O.k., let's get real, here. You're a gore/horror/b movie fan and you see the box cover and decide to give this one a shot. I know if you make that decision, you are, by definition, a fan of one or all of those genres/sub-genres because if you weren't, the cover alone might turn your stomach.
So, we know we're looking at this one through the eyes of someone who knows these types of movies, not someone looking to compare it to Schindler's List or Raging Bull.
So, how does it do when measured against the appropriate standard?
Well, o,k.
Just, o.k., you might ask?
Yup.
Look, nothing new or original here, not that that's a necessity, but it sure helps if you don't have compelling characters or a story. Sadly, Gnaw does not.Now, make no mistake. It certainly tries, but there is just not enough of a back story or believable scenes to get us to be truly attached to any of the characters.
So, is this a complete dud, you might ask? Well, no, not even close. Like I said, when judging this movie by the proper standard, one thing you have to say is that we have more than enough gore to satisfy all but the ceritifable among us. Tongue extraction with pliers, acid thrown on the face, stabbings galore, not to mention the good old cannibal angle, complete with the obligatory ring in the soup and hair in the meat pie scenes.
Its just that, well, some of the scenarios are so silly and some of the formulaic stuff falls so flat, I can't see this one really jazzing up anyone unless they haven't seen this type of flick before, and are truly impressed by the "five young friends out in the middle of nowhere running into psychos/serial killers/cannibals" angle. And, like I said, if you are new to that well worn theme, you probably have made a conscious decision to avoid them, in which case you won't give Gnaw a second glance.
I mean, what is the effect of putting the main killer in some kind of animal mask, when we see him without the mask-including during some of the kills- for most of the flick? The use of constant shots of the actors eating as well as shots of, presumably, good meat along with the cannibal theme and gore scenes was overdone, in my opinion. Warning: if you're only a casual eater of meat, viewing this film might push firmly into the vegetarian camp.
So, you probably know that I didn't think a whole lot of this British take on that well known slice of Americana: the cannibalistic gore flick. But, like I said, some who would consider this movie just want gore and to be grossed out a little and that it delivers.
Nothing more.
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