I appreciate that this rather launches us directly into the plot without any significant exposition. Sure, we get images of newspaper clippings and such beneath the opening credits, but whether one attends to these or not they have no major impact on the viewing experience. Some background of the narrative is revealed naturally through dialogue, but nothing here feels any less than natural as the picture splits time between the "tribe" living off the land, law enforcement investigating them, and a handful of innocent people who unwittingly get stuck in the middle of it all. Violence, blood, and gore aside, the film maintains a relatively subdued tone, an approach which in my mind makes every unseemly aspect all the more disturbing. And make no mistake, there's plenty of nasty business afoot, all of which looks superb despite otherwise modest production values that would seem to belie a relatively low budget. This may not appeal to all comers, but I for one think 'Offspring' is fantastic.
Clocking in at 78 minutes, it's punchy and brutal without any need for embellishment. There's a point to be made that without significant narrative, the movie just becomes blood and cruelty for the sake of blood and cruelty, and that's not incorrect. For such wanton grisliness, especially emphatic violence against women, it does lose some appeal; there's only so much barbarity one can stomach without underlying rhyme or reason. Still, that this manages to be genuinely horrifying, well made, and engaging despite such sadism is rahter impressive. The special effects and sound effects are great, as are the costume design and hair and makeup work. The cast give terrific performances I think, including Ahna Tessler and Amy Hargreaves as two of the hapless innocents, Art Hindle as the lead investigator, and all those portraying the cannibals. Hats off to young Tommy Nelson, only 12 years old at the time but impressing in his depiction of the boy Luke. Pollyanna McIntosh, above all, is outstanding as "the woman," demonstrating an intense ferociousness that in and of itself is notably disturbing.
Andrew van den Houten's direction is excellent in realizing Jack Ketchum's screenplay, adapting his own novel. The extremity of the scene writing and narrative is as gnarly and frankly awe-inspiring as it is mindful and complete, resulting in a dazzling, macabre tableau of crimson and viscera that's at once repulsive and engrossing. It's not unreasonable to say that 'Offspring' lacks particular polish, or finesse, yet nor does it require any - this is exactly what it wants and needs to be to be effective, grotesque, and satisfying for fans of such grim horror. Usually this isn't the type of flick I'd go in for, yet there's just enough minimal story to complement the ugliness that it becomes marginally more palatable than it otherwise would be. There's a necessary content warning here for all the strong violence, including against women and children, and some nudity. Yet provided such harshness is no obstacle in and of itself to one's viewership, I think 'Offspring' is a marvelously arresting slice of genre cinema, a quick jab to the throat that gets one's attention. Well done!
Clocking in at 78 minutes, it's punchy and brutal without any need for embellishment. There's a point to be made that without significant narrative, the movie just becomes blood and cruelty for the sake of blood and cruelty, and that's not incorrect. For such wanton grisliness, especially emphatic violence against women, it does lose some appeal; there's only so much barbarity one can stomach without underlying rhyme or reason. Still, that this manages to be genuinely horrifying, well made, and engaging despite such sadism is rahter impressive. The special effects and sound effects are great, as are the costume design and hair and makeup work. The cast give terrific performances I think, including Ahna Tessler and Amy Hargreaves as two of the hapless innocents, Art Hindle as the lead investigator, and all those portraying the cannibals. Hats off to young Tommy Nelson, only 12 years old at the time but impressing in his depiction of the boy Luke. Pollyanna McIntosh, above all, is outstanding as "the woman," demonstrating an intense ferociousness that in and of itself is notably disturbing.
Andrew van den Houten's direction is excellent in realizing Jack Ketchum's screenplay, adapting his own novel. The extremity of the scene writing and narrative is as gnarly and frankly awe-inspiring as it is mindful and complete, resulting in a dazzling, macabre tableau of crimson and viscera that's at once repulsive and engrossing. It's not unreasonable to say that 'Offspring' lacks particular polish, or finesse, yet nor does it require any - this is exactly what it wants and needs to be to be effective, grotesque, and satisfying for fans of such grim horror. Usually this isn't the type of flick I'd go in for, yet there's just enough minimal story to complement the ugliness that it becomes marginally more palatable than it otherwise would be. There's a necessary content warning here for all the strong violence, including against women and children, and some nudity. Yet provided such harshness is no obstacle in and of itself to one's viewership, I think 'Offspring' is a marvelously arresting slice of genre cinema, a quick jab to the throat that gets one's attention. Well done!