DVD Review: CAESAR AND OTTO'S DEADLY XMAS (2012)

CAESAR AND OTTO'S DEADLY XMAS
Written & Directed by Dave Campfield
Distributed by MVD Entertainment Group

  A while back on this blog, I reviewed a great horror/comedy called CAESAR AND OTTO'S SUMMER CAMP MASSACRE.    I remember really enjoying that film, so I was super excited when I got the chance to review the newest Caesar and Otto film, CAESAR AND OTTO'S DEADLY XMAS. Unfortunately, I have to admit I was extremely disappointed in this film. Here is the plot of the film from the MVD website:

  Caesar and his half brother Otto take on duties as Santa and his elf. However, the bodies begin to pile up when a fellow store Santa (CKY's Deron Miller) develops a vendetta against them, and he soon turns Caesar's list of Dinner guests into a list of Xmas-inspired victims! Features cult movie icons Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens, Lloyd Kaufman, Joe Estevez, Felissa Rose and Robert Z'dar.

  So don't get me wrong, the film is not terrible, and it does have a few things going for it, but I was just not entertained overall by this film.  Maybe I was hoping for too much, or expecting more from it than I should have, but this film just fell flat for me.   The film was definitely more comedy than horror, as even the "horror " scenes were campy and supposed to be funny.  Unfortunately, usually they weren't really all that funny, even though you could tell they were trying to be.  

  Also, I will use this film as my gateway to telling you about one of my pet peeves about low budget horror films, and that is the inclusion of Troma's Lloyd Kaufman in the film with a cameo.  I know that Lloyd is a huge supporter of independent film, and he offers his services for a small fee to help filmmakers  get a "name" on their cast list, but to be honest, I think it might actually have more of a  negative effect than a positive one.  For me it looks like a gimmick, and usually if a film needs to use a gimmick like that, then the movie appears to be lacking any real substance.

  I hate that I didn't enjoy this one more, as I really like the actors that play Caesar and Otto, but this film just didn't do anything for me.  Give it a shot, though, and see what you think.  Maybe I just wasn't in the holiday horror/comedy spirit.  CAESAR AND OTTO'S DEADLY XMAS is available now on DVD and contains the following special features:

Three Commentary Tracks (Director, Cast/ Crew, Actors)

Behind the Scenes Featurette

Alternate Scenes

Short film: Piggyzilla

Short Film: Otto's First Job

Trailers

Bonus Short Film: The Perfect Candidate

CLICK HERE  to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE  to purchase the DVD







 

DVD Review: CAESAR & OTTO'S SUMMER CAMP MASSACRE (2009)

CAESAR & OTTO'S SUMMER CAMP MASSACRE was written and directed by Dave Campfield and is distributed by Fourth Horizon Cinema. Campfield also co-stars in the film as Caesar. This is a sequel to CAESAR AND OTTO (2008), but you do not have to have seen that film to enjoy this one. Here is the basic plot synopsis from the official website:

After punching out the police chief's mentally challenged brother, an effete tough guy, Caesar, is on the run.
Together, he and his slovenly half brother, Otto, take on new identities as counselors at the strangely vacant Camp Sunsmile.
The would-be summer camp has attracted a motley crew of Hollywood outcasts, all with something to hide. But when the mysterious Carrie (Felissa Rose, star of Sleepaway Camp) shows up, counselors begin disappearing one by one.
Soon, Caesar and Otto find themselves at the edge of a summer camp killer's blade as they run, duck, and swoosh for their lives!

This film if definitely more comedy than Horror, but has a good Horror plot and a surprisingly good amount of gore for a Horror/Comedy film. Caesar and Otto, played by Dave Campfield and Paul Chomicki, are a fun duo to watch. Dave Campfield is especially fun to watch. His acting style is so different, that it is almost annoying at first, but it grows on you really quick and you will end up getting most of your laughs from his character. The film also co-stars Felissa Rose, who played Angela in the 1983 horror classic, SLEEPAWAY CAMP. It was great seeing her get back to here summer camp roots!

The film was shot in just 10 days on a very low budget. There are no elaborate set pieces or anything, but what the movie lacks in production value, it more than makes up for in just pure fun. This movie is proof you don't have to have big a big budget to make a very enjoyable film. This film is just fun, plain and simple, which is something that a lot of movies that come out these days fail to achieve.

CLICK HERE to visit the official website of the film and watch the trailer