Patchwork (2015) Reviews

• Allofreanimahooker.

  BA_Harrison2017-11-08

  A horror comedy told in eight parts, Patchwork is what you would get if you took Steven Martin's All Of Me (two souls sharing one body) and crossed it with gory '80s classic Reanimator (glowing green goop) and tongue-in-cheek horror Frankenhooker (self-brain surgery with a drill). It's like three films rolled into one: how apt! 'Part 1: Jennifer' starts the ball rolling, as we meet career woman Jennifer (Tory Stolper), who is so unlikable that no-one wants to celebrate her birthday with her. After she is left alone in a bar by her work colleagues, Jennifer returns home where she is cracked over the head by an unseen assailant. 'Part II: AWOL' sees Jennifer waking up to find that parts of her body have been combined with those of two other women—Madeleine (Maria Blasucci) and Ellie (Tracey Fairaway)—to create a single patchwork body. She also learns that she shares control of this body with both the other women. 'Part III: Ellie' shows us how blonde party girl Ellie came to be part of the threesome, while 'Part IV: Makeover' sees the girls seeking help from med-student Garrett (James Phelps) and swearing revenge on those responsible for their bizarre predicament. 'Part V: Madeleine' introduces a cool plot twist that takes the film in a new direction. Sadly, the subsequent three parts see Patchwork losing some of its steam, culminating in a rather weak ending. All told, the film has several good ideas, most of which are handled well enough, delivers decent performances, and some reasonable gore, but doesn't manage to be quite as memorable as the trio of movies it is clearly modelled after. 6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

• If you like the work of Frank Henenlotter,

  Samizdata2017-09-16

  You will love this. It has the irreverent and gleeful bloodshed and the same joyous ignorance of science fact that makes all the classic horror comedies, like the Basket Case series, work, as well as the grind-house style "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" sensibilities. Not a laugh out loud style of horror comedy, but well loaded with chuckles and appreciative groans. Fun, and full of grue. NOT a date movie, unless your date is a fan of gallons of blood and black market medical experiments, in which case, watch away!

• Great Twist on a Classic Story

  gregsrants2015-10-19

  A simple trip to a local bar for three women turns into a nightmarish scenario for three young women in the new Frankenstein-esque new film Patchwork. Jennifer, Ellie and Madeleine couldn't be more different from each other. Jennifer is the straight laced business woman who wears pantsuits. Ellie is the blonde bombshell whose naivety often gets her in trouble. And Madeleine is a quiet freakish kind of girl. But on one night the three find themselves in the same drinking establishment and before morning they will be hacked, sewn and strung together to make a single character out of the best body parts each subject had to offer. Upon awakening on the operating table the creature that has been Frankensteined attempts to gain control of their individual joints and body parts allowing them movement. The process is harder than can be expected as each personality of each girl controls parts of the new body. But escape it does and alone with the three voices in its head, the creature attempts to put the pieces together as to how, why and most importantly, who is responsible for their horrid creation. Directed by Tyler MacIntyre based on a script by MacIntyre and Chris Lee Hill, Patchwork is a wonderfully deviant film that is rooted in Frankenstein mythology but tips its hat to cult classics such as Re-Animator and Darkman. Actresses Tory Stolper (Jennifer), Tracey Fairaway (Ellie) and Marie Blasucci (Madeleine) are perfectly cast with spellbinding chemistry resulting in many of the film's laugh out loud moments. Stolper particularly shines and is able to transform into the patchwork creature with B-movie exuberance twitching like Vincent D'Onofrio's Edgar in Men in Black as she learns how to work her new body. The film is equally dark and humorous. The violence is almost cartoon-like but detailed enough to ensure an R-rating. And the humor is spot on as the three girls struggle to learn about each other and work together in the same consciousness. Think of Patchwork as the horror version of Pixar's Inside Out. Cut into various chapters which take a non-linear approach to the story the film flips back and forward in time as they introduce the characters while progressing the narrative. It's a perfect device for a film whose main character is a cut and paste creation itself. And we could not conclude any review without commenting on the stellar make-up effects in the film. The patched female creation looked as good as any make-up effect on an Oscar winning film and should be applauded to its attention to detail. Patchwork in playing this week and the Toronto After Dark Film Festival and I can't imagine how it will not be a fan favorite at the conclusion of its screening. It was a smart, snarky funny film and should be screened by anyone who appreciates the genre.

• indie pop splatter

  re-animatresse2017-11-09

  i've been feeling anxious and low on mental spoons, and i wanted a movie that doesn't require too much thought and analysis to appreciate. this feature film debut from writer/director Tyler MacIntyre is a fun, absurd horror comedy, more comedy than horror, that nicely fits the bill three women are cut up, patched together and injected with a luminescent reanimating reagent in the style of Re-Anamitor; they awaken with a scattered memory and begin a violent rampage, to a lively indie pop soundtrack, in search of whomever did it to them the sets and make-up are well done, and Tory Stolper gives an excellent performance as the patchwork protagonist. the cast is almost entirely white though. and does a film still pass the Bechdel test if the only dialogue between women occurs between women who all share the same body? all in all, this is no masterpiece of modern cinema, but it -is- highly entertaining and worth checking out

• Body horror with a twist is an absolute hoot

  SC-202017-06-02

  When is a body horror not a body horror? Maybe when the female protagonist (technically three protagonists, stitched together by a guy with a circular saw and a staple gun) is reanimated and promptly dons a practical lab coat. Despite this being a film about body image – or maybe because of that – the camera (held by a male director) does not linger on bodies, preferring to explore minds. It's also a hoot (at one point literally), not nearly as gory as you might imagine, and very well crafted. I'm away to load some "rampage" music onto my iPod...