"I saw this review... and it made me chuckle."
I'm sure it did.
There's 3 others just like it, I'm sure you'd post those also, because you're an asshole. But, the scales are still in the excellent review column.
"Indie Scene: Pray for ‘Us Sinners’" (
http://www.horror-101.com/?p=1286)
Realistic serial killer film gets down and dirty
The cover of Us Sinners features the bold quote, “The carnal climax is so disturbing it will leave you breathless.” This type of hype-oriented promotion is nothing new; just last year Hostel: Part II claimed to have “the most shocking ending in horror movie history.” Audacious statements like these often leave viewers with unfulfillable expectations destined for disappointment, but I’m happy to report that Us Sinners does have one of the more extreme conclusions in recent memory. But that’s the end; let’s rewind back to the beginning.
Tim Connolly (Brandon Schraml) is a strange individual, to say the least. He’s been his parents’ subject of physical and mental abuse since he was young. His father has since passed away, but his mother (Leslie E. Hughes) is a religious zealot, and things haven’t improved since his traumatic childhood. In addition to the ongoing anguish at home, Tim is walked all over at work. Despite his seniority over the maintenance crew, his co-workers constantly disrespect and tease him, referring to him as “Weird Tim.” Although not the most creative name, it’s quite fitting. The awkward, gassy character is a boy trapped in a man’s body.
These are all tell-tale signs of a serial killer, right? You got it. Tim lets out his frustration by murdering prostitutes in his spare time. The Tim that kills is not the same maladroit person we’ve become acquainted with, but rather a sadistic, bloodthirsty alter-ego. There may be a glint of hope in stopping the madman, though, in Louise O’Conner (Brenda Cooney), a new hire. The perversely shy Tim sees her as a fellow lost soul that may just be his saving grace. She agrees to go on a date with him and even puts up with being subjected by his mother but ultimately denies his affection and falls in line with the other workers. Although sympathetic at first, she gives him the cold shoulder by going out with another worker, Andrew (Jason Shoulders). When he catches her fellating him — an act with negative connotations for Tim — he becomes physically ill before going on a murderous rampage, all leading up to an ending straight out of the BME Pain Olympics.
Schraml is fantastic as the socially awkward Tim. His performance really brings out the duality of the character’s disposition. This is the theater actor’s first foray into film, but I hope this isn’t the last time we see him put to celluloid. Cooney does a fine job, but I think her character could have been fleshed out a little more had the story chosen to explore the dynamic of her being a fellow lonely heart more. Hughes role is one you love to hate. Her mother character is like that of Carrie but even more extreme, making the viewer angry just watching her. This emotional response is a sign of good acting and writing.
First time writer/director George Snow worked on his script for six years before committing it to film, and the final product is exemplary for a low budget horror, a simple story that keeps the viewer interested. The kills, including a lengthy child murder and a blasphemous death involving the Holy Mary, are shocking and innovative. What makes them even better (or worse, depending on how you look at it) is the gritty sense of realism throughout the film. You almost feel dirty watching it, similar to the sensation experienced while watching Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer or Maniac. There are a couple of well-placed moments of dark humor to subdue the impact of the disturbing nature.
Us Sinners is a fine accomplishment and even more impressive considering it’s Snow’s first time behind the camera. Sure, he makes some amateur mistakes, but overall it’s just as good as many of the video nasties from which it was influenced. Some may be turned off by its somewhat exploitative style but those who aren’t afraid to get down and dirty will really enjoy this indie feature.
Horror 101 gives Us Sinners an 82 out of 101