Zombies & Gangsters Star in Homegrown Horror Flick

I am a filmophile. There is no way around that fact. I enjoy writing them, filming them and, above all, watching them.  

As much as I enjoy the classics and first-rate Academy Award films my passion whole heartedly lies in the types of movies that everyone rolls their eyes at: the horror/grindhouse film. These films include all the violence, horror and lack of plot your brain can handle. They also have the wonderful ability to cross all the genres of films possible in one movie!

For example “The Legend of 7 Golden Vampires” is about well, vampires and Kung-Fu. This is the staple kind of film that is made in the independent film industry. It is also the type of film that has been getting made in this. So why don’t we depart from the normal movie tonight and let’s get out hinds dirty with this local recommendation.

I am guilty to have worked on many of these types of films across the years but today I am going to tell you about and review one that I worked on that came out in 2009! This little cinematic gem is called "Lynch Mob." 

“Lynch Mob”

Starring Michael H. Cole, Tony Darrow, Paul Borghese, Kristyn Sammons, Dolan Wilson and Directed by Byron Erwin

Many have said it before me and I will repeat it now: The best way to describe this cinematic wonder is "The Sopranos" meet “2000 Maniacs”... All hell breaks loose when a street savvy criminal is placed in a small southern town under the witness protection program, and the mobsters seeking to silence him arrive to discover that this particular town suffers from a gruesome, century-old curse.

Passing through, one would assume that Lynchburg, Georgia (pop.12)  is just a typical rural town. But the citizens of Lynchburg have been condemned to a diet of human flesh, and in order to feed they lure in unsuspecting travelers. When the mafia arrives intending to ice a key witness in a case against them, the fight is on to get out of Lynchburg and avoid becoming the main course at the next town gathering.

There are plenty of good ol' boys and goodfellas but there really are no good guys in this movie. One wiseguy named Mike is perhaps the only character that could be construed as a good guy and that's if you're willing to overlook the fact that he's an organized crime foot soldier.

Mike has a soft spot for damsels in distress and such a damsel is the pregnant wife of the abusive sheriff of Lynchburg, a man best described as a louder, meaner, angrier deputy Barney Fife or Roscoe P. Coltrane. If you go into a diner in Lynchburg and see the special of the day listed as "CHUCK ROAST," "FRANK AND BEANS," or "ROADKILL STU" rest assured the main ingredient was named Chuck, Frank, or Stu.

Director Byron Erwin and Screenwriters Rachel and Scott Stamper have dreamed up a horror comedy that really does teeter on being black comedy or at times a low brow shock fest. It does have a dark with about it like in the old “Nightmare on Elm Street” sequels When Freddy gets his one liner in. But like most low budget indie films this one is full of uneven performances, dream sequences and rushed filler scenes. But that did not stop me from enjoying it.

Much of this film was made in and around Rome, GA and certain scenes in nearby Lilburn, GA. So you may recognize some of the locations in the movie. I warn you though this movie is not for everyone. It is a strong R rating. Yes, like I said before I did work on this film. I was one of the Special Effects Assistants on the film.

Don’t worry I won’t be writing only about cheesy films all the time. I will review many of the more recent films as well as events and speaking my mind on many other topics of visual arts, politics and of course the paranormal when some interesting things arise locally.

You can rent this film on Blockbuster, (Sorry, it’s not on Netflix) or purchase it on Amazon.com… Also for those of you interested in the “Casablanca” event at Verizon you can find out more by CLICKING HERE.

Where was I going with this? Eh who knows? But if you watch the movie tell me what you think…