Hunting Creatures

Hunting Creatures

Sword of Independence quickly follow their debut release 'Generation Dead' with yet another gory gem in the form of Andreas Pape and Oliver Kellisch's 'Hunting Creatures' and while the dialogue heavy plot of 'Generation Dead' left this viewer somewhat baffled 'Hunting Creatures' is a completely different ball game all together. Read on...

'Hunting Creatures' is one of those lovely splatter movies (like the classic 'Premutos' before it) that transcends the language barrier with the most simple of plots and lots of gory eye candy mayhem! The premise is a variant on an old standard that is reliably simple - chemicals are spilled and flesh-eating zombies are unleashed! In this particular premise though the scenario is an old abandoned building (most likely a disused military laboratory) becomes the venue for an illegal rave. Whilst some dance happy youngsters are grooving away the pipes above them explode spilling their toxic grue all over them transforming them into flesh hungry zombies! The remainder of the film then follows the surviving broad shouldered tough guy bouncers as they go about their business culling the ever-growing hordes of the undead.

Of course there are some subtle nuances to the film that were completely lost to me as I have absolutely no understanding of the German language (and there are no subtitles options available), it really didn't matter as who needs to know what someone is saying when filmmakers Pape and Kellisch are speaking in the international language of gore! And it is the many gore scenes that will have many cheering throughout as literally gallons of arterial blood explodes all over the screen, lovely stuff indeed. But this is not just a gore showreel as Pape and Kellisch show great style with their direction and pacing throughout, obviously these guys are worth keeping an eye on with future productions.

Outside of the fact that (like 'Generation Dead') I wish that optional subtitles had been offered on this presentation there is little to grumble about with this stand out splatter production. Of course some folk may grumble about the fact the film is shot on video but Pape and Kellisch don't let this hold them back with their visual dream. The ensemble cast deliver a decent enough performance from what I could tell (though I have noticed that very few women have significant roles in these German splatter films) but at the end of the day it is the zombie make ups and bloody effects that are the real stars of the show, and these are very much satisfying indeed.

The film is presented in matted widescreen with decent enough stereo sound but you really wouldn't expect any less for a new production. Like SOI's other debut release 'Generation Dead', this 'Hunting Creatures' disc contains everything a fan of the film would ever need in an all round solid package. There's a long behind the scenes segment in which the filmmakers and crew obviously had a lot of fun with this production, there's an amusing interview segment and a short clip of the films theatrical premiere. Rounding things off there's that bizarre trailer again for 'Rout City' (is this really going to be a full-length movie?) and the aforementioned 'Generation Dead'.

Yeah I know there's the grumble of no subtitle option for our non-German readers but who cares here, it's a splatterific zombie film and a damn fine one at that! Get the beers is and enjoy the gory fun! Check it out.

Review by Alan Simpson

'Hunting Creatures' can be ordered direct from Sword of Independence by clicking here.


 
Directed by Andreas Pape and Oliver Kellisch
Released by Sword of Independence
Extras :
Making of, Behind the scenes, Premiere footage, Trailers.
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