Also known as Bugs, Silent Night, Deadly Night IV: Initiation finally jumps the shark so much it borders to insanity. Alright, if it wasn't for the title it would probably feel less crazy. Like the other movies it's set during Christmas, but it's not connected to the Billy/Ricky storyline from part 1 to 3, this is a completely different set-up and it's friggin' wonderful. I guess most people wouldn't agree with me on that last statement, but you see... this is a very typical Brian Yuzna movie, shamefully forgotten by the fan crowd, and probably among his best work outside The Progeny, Society and Amphibious 3D.
Neith Hunter is Kim, an inspiring journalist who thinks she's found a scoop. One night a young woman jumps to hear death from a building in Los Angeles. She's also on fire and her legs are twisted and looks bizarre. Kim starts to investigate the case and befriends Fima (Maud Adams), a book store keeper in the same house. Around this Fima is a strange, disturbing homeless person, Ricky - but obviously no the same Ricky we've have learned to love in the earlier films - played by Clint Howard, who's acting very strange up on the roof. Soon Kim starts having visions, hallucinations... and she's in more danger than she ever could imagine from the beginning!
From the start is SNDN4 quite standard, a TV-like production with a couple of fun actors (Reggie Bannister makes a cameo also, which is nice - and the brilliant Allyce Beasley have a supporting part! ), but it won't take long until the twisted and very psychedelic effects of Screaming Mad George takes over, together with the creative and intensive visual eye of Yuzna, and it transforms from not special to really, really wild. I've never been a fan of the idea of hallucinations and if they're real or not, but it works here - probably because they're so extreme. Like in Yuzna's directional debut, Society, we see bodies melt, transform, body parts twisted into each other. There's some magnificent special effects work on display and the violence - while not overly gory - is very sadistic and energic. Screaming Mad George also created some disgusting bug-like creatures, or worms - hard to say what the hell is going on - who steals the show when they show up.
After the terribly boring part 3 this is a welcome change of style and ambition in the franchise. If you even can call it a working franchise? I mean, it's just vaguely Christmas-themed horror movies with a number after the title! But don't expect genius writing here, this is all about what meets the eyes - and not the brain. Yuzna have a talent for slightly sexual horror who never goes too far in violence. Outside the sex he goes all the way, but when he goes erotic - there's some very strange things happening. Here you'll some absurd stuff, but it's so over-the-top it won't disturb you... I think! Maybe more disgust in a lovingly, entertaining way. Society does this almost all the time, this one not so much but probably enough to freak out one or two folks out there.
A pleasant surprise, gory, slimy and shark-jumping. That's my kind of jolly good Christmas flick!
"this is a very typical Brian Yuzna movie, shamefully forgotten by the fan crowd, and probably among his best work outside Society and Amphibious 3D."
Oh yeah?
The fan boys....fuck em.....they are usualy wrong anyway, just look at their fawning at Cloud Atlas(2012).
"but it won't take long until the twisted and very psychedelic effects of Screaming Mad George takes over, together with the creative and intensive visual eye of Yuzna, and it transforms from not special to really, really wild."
I´m not surprised.....their previous work together.....great fucking stuff!
"Yuzna have a talent for slightly sexual horror who never goes too far in violence. Outside the sex he goes all the way, but when he goes erotic - there's some very strange things happening. Here you'll some absurd stuff, but it's so over-the-top it won't disturb you... I think!"
Bodyhorror is supposed to be disturbing......but you are right about Yuzna and his erotic side......weird shit happens.
"A pleasant surprise, gory, slimy and shark-jumping. That's my kind of jolly good Christmas flick!"
Great review and thanks Fred, I haven´t seen it yet.
Posted by: Megatron | December 23, 2013 at 16:08