Search - Meat Market on DVD

Darn good for Sub Rosa

Jeffrey Leach | Omaha, NE USA | 12/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The most shocking thing about Brian Clement's low budget zombie flick "Meat Market" is the fact that Sub Rosa distributed it. Let me explain. If you are not aware, Sub Rosa popped up a few years ago with the proposition that all shot on video horror clunkers deserve a chance with a wide audience. This is the company that releases films with names like "Creep," "Shatter Dead," and "Filthy McNasty." I've seen several of their "releases," and with the exception of "Meat Market" and a movie called "Ice From the Sun," they all inflicted serious mental and physical anguish. Most of these shot on video horrors are truly dreadful efforts at filmmaking, usually made by a couple of low rent Wes Craven/Lucio Fulci wannabes armed with Dad's video camera. The aforementioned "Shatter Dead" ranks as one of the worst films I've ever seen, a movie so bad in every element of its execution that I carry the scars inflicted by the experience to this day. But, and this is a big but, I occasionally embark on a Sub Rosa expedition in search of something interesting, something like "Meat Market." Although the movie has its flaws, it's incredible by Sub Rosa standards. And that's what I meant when I said it's shocking that Sub Rosa distributed Clement's film. How dare they release something this entertaining!

"Meat Market" shows us a world rapidly slipping into apocalypse. Dr. Victor Oppenheim (Ken Peters) made a nanotechnological breakthrough in the research lab, a breakthrough that promised to advance medicine beyond anything we could comprehend. Unfortunately, the little critters went a different way once Oppenheim introduced them into the human body. The result? Why, good old-fashioned flesh eating zombies, of course! Before you can say "oops," packs of ravenous zombies are roaming through the cities and the countryside feasting on the human herd. As in any catastrophe of earth shattering consequences, a few people make the best out of a bad situation. Enter Argenta (Claire Westby) and Shahrokh (Paul Pedrosa), two wandering souls ambling through the city blasting zombies, searching for food, and looking for Argenta's little sister. It is through these two that we learn about the origins of the plague since both once worked as bounty hunters at Oppenheim's installation. But Argenta and Shahrokh are just as powerless as everyone else in arresting the breakdown. They spend their time away from the city hunkered down in an abandoned mineshaft. Most of the first half of the film consists of zombie mayhem and the breakdown of society. Expect to see more gutmunching, exploding heads, and buckets of blood in this film than in all of Romero's Dead Trilogy.

Unfortunately, the second half of the film strays into utter weirdness. Argenta and Shahrokh soon hook up with a trio of Goth vampires named Tiamat (Chelsey Arentsen), Valeria (Teresa Simon), and Nemesis (Alison Therriault) who carry on their own fight against the zombies with the help of laser guns. Too, a Mexican wrestler called El Diablo Azul turns up to crack a few skulls. The group continues to roam through the city exacting brutal justice on the legions of undead. They even visit Oppenheim to see how a potential cure is going just in time to witness the poor scientist fall prey to his own gory creations. Clement throws in a few humorous bits in the second half largely centering on how difficult it is for vampires and humans to understand one another. He also tosses in a scene with two of the vampires having a...ah...er...a conference with each other. Male viewers should probably take note of this important scene and return to it again and again in order to tease out all of the interesting subtext. Seriously, though, trying to sum up a plot to this film is a rather pointless exercise. Zombies run amok and tear people into shreds. Need I say more?

What works in Clement's little gem is worth highlighting. Considering the extremely low budget involved, the special effects are incredible. This is truly stomach churning mayhem that even jaded gorehounds will find entertaining and memorable. Even better, Clement punched up the feasting with lots of queasy audio effects--you've never heard sinews popping and teeth chomping like this before! Too, I have to admit that I love Goth chicks. There's something about that black hair, black clothing, and pale white skin that gets my ticker tap dancing, so seeing three of them in a movie helps move things along in a good way. Throw in a brooding music score and you have the makings of a film that is definitely worth a rental. At the same time, a few problems stand out. The audio quality on the DVD isn't that great in spots, the video quality isn't the best, and the acting is atrocious. Some of the scenes run so long that they outlive their usefulness. Moreover, who thought throwing in a Mexican wrestler was a good idea? What is it about shot on video productions from Canada and Mexican wrestlers? "Jesus Christ, Vampire Hunter" also had a wrestler from south of the border filling a primary role. Truly odd.

One thing you have to admit about Sub Rosa: they always include plenty of extras on their discs whether you want them or not. "Meat Market" contains an informative commentary track with director Brian Clement and the chap who did the special effects. You also get a couple of Easter eggs, a trailer, and a stills gallery. If you are the sort of person who laments the lack of films with exploding heads or scoffs at the dearth of pictures with Goth chick vampires coupled with Mexican wrestlers, "Meat Market" is for you. Despite its flaws, it's a lot of fun.

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