Psycho Holocaust (2009) Reviews

• Uneven But Worth A Watch

  paul_d_day2012-11-13

  Maybe it's because I've been stuck on the time period, but I could have sworn the was a mid-70's movie. Instead, it's from 2009. I couldn't tell you whether it was an artistic choice or that the budget was non- existent. Either way, the vibe is there down to the washed out colors. As with a lot of 70's gore films, the acting is mostly atrocious. Buddy shines through, however, as the lead psycho. The special effects are, at times, laughable, such as the whip marks. the scalping was well done though. There's a scene on a river that you can't hear one of the actresses when she's speaking. All of this should add up to a lousy rating and yet.... They've got the vibe right. A few scenes and images gave me that "holy s**t" feeling in the pit of my stomach. With a better budget and better actors, this would have been stellar.

• Back to the 70s

  artpf2014-01-14

  On a scorching summer day 6 friends venture into the mountains for one more vacation before their lives change forever. Unbeknownst to them, their lives would forever be changed anyway. In the shadows awaits a pack of the most evil, the most vile, rejects of humanity that's addicted to violence and thirsty for blood! This is Psycho Holocaust. Weird flick that is directed very much like those early 70s films. Only this was made in 2009. A lot of the acting sucks just like those 70s movies of this ilk and the story line is sort of dumb. Also the sound is excruciatingly low. It's not a great film, but if you like those weird 70s horror flicks like last house on the left, i spit on your grave, don't look in the basement, etc, etc. you might like this a bit. Honestly, if you didn't see the newer model cars in the picture, you'd think you were back in 1974.

• Solid backwoods horror outing

  Woodyanders2017-03-01

  Six friends get together for a camping trip at a remote cabin in the woods. Things go awry when the group run across a trio of crazed cannibal psychos. Okay, so the basic premise won't ever win any awards for originality, but fortunately writer/director Krist Rufty keeps the familiar, but still enjoyable and engrossing story moving along at a snappy pace, maintains a dark gritty tone throughout, makes good use of the sylvan setting, nicely captures the harsh nihilistic vibe of such vintage 1970's drive-in horror gems as The Last House on the Left and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, draws the protagonists with some depth, and delivers plenty of in-your-face nasty gore and sadistic violence. The acceptable acting by the competent cast helps a lot, with especially praiseworthy contributions from Raine Brown as feisty pregnant lady Talina, Trent Haaga as deranged good ol' boy Buddy, Vanelle as Talina's loyal gal pal Laura, Billy Garberina as the affable Mark, and Don Prentiss as the vicious Carp. Ash Bowen cuts a fearsome figure as chainsaw-wielding lunatic Pillowface. Moreover, the filmmakers deserve extra points for the gnarly old school practical splatter effects, refreshing dearth of smug ironic humor, and, best of all, for depicting the killers as bitter war veterans with a valid beef against mainstream society. Vince Nardi's rough cinematography provides an appropriately grimy washed-out look. The pulsating synthesizer score by the Giallos Flame does the funky-throbbing trick. A satisfying slice of grindhouse brutality.