Better than the Real Thing



Hollywood spends millions of dollars every year trying to get even more millions out of our pockets. They do this by constantly bombarding you with advertisements for the garbage they produce. What if someone found a way to capitalize on all that promotion, without being a part of the studio system? Enter the brilliant mind of David Michael Latt and his movie production company "The Asylum". They make what have been referred to as "Mockbusters". They release low-budget (and I mean truly, classically and beautifully low-budget) rip-offs of major studio action, sci-fi and horror films straight to DVD just days before the real movies hit theaters. I think its quite clear that I love this concept.

I heard about Snakes on a Train when it came out, but I didn't pay any attention to their other films. Today I watched about 45 minutes of Death Racers, their rip-off of the new movie Death Race (which is, of course, a totally unnecessary remake of 1975's cult trash hit, Death Race 2000). I have to say, it really wasn't that bad. The production quality was low, the budget non-existent, the premise weak, the plot thready and the acting poor. However, it stars the Insane Clown Posse.

Oh yes, you heard me correctly, Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope are the stars of this movie. And really, if we're being truthful, they're not terrible actors. They play themselves (yes, they are in full clown makeup), but their lines are well delivered and believable, they're engaging and funny (insofar and murderous clown rappers can be), and certainly the highlight of the film. That and the z-grade ultra violence, including people getting fists punched through their chests Troma-style.

I know I've been talking about movies a lot lately, but that's because I've been thinking a lot about cinema and what it means both to me and to us as a society. I'm not going to say that I "liked" this movie, but I didn't hate it. Its not even on my Worst 100 list. I'd watch it again if it was on HBO and I was at someone's house with nothing else to do, which is more than I can say for a number of several hundred million dollar blockbusters I've watched in the last couple of years. Next time you're at Blockbuster, instead of renting I am Legend (which was fucking terrible and a complete waste of my time), rent I am Omega. It might not be "better", but it will certainly be more entertaining.

Post Script- I love that these guys have figured out that bilking christian moms out of their money is a total cash-cow. Sunday School Musical? Come on, you think that's fucking fabulous.
- posted by Mason @ 11:04 PM