Some low-budget movies are able to take their relatively
limited means and make this work for them by building it into the conceit — be
it something like Cube or My Dinner with Andre. Straight-up horror
movies of a certain meager pittance often fail in this regard because they have
one eye so staunchly on the bottom line, and are worried about — and more often
than not, entirely conceived around — commercial, lowest-common-denominator
reception.
remarkably unexceptional Slayer, a
vampiric actioner that centers around a swaggering paramilitary dude sent deep
into a South American jungle to rub out a clan of bloodsuckers. Certain films
have the courage of their own construction, which allows them to sport their
influences with playful forthrightness. Slayer
does not, alas. Boldly nipping from and wanly mashing together elements of Predator, Commando and Buffy the
Vampire Slayer, the movie unfolds with a boastful, self-serious strut that inspires
much eye-rubbing and deep sighing.
Troopers) stars as said commando, Hawk, who teams up with his ex-wife (Jennifer O’Dell) to look for an old colleague (Kevin Grevioux) that’s been abducted by
the vampires. Much gnashing of incisors, so-so wire work and equally middling,
squib-happy effects work ensues, along with atrocious dialogue. There’s a Lynda
Carter cameo, but it feels so blatantly like a called-in chit as to incite
snickering. Also dropping in for paychecks are Ray Park (Darth Maul himself),
Tony Plana (Ugly Betty) and pock-mocked
tough guy fixture Danny Trejo, who’s made acne scars work for him more than
anyone else I can summon to mind. All in all, Slayer never really slays anything, least of all audience boredom.
1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with optional Dolby digital 5.1 or 2.0 surround mixes,
the film at least comes with a relatively nice transfer. There is also a slight
roster of supplemental features — a polite but somewhat shrug-worthy audio commentary
track from VanHook and Van Dien, a photo gallery and a DVD-ROM accessible PDF
of the screenplay. D+ (Movie) C+ (Disc)