Carny DVD Movie Review
Carny DVD Movie Review
Carnivorous creatures crunch a carny (& cops & children & clairvoyants…)
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Just about everyone at the carnival gets bitten by the gargoyle-like "Jersey Devil" in this SyFy Channel original which aired last year, and is now making its way to DVD in a souped up unrated version. I didn't see it in its original state, but no doubt the gushing blood, severed limbs, torn flesh and dislocated eyeballs do help.
Actually, the barebones story isn't half-bad considering the source. It begins with a scene showing carny Caprini (Alan C. Peterson, The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon) purchasing the star of his next sideshow attraction — a large, winged creature of unknown origin but very well-known terrible temper. The monster is shown mostly in silhouette (effectively so) as Caprini and his assistant try to move it from its straw-strewn stall into their truck… needless to say, the critter doesn't go quietly and the right-hand man winds up losing his right eye. Greedy Caprini is unfazed, and puts the attraction on the midway to the astonishment of all.
Soon enough, the bloodthirsty bat-thing breaks loose and flies away (shown in a combination of practical suit, CGI, and smoke and mirrors) to wreak its havoc unfettered in the small town of Anywhere, USA (which looks suspiciously like Ontario, Canada). Enter earnest Sheriff Atlas (Lou Diamond Phillips, Red Water) — there's a long tracking shot of him entering the hastily-pitched circus grounds for the first time, giving the makeup and fx people their time to shine by showing all the "freaks" (a three-eyed mutant, a tattooed man, bearded lady, human pincushion, etc.) one by one. It's pretty impressive (if a bit too lingering), and the good work only gets better as the film progresses into the free-flowing gore zone.
There are a few subplots going on as the creature kills and maims while remaining just out of reach: Atlas and the carnival's resident fortune-teller (Simone-Elise Girard) get friendly; the local preacher spouts fire and brimstone naming the 'Jersey Devil' an actual minion of Hell; two teenage delinquents hiding out in the woods wind up becoming monster-munchies; Caprini reveals and even uglier side of himself, and so on.
I've got to say, having seen approximately a billion SyFy Channel movies, the script and dialogue is not only pretty well-written, but the directing and editing are well above the average of this ilk. If you enjoy cheesy creature features (anything from Food of the Gods, to Eight-Legged Freaks to Bats, or Rats) Carny should absolutely be on your list. It's not played as a comedy, but it's fun and there are some relatively inventive set pieces.
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson