Cruel World (2005)

Millions witnessed Philip Markham's (Edward Furlong, Terminator 2: Judgment Day) public humiliation when he got dumped by Catherine, the beautiful star (Jaime Pressly, TV's My Name Is Earl) of a popular dating show, and now--several years and reality series later--he wants revenge. After taking Catherine captive, he lures nine unsuspecting co-eds to her luxurious mansion in the middle of nowhere, trapping the contestants in his own sick version of reality TV--where the challenges are bizarre, the danger is real and death is just a competition away. Product Description

Disappointing and Misleading

Good idea - lousy execution. Also, please note that the movie description is misleading. Jaime Pressly does not play one of the participants in the "fake" reality TV show that the killer is filming. She is dead about ten minutes into the movie, before the "reality show" gets started.

This isn't the worst horror movie of the year. The actors and actresses are easy on the eyes. The death scenes aren't the worst you'll see in a direct to video horror movie. Although not great, the acting isn't that bad (for a direct to video release.) But what about the story . . .

A group of college students are locked in a compound in the desert and participate in "Survivor" style challenges in order to win a million dollars. What they don't know is that the losers are being killed off.

A reality show where contestants get killed off is a great hook for a horror movie. Unfortunately, this movie doesn't do much with that hook. It does a lousy job of developing the characters (and yes, even a horror film should have some kind of character development or at least some decent back-stories) For example, we have the self-described "goofy guy" who seems like a decent enough sort. Before anyone know that the people who get voted off the show are being killed and that all the participants are in danger, he almost kills another participant to win an immunity challenge. Later, it becomes apparent to him and everyone else that people are "really" being killed.

So, after he knows that the show is "real" and that people are dieing, why does he "literally" stab another participant in the back to win an immunity challenge? Is he that afraid of dieing? Does he feel guilt? Do the other participants resent him murdering one of their own? Do they worry that he might kill one of them next? Who knows, the movie doesn't get around to telling us.

Similarly, there are some great angles that this film fails to explore. In this "reality show" the participants vote to have participants kicked "off" the show each night. That leads to some drama and tension between characters even before they know that the "losers" are getting killed. How cool would a scene have been where they are "forced" to vote a person "off" the show (and to a certain death) "after" they know what is really going on? Just another missed opportunity for this movie. (The largest probably being when they decide to kill off the only "name" actress in the first scene . . .)

Save yourself some time and don't buy or rent this movie.


April 19, 2008

Original thriller not really scary horror movie

Cruel World is a low budget scary thriller more than horror movie that works. Not much titillation (just skimpy bathing suits), not much gore and splatter, but an original story and a competent cast that make this DVD a good watch.
Creepy guy is cheesed off at having been rejected on a Jane Millionaire show and sets up his own real reality show where a contestant is voted off and then offed.
The story has a new twist or two, the movie is well-made, and, unlike many of the genre, does not waste a lot of time or the viewer's time.
April 4, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...