoli, Christina Corigliano
Rated: R/Region: 1/WideScreen/Number of disc: 1
Available from ANCHOR BAY
The desert of Los Ranchos, CA isn’t your standard spring break hot spot, but it’s party time when a young girl’s wealthy father gives her the keys to his amazing desert ranch oasis. She and her hot girlfriends plan a wild spring break vacation getaway to take advantage of this lavish vacation pad. During the drive to the house, the girls find themselves terrorized by a mysterious black muscle car on the highway. They soon realize they have been lured into a sick game of high-octane terror. Machine Head unleashes a hell unlike anything they’ve ever seen. The girls will do whatever it takes to cross the finish line alive and get the checkered flag!
Well, I guess you could say that they at least tried with this one. The film is set up in a way that somewhat reminds you of other such “girls alone” horror movies like Slumber Party Massacre and Sorority House Massacre, only things don’t really seem to flow well at all here. The film also has very unlikable females and is played up super serious, which results in the movie being a bit boring. You could have made this one fun, but instead they went with the serious tone and also had some awkward camera shots that I don’t think helped out as much as they probably assumed they did.
Still, the movie rolls along with some nudity and the old school cat and mouse game with our killer and the ladies. Had we gotten characters we liked I think the movie would have had more impact and we’d have cared for what goes on with our leads, but it takes more than looks and the spots of nudity to makes us care. I don’t think the kills were that good either. I hate to be super negative on this one, but it had the tools it needed with the story, but it didn’t follow-up. Nicer characters (or at least some) would have helped things a lot. Instead we get your basic run of the mill newer style slasher that doesn’t use the basics good enough.
– Photo Gallery
– Trailer
