Perhaps
the most striking aspect of Eric Red's Bad
Moon is its unrelenting violence. Towards the end of the 20th
century, horror films began to gravitate away from extreme brutality in favor
of high concept thrillers that inevitably sold more tickets with a PG-13
rating. Iconoclast Red's career is filled with uniquely terrifying
stories that continually break with tradition, and Bad Moon is no exception. Blending a singular performance by
Michael Pare with uncompromising kill sequences, this is an essential addition
to the full moon pantheon.
Ted is bitten by a werewolf in Nepal while
attempting to save his girlfriend's life. He returns to the Pacific Northwest
a monster, battling with his lycanthropic curse. His sister welcomes him
into her home, unaware of the danger, however; Thor, the family's German
shepherd instantly recognizes Ted for what he truly is. Building off of
Wayne Smith's novel, one of the most interesting narrative decisions is that
the film's protagonist is Thor. While Mariel Hemingway and Mason Gamble
give excellent supporting turns, this is Ted and Thor's story and both Pare and
Primo (Thor's canine actor) are excellent in their roles. Pare in
particular does an excellent job of straddling the divide between primal rage
and civilized tranquility, ultimately falling victim to the former.
There's a particularly gripping scene between Pare and Hemingway during the
third act in which the dam finally breaks and the darkness within Pare's Ted consumes
him. Pare's body language, aided by Steven Johnson's inhuman special
makeup effects truly drive home the concept of violent surrender.
The
creature effects, particularly during multiple transformation sequences are
astounding, considering the technology of the time. However, it is the murders themselves that
form the foundation for Moon's vicious
legacy. Limbs are torn asunder, claws rend flesh like paper, and blood
flows over everything it touches. It is in the excess of the macabre that
Red's exploration of humanity and family is truly revealed. With a slim
runtime of 80 minutes, these themes aren't given a lot of time to develop, but
in between the gruesome set pieces and the absolutely insane final
confrontation between Ted and Thor, there are pockets of depth dappled
throughout.
Available
now on Amazon Prime or on a special feature packed Blu-Ray from Shout Factory, Bad Moon is an unrelentingly violent
romp that is an underrated horror gem. Featuring thrilling special
effects, gratuitous dismemberment, and Michael Pare naked with a shotgun, this
a film destined for the late Friday night annals of cult cinema.
--Kyle Jonathan
--Kyle Jonathan