Search - The Undertow on DVD

Better than most big budget stuff!!

10/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A group of friends travel to the out of the way town of Old Mines for a weekend camping trip. Almost as soon as they cross the county lines, they're pulled over and harassed by the town's sheriff (Joseph Palermo), accosted by a rogue's gallery of redneck's in the local gas n' shop, and told of the legend of a killing machine who roams the very woods in which they plan to set up camp. Of course, as in any good horror movie, the campers laugh about this "Boy" character and chalk it up to townie hysteria at their presence. We soon learn, however, that the Boy is all too real. A caged man/monster, the Boy serves as his father's (who also happens to be Old Mine's mayor) strong arm to keep strangers out of his town. Beaten, tortured, and lied to, the Boy is once again summoned to carry out his father's wishes by killing off the campers. This time, however, the Boy's got his own agenda.I can't tell you how surprised I was by The Undertow. The film is simply much better than I imagined it's meager budget (nothing!) would allow it to be. It's a testament to the director's ingenuity that the film looked and played out as well as it did, with fantastic special effects (supervised by cult filmmaker Eric Stanze (Scrapbook), who also served as cinematographer), props, terrific locations, and above average performances. While the film's story isn't exactly breaking new ground, the script is solid, and even when it veers into territory well traveled, it's done with a wink and a nod toward the film's that inspired it.The ace up Wallaces sleeve here is definitely Eric Stanze and his experience with the camera. Stanze knows his stuff, and he and Wallace work together to create a very creepy and effective backdrop for the cast to work against. There are several stand-out moments, many of which were intentionally aped from the film's that inspired this one, and the results are exhilarating. Wallace also rounds up the Sub Rosa Extreme All-Star Team of Jason Christ, Emily Haack, and Robin Garrels, who all turn in great performances, but it's Julie Farrar who steals this show. Farrar's a perfect scream queen, with hauntingly beautiful features that bring to mind the heroines of horror's past (before Botox, fake breasts, and Adobe After Effects touch-ups). Her shock and dismay at the events as they unfold around her is completely believable and compelling.The Undertow is a very impressive sophomore effort from director Wallace, and is easily one of the better S.O.V. offerings I've come across in quite sometime. What Wallace has achieved here, with virtually no budget to speak of, is something Rob Zombie couldn't do with several million dollars.The Undertow recaptures the essence of the classic seventies horror film."

Great indie horror!!!!

mizziah | A viewer from nowhere | 08/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I wasn't really expecting much from this one, but I can honestly say that this was one of the best independent horror films that I've seen in a long time!!!!

The story's nothing really groundbreaking, but it's the way director Jeremy Wallace and crew pulls this movie off that's so refreshing. What I appreciate the most about the movie is that it's very straight forward and serious in its handling of the horror elements of the story (unlike that crappy Cabin Fever flick), which is something you rarely see in horror films these days. The film is very much in the vain of the great 70's horror flicks like the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes. Like those films, the story is simple in nature, and yet it delivers a wonderful sense of dread and tension with a brutal dose of well-executed gore!!!

I've seen Wallace's first flick, The Christmas Season Massacre, and while I thought that movie was good for what it was (horror spoof), he really took a major step forward as a director with this flick (he even wrote the simple, yet extremely effective score for the film). Wallace's confident direction is aided by some fantastic editing and cinematography by Eric Stanze (director of Ice From The Sun and Scrapbook) and a cast that's way above average for a movie of this budget level, who all turn in great performances (especially Trudy Bequette and Julie Farrar).

Horror fans should definitely check this baby out! Like I said, it's nothing original, but it definitely delivers what it promises, which is more than I can say for most of the stuff coming out of Hollywood these days!
"

The Undertow

Alex Anderson | Baltimore, MD | 07/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A classic-style horror flick with incredible amounts of gore.
Unwanted visitors of a small town find themselves stuck in a horrible massacre. A deranged sheriff trains an inbreed freak to destroy any outsiders that attempt to stay.
Intense thriller with non-stop action and no mercy violence. Best independent movie cast I have seen in a long time: Emily Haack (SCRAPBOOK), Jason Christ (ICE FROM THE SUN), Chris Grega (INSANIAC), Robin Garrels (INSANIAC), and Todd Tevlin (ICE FROM THE SUN). Outstanding Cinema photography by Eric Stanze (director of SCRAPBOOK, ICE FROM THE SUN, SAVAGE HARVEST, and the upcoming DEADWOOD PARK)."

Finally...an actual HORROR movie

11/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There have been a slew of horror movies coming out both from big studios and independents that are trying to recapture the late 70's/ early 80's vibe. Very few have been able to achieve this goal.THE UNDERTOW HAS achieved that goal on a miniscule budget. Although the story is nothing groundbreaking, it is the execution that brings this jewel to the top of the pile. The camera work and shot composition are nothing short of breath taking. As a viewer you feel scared for the characters in the movie. The shots give you a smothered, "locked in a closet" feeling. There is a good amount of the red stuff splashing around in this movie although it is not necessary. This movie would be horrifying and effectful without the blood.So, in closing, if you are a fan of the slasher movies from the late 70's/ early 80's, THE UNDERTOW is a triumphant return to those glory days."