“When I die bury me deep lay two speakers at my feet, wrap some headphones around my head, and rock and roll me when I’m dead”
One of the final horror flicks of the season has been released on Hallows Eve, its called Mandy and the movie delivers all the gory scenes that most fans of the genre crave. The story may be a bit overstated, drawn out, and over the top, but for a wickedly fun night on Halloween, it’s as good as they get. Not too strong in the scary department, Mandy uses a lot of slash and crunch and tons of blood to provide the terror, and it works. Now on DVD and Blu-ray, the home video also boasts two good bonuses.
A lumberjack, Red Miller (Nicholas Cage) likes to go fishing on his days off with his wife Mandy (Andrea Riseborough) by his side. She enjoys studying the universe with her favorite planet being Saturn and the great outdoors are preferred by both. One night the two of them sit by a campfire enjoying the flames and fall asleep. The next morning Mandy is drawn to the howl of a wolf in the woods and she walks toward the sound where she finds a dead fawn. But someone who was lurking notices her.
That evening in another part of the forest Jeremiah Sand (Linus Roache), a religious zealot, demands to his wife that he wants the woman he saw in the woods brought to him. He orders Brother Swan (Ned Dennehy) to contact a local gang of drug loving deadhead bikers to do his bidding. When they kidnap Mandy, it sets Red on a quest to bring her back alive. It will be his biggest nightmare and a holy terror.
Director Panos Cosmatos likes deliberate and a lot of description so his film moves along at a slow but steady pace. If it gets terrorizing, he makes sure there is more than enough violence and blood to keep your head swimming. So for some viewers the film may lag somewhat. He also takes his time with the cruelty, not only physically, but with some very psychological graphic horror as well. Cosmatos knows how to deliver a lot of fire and brimstone, so flame throwers abound when blazes are needed. And as far as killing tools he’s invented an axe that makes slashing, chopping and spearing an easy task.
As the upset husband trying to get to his wife, Nicholas Cage does his usual fight to the finish like he has so many times before in movies of this and similar genres. When the chaos gets to the height of unthinkable he’s at his best on the screen. Like in all of his films there’s never any doubt about how his character Red is going to react or what the outcome is going to be and with the movie Mandy he’s right on target.
BONUS FEATURES:
“Behind the Scenes”
“Deleted & Extended Scenes”
Mandy has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains drug use, sexual innuendoes, extreme violence, torture, grotesque images, porn film scenes on a TV and language. Be cautious when where you have immature children in the home.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Searing and surreal, it’s for horror fans. (3 out of 5 Stars)
Specifications and additional video information:
Starring: Nicholas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Ned Dennehy, Owen Fouere, Richard Blake, Bill Duke
Directed co-written by: Panos Cosmatos
Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller
Running Time: 2 hrs 1 min.
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Original Theatrical Release: September 14, 2018
Video Release Date: October 30, 2018
Language: English
Reviewed Format: DVD
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.40:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: RJLE Films
Released Formats: DVD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
