Feast

Feast

Starring Balthazar Getty, Henry Rollins, Navi Rawat, Judah Friedlander

Directed by John Gulager

The Story:
In a seedy bar in the middle of the desert, the patrons are enjoying a night of drinking and debauchery, until a man arrives covered in blood, saying creatures are coming.  Soon the bar is overrun by a group of monsters, and the denizens must work together if they'll survive the night.

The Synopsis:
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon started a program in 2001 called Project Greenlight that would give a first-time filmmaker a chance to direct a feature film.  John Gulager's "Feast" won the third season, and the result is a now-cult classic monster action/horror/comedy blend that turns the rules of horror movies on its head.

The story centers around a vastly different group of people in a bar.  Each character is introduced with a title card and a brief summary: name, occupation, fun fact, and chances of survival.  It was hilarious because it was so wrong on so many people, and the film immediately makes fun of itself (listing one man as Hero, giving his chance of survival pretty certain, then dying a minute later).  There's no real names used, only vague generalizations (Bozo, the town idiot; Coach, the life-coach; Heroine, the hero; Beer Guy, the...well, you get the idea) that makes the film even more enjoyable because they live up to their stereotypes as well as breaks the mold in the same time.

The film stars a wide array of medium-level actors, those who aren't A-level, but not quite B-level either.  Balthazar Getty ("Lord of the Flies") plays Bozo, the not-so-bright member of the group who also exudes confidence.  Henry Rollins ("Heat") plays Coach, the life coach who gives flowery words but leads a very unwholesome life.  Navi Rawat ("House of Sand and Fog") plays Heroine, who rallies the group together.  Even veteran actor Clu Gulager (who's been acting in television and film since the 1950s, and is also director John Gulager's father) appears in the film as Bartender, a tough-as-nails older man who's been shot six times, stabbed four times, and bit by one squirrel (according to his bio).  Together, the ensemble cast plays off each other beautifully, and even though none of them would win an Oscar for the film, they give off very capable performances and there's not really any of them to root against, despite their pernicious ways.  A horror movie is only as good as the cast you like, and you'll really enjoy "Feast" just for the characters themselves.

For a lower budget film, the creatures are surprisingly well-detailed and frightening, carving into our hapless heroes like knives on butter.  The blood and gore are amped up to the tenth level, with blood gushing everywhere like water fountains, and limbs and other body parts decorating the bar.  The action is palpable from start to finish, with loads of gunfights and traps that would make Wyle E. Coyote proud.  The comedy isn't too slapstick that you are taken away from the real action and horror going on, but just enough to make you laugh and fully enjoy the whole experience.

The Summary:
Blending action, horror, and comedy in equal doses, "Feast" truly is a feast for any true horror fan, with a highly capable cast, an enjoyable story, and enough blood and gore to satisfy even the strongest horror supporter.

The Score: A+