Chain Letter (Blu-ray / DVD)
Reviewed by Uncle Creepy
Starring Nikki Reed, Keith David, Noah Segan, Cody Kasch, Betsy Russell, Brad Dourif, Cherilyn Wilson, Michael Bailey Smith
Written and directed by Deon Taylor
Distributed by Image Entertainment
You have to give it to Deon Taylor. This guy just keeps pumping them out, drawing name talent, and getting his films theatrical releases, albeit quiet ones. His latest slasher opus, Chain Letter, has lots of flash, some brutal kills, and a few good ideas but never really rises to the occasion. More on that in a bit … first the plot crunch.
It’s no secret. Privacy as we know it is over. Everyone, everywhere, has access to the Internet, access to your information, and cameras on them at all times. If you think about it, it’s a really scary prospect. You can’t even innocently fall into a fountain because you were busy texting without it ending up on YouTube (thank god for that one, BTW). Such is the case here when a disfigured maniac decides to send out a chain letter to a group of unsuspecting kids with one simple rule – break the chain, lose a life. Some mock it, some delete it, and some pass it on and hope for the best. Of course said maniac has an agenda, and before you know it, bodies start piling up.
Chain Letter isn’t a bad movie per se; it’s just playfully mediocre. Things get a bit muddled along the way thanks to Taylor working in a bit of a social commentary twist, but for the most part the movie is pretty watchable, especially for the kills. Speaking of which …
You know how recently DVD owners have been getting the shit end of the stick as all the good stuff ends up on the Blu-ray? The release of Chain Letter bucks that trend by only putting the unrated and far gorier cut on DVD. Yes, the Blu-ray looks and sounds better, but who cares? We are horror fans! We want the gore! Coupled with the fact that there is no supplemental material available at all on either package, you really have to wonder why the powers that be didn’t just release the DVD and the Blu-ray with both cuts present on each. The whole thing is senseless. Who’s really going to want to watch the version with the badly trimmed kills?
Chain Letter does an adequate job of doing what it’s supposed to do and nothing more. Unless you’re an extreme high definition junkie, save the extra dollars and buy the unrated DVD. It has what you’re looking for … inventive and really bloody kills. Just don’t expect anything more than that.
Special Features
2 1/2 out of 5
Special Features
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0 out of 5
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