MPAA Rating: R for horror violence, terror and disturbing images.
Runtime: 85 mins.
Director: John Simpson
Writer: Jake Wade Wall
Cast: Keir O'Donnell; Katheryn Winnick; Jessica Lucas
Tagline: It's Funny... Right?
Genre: Horror | Thriller
Memorable Quote: "I realize you're in a serious state of shock... what's amusing you?"
Own it on DVD/blu-ray: January 20, 2009
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Let's start with the positives before we get carried away with trashing the film. First and foremost, there is a strong cast behind this debacle. There really is some fine acting throughout. I mean, there's nothing special about the actors but you won't laugh at them. It isn't the cast that is at fault for the film's failures. And the concept is pretty interesting, too. As stated before, the film is told in an anthology format there are three different stories each featuring a different female lead (played by Katheryn Winnick, Laura Breckenridge, and Jessica Lucas) and, as each story is told, it becomes apparent that they are all connected by a mysterious and crazed ex-classmate (played by Keir O'Donnell) who terrorizes the women into a final frenzy that connects all their stories, plus a fourth kidnapped victim (also a friend of the girls) together into a final segment as the girls are forced to confront The Laugh (O'Donnell). Interesting, right?It's how the story and the film are executed that kills this tale of the past coming back to haunt you. Under John Simpson's direction, the film offers nothing new to the horror genre. In fact, it slips into so many horror cliché's that it becomes fun to try and call the next cliché used. Seriously. I found myself calling out other films (When a Stranger Calls, Black Christmas, Joyride and so on) when I spotted them in the stumbling plot of Amusement. And, on that note of negatives, can we please stop with all the fake CGI gore effects? They aren't real. They don't look real. And they sure as hell aren't effective. So, note to all future filmmakers, PLEASE STOP. Splatter animal blood or syrup. Use dummies. Throw ketchup on an actor for god's sake, just stop being cheap. The gore effects are so laughable that I turned it into a drinking game as I watched the film at home. And even drinking didn't improve this film.
Needless to say, there is nothing amusing about Amusement. That's right, you'll groan, you'll sigh, but you sure as hell won't laugh.
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DVD Details:
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH, English, Spanish
Language and Sound: English: Dolby True HD; English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Other Features: Color; interactive menus; scene access.
The DVD contains no extra features. Not even the film's original theatrical trailer is included. There is however a video game commercial and an on-line code that will release a download of a digital Windows Media copy of the film.
Number of Discs: 1 with Keepcase Packaging
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