Thursday, April 21, 2011

What You'll Want to be Watching:

                                    
                                    Hobo With a Shotgun
     I've always been a fan of the darker side of cinema. Watching any film that is considered exploitation or ultra-graphic horror has always tickled my fancy--it's just fun to see films that don't reach the mainstream due to their horrendously violent or extremely politically-incorrect content. A tamed-down version of exploitation reached theaters and our homes in 2007 in the form of a double-billed feature film, Grindhouse. And I loved that too. Grindhouse, as you may know, is two separate films: Planet Terror, which was directed by Robert Rodriguez, is about an eclectic group of people who are trying to survive an outbreak of zombie-esque creatures. Death Proof, directed by Quentin Tarantino, is about an insane stunt man who murders young women in horrific car accidents with his stunt car. 
     Hobo with a Shotgun is related to Grindhouse in a very unique way: in between the two films of Grindhouse, there are a few fake movie trailers designed to shock and humor the audience before the next film begins. Some famous directors partook in this 3 minute exercise in fun. Edgar Wright, Eli Roth and Rob Zombie all made short, shocking previews that were hilarious and/or violent. When Grindhouse was released internationally, the film producers decided to hold a contest to see what talent could come up with the best short trailer. And the best short trailer was a hilariously violent send-up of exploitation cinema about a homeless man who takes vengeance on the criminals he sees on a daily basis.
     2011's Hobo with a Shotgun is a full movie version of the previously mentioned trailer with better actors, more money and a hell of a lot more blood and gore. It stars Rutger Hauer as a tired homeless man looking for a fresh start in a new city. Unfortunately, this new place isn't pristine and the people are not polite: crime is running rampant, and the city's underworld is run by a man known only as "The Drake" and his two psychotic asshole sons. When the Hobo decides that he is tired of seeing every city he enters succumb to the scum-sucking bottom feeders, he takes matters into his own hands with a double-barreled shotgun. If you're still reading, then you must be interested. As you should be: Hobo looks like an absolute fucking blast, filled with brutal be-headings, blood drenched corpses and bouncing breasts. Here's the kicker: get some friends together, open up some beers and all you have to do is click your remote. Hobo with a Shotgun is available on Time Warner Movies on Demand for the (low, if you split it with some friends) price of $9.99. I know I'll be tuning in. 

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