It's nice to see original movies coming out these days with
the tons of remakes and sequels that seem to dominate theaters. Unfortunately
these original films never seem to make it to the local theater and almost
always end up going unseen until they arrive on DVD. For a film lover that
means that DVD is the best way to find the newest items. Such is the case with
THE REVENANT.
Bart Gregory (David Anders) is a soldier killed in action as
the film opens. Just who killed him and how isn't quite certain but his body is
returned home, given the full honors of a fallen soldier and he's laid to rest.
Well not quite. That evening Bart digs his way out of his grave and heads to
the home of his best friend Joey (Chris Wylde).
Of course this scares Joey at first but then he begins to
worry about his friend. Thinking he's probably starving he makes him something
to eat only to have Bart toss his cookies, an odd looking black ooze, on the
floor. As the pair try and figure out what must have happened, they eventually
decide that Bart must be one of the living dead and in need of fresh blood. Who
says watching all those old horror films doesn't pay off.?
The pair begins by robbing blood from blood banks but
inadvertently they discover another way to get the blood Bart needs. Stopping a
crime they find that bullets have no effect on Bart. Invulnerable he stops the
crime, kills the bad guy and then drinks his blood. A new crime fighting hero
is born! It's as if Rambo rose from the dead and began taking back the streets
from criminals.
Bart and Joey are suddenly in the spotlight though unseen. Because
they're saving people from criminals the victims never offer good descriptions.
Why would they want harm to come to those who helped them? Learning that the
criminals they kill rise as well, the duo dispose of the bodies as they go
along, something that will come back to haunt them later in the film.
Bart also reconnects with his fiancé as well. Of course this
lends itself to a rather awkward moment, especially when he learns that she and
Joey slept together when they thought he was dead. But time heals all...well
most...wounds and they are reunited once more.
Everything seems to be going smoothly for the pair until
Joey gets shot during one of their encounters with bad guys. Rather than let
his friend die, Bart turns Joey into a member of the living dead as well. But
Joey has always been a screw up and he soon lets his new found powers go to his
head. When one of their first victims returns for some vengeance of his own,
there's no telling what will happen.
There are several things that make this film work. One is
that they treat the subject matter as if it were real, as if it truly could
happen. In so doing the movie has a certain vibe to it that makes the viewer
think okay I can see that happening. The second thing it has going for it is a
nice mix of comedy and horror that works as well. Scenes between the main pair
are hilarious at times. A good example (seen in the trailer) is when they get
in a fight and start shooting each other knowing good and well that they're
both invulnerable.
The acting is done well here especially by the leads who
must convince viewers that this is a plausible concept. The effects are done
well and not too far over the top, something that could have ruined the film
completely. The movie won't be one that everyone will love but horror and
comedy fans will both be happy with the end product.
Click here to order.
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