Bullet Points: Feast
Creature movies can be really fun. They typically follow a similar structure to one another and I liken them to the way that most slasher movies just swap out the mask the killer is wearing and what his weapon of choice is. Most creature films give us the setting and then let loose their creatures in just enough time for us to follow along with the survivors as they attempt to last the night. Simple stories with the added element of a flesh-eating monster. If you like simple stories than Feast might be right up both of our alleys.
Synopsis: Patrons locked inside a bar are forced to fight monsters.
- Introductions: We are given character introductions for all of the typical people that you would see in a rundown bar in the middle of nowhere. The only difference is that Feast is in on the joke and inserts little lines in their intros about their chances of living through this situation. It’s a funny thing but it also sets the tone for the film, as well as making it a little different from all of the other movies of this kind.
- We need a hero: As soon as the shit hits the fan, a man walks through the doors with the line, “I’m the guy whose gonna save your ass….”. It’s that first moment in the film where you can root for a guy with the expectation that he’s about to be a real badass and kill these things. Bummer the guy had to INSTANTLY get killed after uttering those words….
- No mercy: Developed as part of the Project Greenlight deal from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, director John Gulager got this picture off the ground and is able to do some things with it that many other films couldn’t. Part of that freedom is shown by the way that he takes absolutely no prisoners. The monsters have no other purpose of being there other than to kill so that means that no person is safe.
- Cameos and parts: One of the characters simply known as “Coach” is played by veteran rocker Henry Rollins. He’s another one of those one-note characters who fits in perfectly with the kind of tone this movie is gong for. He tries to give them motivational speeches throughout the film and it always falls flat. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck were supposed to make an appearance at one point but couldn’t because of scheduling. Another notable addition to the cast is from BPA favorite Anthony ‘Treach’ Criss!
- Massive amounts of blood: Feast must have spent a majority of its budget on blood and guts. There aren’t a ton of characters in the film but the ones that are there are given pretty glorious (and gore-ious) death scenes. At one point they decide to use a ‘dead’ girl as bait and strap a bomb to her. They quickly realize that she’s not, in fact, dead, but she doesn’t stand much of a chance. For a film that has the simplest of stories, dumping buckets of blood on your characters is a surefire way to liven it up.
- Don’t mess with mom: Krista Allen plays “Tuffy”, who goes from expendable waitress mom to badass monster killer in just a few scenes. She’s also insanely hot! The film isn’t short on tough chicks and she and Navi Rawat’s characters are easily the best of the bunch. Unless of course you enjoy watching Judah Friedlander slowly die over the course of the film?
The Verdict: Feast is the kind of movie that knows exactly what it is and isn’t trying to be just like those other creature flicks. It certainly borrows from them, especially when it comes to setting up the situation that you might expect to happen only to steal it away from you. It reminds me a bit of a movie like The Descent when it comes to the creativeness of the creature design and the gore but it lacks the tension that The Descent had. Feast also plays up the comedic element much more than other films of this nature, but you’ll recognize that from the earliest stages because the film really enjoys itself. With a small budget and a short runtime, I think Feast is a really fun survive-the-night creature film that will leave gore hounds chomping at the bit for more.
