Kick Out The Jam-shees!

April 4, 2010 by Editor
Filed under Mondo Archive

Banshee (2008)
Directed By: Colin Theys

Review Written By: Justin Bozung
Mondo Film & Video Guide Co-Founder
IMDb.com Link

Last month, I interviewed the great Fred Olen Ray, and off the record, we discussed one of my favorite films that he directed, Evil Spawn. His only comments to my notice, where as follows.. ” Yeah, thanks..MAN that thing is a real piece of work, isn’t it?”

Thus, Banshee. Yep, the title of this direct to video monster creature feature is Banshee. Honestly, you have to admit, that the title, instantly indicates to the wiser film buff, that this isn’t gonna be worth your time. There’s this small part of me, that hopes that it will be this low budget tribute to the glorious creature features of Roger Corman’s late 50′s. Taking on Banshee, regardless of how you feel about it, you just CAN”T get up and turn it off. You have to sit through the entire thing. And trust me…as horrible as the first 80 minutes are, the last 20 make up for the lost time, you may even pee yourself.

Banshee screams typical on every level. The characters are token and cliche. Young twenty somethings going on a camping trip. The plot line is un-original, and the monster and gore effects are drowned out by quick MTV style film editing and low level lighting. This baby’s got a one way ticket to a Sci Fi Channel airing at 2am. Now with that being said, for a extremely low budget film, it actually looks pretty good. The premise of this is completely silly, and it’s pretty painful just sitting through the first several minutes.

But around the 70 minute mark, something happens! With the entire cast killed almost off, the remaining characters suddenly, get brains. They quickly figure out how to kill the evil and terrifying CGI creation that looks something like a cross between the Gozer dogs in Ghost busters, and something Harryhausen did for Jason And The Argonauts. There’s only one thing that can kill a Banshee that resides in the good ole south! And that my readers, is cheezy 80′s heavy metal music, that one of the characters informs us, that he can play with his trusty guitar, that he just so happens to have with them. The louder the music, the more angry the Banshee becomes, cause it hurts the monsters ears! Oh…………..That makes sense! What was minutes ago, a movie of characters trapped in a house fighting off a monster, becomes a music video, as the doors fling open, the rocker character bursts out with his axe, rocking with Angus Young on his shoulder guiding him. Not literally… Some how, some way, smoke bombs go off, flames bursts and drums fade up! YOU’LL laugh your head off!!!! Banshee goes from dead wood to Ed Wood! I won’t tell you how it ends! But I will tell you, that if you actually dare to pick this sucker up on DVD ( distributed by MVD Distributors), as your attorney, I advise you to invite a few buds over, buy a keg, and then as everyone is about to pass out in a Heiniken haze, throw this baby into your dvd player. There should clearly be an opportunity here to start SOME sort of drinking game. To quickly finish you off! Just have fun with it. Maybe slam a shot or six, when someone in the movie says “I’m tellin ya, it’s a damn BANSHEE!” Cause, OH….my brothers and sisters, you’ll be hearing that ALOT… Gabba Gabba – We accept you – We accept you – Banshee – One of us, One of us!

Justin Bozung is the Co-Fouder of the Mondo Film & Video Guide. You can email him directly at justinb@mondo-video.com