DVD Review: COLLAR (2014)

COLLAR
Written & Directed by  Ryan Nicholson
Distributed by MVD Visual & Unearthed Films

  I have been a big fan of director Ryan Nicholson ever since 2006's LIVE FEED.  After that came the wonderful GUTTERBALLS, and then other great films.  I was super excited to get the chance to review Nicholson's latest feature, COLLAR.  Here is the basic plot from the MVD website:

A rookie cop starts her shift like any other but soon it will all change for the worse. A derelict with a reputation of satanic violence, attacks the officer and collars her with a dog leash which is just the start of his abusive ritual.

  I was super excited going into this film, I was expecting another instant classic like the last few films from this director.  Unfortunately, I viewed what is in my opinion his worst film to date.  If you were to look at all his films and compare, I would have said that COLLAR was one of his earliest films, if not his very first one.  The production quality was horrible, making the film look very cheaply made.  The acting was pretty bad overall, especially from the one of the characters that film the "Bumfight" type videos.  The only really good acting was from star Nick Principe  who played the main character named "Massive".  Nick did a great job as always and gave the film some credibility in the acting category.

 The only real saving grace for me for this film was the gore.  As you would expect from a Ryan Nicholson film, COLLAR has some great gore, but even that is not enough to save the film overall.  I am hoping for better things to come from Mr. Nicholson in the future.  Every film can't be a "home run".  Every director is entitled to a few misses.  Nicholson's next film is the sequel to GUTTERBALLS which I expect to be back on par with his other films. 

  If you have seen COLLAR, let me know what you thought of this film.  I have seen plenty of good reviews for it, so maybe I just missed something with this one.  As with any film review I do, I suggest you take my opinion for what it's worth, and watch the film and see what you think of it.

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

Support the Indiegogo.com campain to help fund director Ryan Nicholson's GUTTERBALLS 2!

If you were a fan of director Ryan Nicholson's crazy film GUTTERBALLS, you will most definitely want to help support his latest venture, the sequel to GUTTERBALLS called GUTTERBALLS 2:  BALLS DEEP!  

 The film is in development now and has launched Indiegogo campaign to help raise the funds to film and release what is sure to be one of the craziest sequels in the history of cinema!  Nicholson has stated that GUTTERBALLS 2 will have twice the body count of the first film, and will again amaze audiences with it's original death scenes!   Help the Bowling Bag Killer reek havoc among the bowling lanes one more time by donating to the GUTTERBALLS 2 Indiegogo campaign!

  You can donate anywhere from $5 to $100, and each different amount you donate will get you some awesome perks, including digital downloads, DVDs, Blu-rays, etc!  Click the link below to contribute today!


CLICK HERE to contribute now!!

Check out the trailer for the film FAMINE

  FAMINE is another crazy film from director Ryan Nicholson and his production company, Plotdigger Films.  Mr. Nicholson has directed some of the craziest and nastiest films out there (that is a compliment, I promise), including the films TORCHED, LIVE FEED, HANGER, and GUTTERBALLS  (all of which have been reviewed here on the 4H website).  FAMINE looks to be another great film in the tradition of these other films, full of great gore and looks to have a cool grindhouse feel to it. Here is the basic plot of FAMINE from the Plotdigger Films website:

  Two years after a high-school prank involving flesh-eating acid nearly kills popular teacher Mr. Balszack, the graduating class of Sloppy Secondary holds a ’24-Hour Famine’ charity event on school grounds. But there’s an uninvited guest at this event, masquerading as the school’s handyman mascot, and he’s got an insatiable hunger of his own. The power’s cut, the doors and windows are chained shut, and now it’s not just cheerleaders who are getting nailed! Has Mr. Balszack come back for revenge? Is his sad tale just a cover for a brand-new psycho? Can the Nailer be stopped before the whole Class of 2011 goes six feet under?

  FAMINE does not have a distribution deal yet, but it is only a matter of time I am sure. I personally can't wait to check this film out.  I have enjoyed all of Mr. Nicholson's previous films, so I have high hopes for this one as well!

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to visit the film's official facebook page
CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Plotdigger Films

DVD Review: TORCHED (2004)

TORCHED was the first film from director Ryan Nicholson. Nicholson is the same sick-o (and I say that with the utmost respect!) that brought us the films LIVE FEED, GUTTERBALLS, and HANGER. No matter what you thought of his latter films, this early film of Mr. Nicholson's is one you will surely want to check out.

Here is the plot synopsis from Plotdigger Films:

Deanna has it all: brains, beauty, and a promising nursing career. But a chance encounter that leads to a scarring rape turns Deanna’s perfect life into a perfect nightmare. Now, as Deanna loses her grip on sanity, she has only one goal: to find the sick bastards who harmed her and show them what sick really means. With an array of powerful weapons at her disposal — including a blazing blowtorch — Deanna's revenge will be a dish served hotter than hell!

Being Mr. Nicholson's first film, I expected it to look like it. I expected cheap production value, bad acting and just an just an ok film experience overall. This film delivered none of that..in fact, it delivered just the opposite. Most filmmakers evolve and learn as they go and their films improve over time. Mr. Nicholson obviously knew what he was doing right out of the starting gate. You could tell me this was his newest production and I would have no problem believing that.

The film itself is a good 'ol rape revenge flick. Reminiscent of grindhouse revenge films such as LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, TORCHED takes the revenge film to a whole new level. The torture Deanna inflicts upon her rapists is extreme and sadistic. The name of the film comes from the fact that one of Deanna's main torture methods is to periodically use a blowtorch on her assailant. She torches the mans legs and genitals. Hey, speaking of genitals, as we do when talking about most of Nicholson's films, there is an extremely graphic scene that is guaranteed to make even the most seasoned Horror fan squirm, especially us guys. I actually had to turn away from the screen at one point. I wont give it away, but I will say it involves hypodermic needles and male genitalia. Need I say more?

As I have said about past films of Nicholson's I have reviewed, whether you like these extreme films or not, you can't deny that he is bringing something new to the genre and makes films that really affect you, long after you have watched them. For that, I appreciate Mr. Nicholson and the films he makes, and look forward to all his future films.

CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of TORCHED on DVD
CLICK HERE to visit the official website of Plotdigger Films