Originally posted on 2/7/21
Yes, it's true--we actually exist. Who are we? We are Seth Green fans, and if you're one of us, then you're already in for a treat when you watch THE ATTIC EXPEDITIONS (Severin Films, 2001), because Seth Green (THE ITALIAN JOB, "Robot Chicken", UNHITCHED) plays a featured role as a crazy guy, and he's just as crazy as you'd want Seth Green to be.
Now that I've devoted the opening paragraph of this review to Seth Green, here's a rundown on this kooky, mind-bending, and totally absorbing little psychological horror story that's like a sumptuous combination of H.P. Lovecraft and "The Joe Schmo Show."
In a nutty nutshell: Trevor Blackburn (Andras Jones, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4) and his lovely lover Faith (Beth Bates) are taking part in a dark ritual that involves violent, bloody death and a strange supernatural book not unlike the one in THE EVIL DEAD.
Things don't go as planned, and Trevor awakens from a four-year coma to find himself guilty of Faith's murder and confined to the "House of Love" with an assortment of other mentally warped crazies (including Seth Green as "Douglas") under the supervision of the oddly oddball Dr. Thalama (Wendy Robie, TWIN PEAKS).
Unfortunately, the whole project is operated, and electronically spied upon, by Dr. Ek, who is played by Jeffrey Combs (RE-ANIMATOR, DARK HOUSE) as only Jeffrey Combs could play him, meaning we already know from the start that Dr. Ek is either evil, insane, or (most likely) a delightfully manic combination of the two, and that he's definitely to no good.
Director Jeremy Kasten (THE DEAD ONES, THE THEATRE BIZARRE, THE WIZARD OF GORE remake) keeps us guessing what's real and what's in Trevor's possibly schizoid imagination (we keep seeing flashes of him having his brain operated upon in a rather medieval-looking manner).
Kasten also takes great delight in twisting reality into pretzels while leading us up one dark corridor and down the other in that creepy old house as Trevor himself wonders if his housemates are for real or just actors playing crazed characters (hence the "Joe Schmo Show" reference), with a bloody murder or two amongst the group adding to the fun.
Performances are fine--our Seth has never been better, Ted Raimi (SKINNER) gives his usual likable performance as a visiting doctor who becomes progressively aghast at Dr. Ek's methods, and Jeffrey Combs just inhabits a role like this like nobody else can. Alice Cooper pops up in an early cameo as (what else?) a crazy guy.
Production values are positively lush considering the meager budget, and the film always looks pleasingly atmospheric. A good score helps as well, including a cool end credits song that takes the old standard "That Old Black Magic" and turns it into a grungey Goth dirge.
Trevor's housemates include nutty nympho Amy (Shannon Hart Cleary), who likes to seduce men and then accuse them of rape the next morning, and equally troubled Ronald (Jerry Hauck), who is in constant physical and verbal conflict with his own hand puppet.
Twists and turns abound in this fevered slog through the haunted thrill ride of Trevor's own warped imagination. Finding out whether he's really crazy or if it's all just a product of Dr. Ek's highly unethical medical "experiments" (or even something else altogether!) is just one of the pleasures I derived while taking part in THE ATTIC EXPEDITIONS.
Buy it from Severin Films
All-New Special Features:
Cast & Crew 20 Year Pandemic Reunion & Story of Making THE ATTIC EXPEDITIONS, featuring Jeremy Kasten, Seth Green, Jeffrey Combs, Tim Heidecker and many more
Alice Cooper & Jeffrey Combs Internet Reunion
Horror Scholar Adam Rockoff Contextualizes THE ATTIC EXPEDITIONS
Disc Specs:
Scanned in 2k from the original negative
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English 5.1 & 2.0
Closed Captions: English
Region 0/Free
No comments:
Post a Comment