MovieChat Forums > Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) Discussion > Liked it, but a few issues (SPOILERS)

Liked it, but a few issues (SPOILERS)

posted 13 years ago by Frankie_Dickfingers
7 replies | jump to latest

Caught it on the horror channel the other day here in the UK. I watched it and was very impressed. A great slant on the slasher genre, you never really see things from the killer's point of view, you just get a back story from their "Ahab!"

Anyways, I wanted to give this film an 8, JUST for the idea alone, but a few things left me really bothered:

If Leslie wants to be this legend why would he let them film it? He'd get caught. It was while I was thinking about this in the first 20 minutes or so and when he uttered the words: "Rule number 1, nobody gets away!" I knew that the reporter was the REAL survivor girl. For me, very obvious and kinda spoiled the rest of the film as I was waiting for the "twist!"

By the same token, a film crew would just willingly film a killer at "work" and NOT stop him from killing the libraian and the two teens shagging...only to then grow a set of morales?

Speaking of the libraian, her death was weird. You didn't see the syth go in, or come out, and their was no blood? In fact the whole lack of gore ruined it for me. I'm no massive gore hound (films like Braindead and Hostel way O.T.T. for me) but come on, Leslie uses a syth and there is hardly ANY BLOOD in the film what so ever. Budget issues or was I watching an edited version?

They're basically my only gripes with the film, very fresh and a joy to watch, despite figuring out the story early doors

"I'm gonna punch you in the ovary...straight shot, right in the baby maker!" - Anchorman

[–] andrewrrrr 13 years ago

i agree. great idea and lots of good buildup in the first half but i was very let down by how tame all the deaths were. (almost all off screen)

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DisturbedPixie 13 years ago

I didn't guess the ending exactly, but I figured this guy wouldn't play by his own rules if he let them film it and then part ways as life long friends. I honestly didn't get why any killer or his friends would go on camera. Especially in this day and age where a camera crew can back up their work and send it to a editor in between takes. It's way to risky for this elaborate set up. And the way many of the characters behaved just wasn't believable enough for something that's supposed to be smarter than a typical slasher. I did laugh a few times but I think some of the jokes would have gone better if they had cast the news team differently. I think all three of them were poor choices.

I also think the deaths being off screen didn't capture the feeling of slasher films. a few is okay, but nearly every death being that tame? The first Halloween had so much suspense and unease, and it didn't match that feeling of dread at all. I felt very much let down. I think the idea was fun and exciting, but the payoff wasn't there, and the last half was kinda boring. At least Scream was thrilling with some pretty decent dialogue, direction and acting. That just wasn't here. I do think Nathan Baesel was fairly believable and funny, but I don't think he alone can make this film a classic.

And I think Cabin in the Woods was a better Horror Satire.

[–] Movie_Buff_Brad 13 years ago

You basically answered your own question regarding him being filmed. He was using them because he wanted the reporter as his final girl all along. Afterword he could destroy the tapes, or even just leave them be. After all, he did want to be a legend, and having his work documented would only help.

As for the librarian, I don't think Leslie killed her. Like you said, he doesn't actually stab her. She either fainted or had a heart attack. So their hands are still arguably blood-free until he kills the "two teens shagging", which is where reality starts to sink in for them.

http://www.the-editing-room.com/winters-bone.html

[–] Parawhore4 13 years ago

I thought the film was deeper like Taylor and the film crew represented the Audience. At the end the Audience then come into the film around the second half and we become the Survivor Girl. Taylor and her crew are basically In film incarnations of us.

I'm So glad we've almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world

[–] sillyspaghetti 12 years ago

I liked it but I didn't love it. Thought the first half dragged a little. Glad Robert Englund lived AND played a good guy!!

"Hey! Ladies! That was fun!"

[–] king_of_bob 12 years ago

If Leslie wants to be this legend why would he let them film it? He'd get caught. It was while I was thinking about this in the first 20 minutes or so and when he uttered the words: "Rule number 1, nobody gets away!" I knew that the reporter was the REAL survivor girl. For me, very obvious and kinda spoiled the rest of the film as I was waiting for the "twist!"

The whole thing was a set up for Taylor. The film never would have been released because Taylor and her crew were always part of his plan. He was always intending to kill them, so he wouldn't get caught because none of them would be left alive to release the tapes.

And if you already knew he was intending to kill them, why are you even asking this question?

By the same token, a film crew would just willingly film a killer at "work" and NOT stop him from killing the libraian and the two teens shagging...only to then grow a set of morales?

You could see them struggling with the situation the whole time, but Taylor was attempting to exert her journalistic integrity by not getting personally involved in her story.

Speaking of the libraian, her death was weird. You didn't see the syth go in, or come out, and their was no blood? In fact the whole lack of gore ruined it for me. I'm no massive gore hound (films like Braindead and Hostel way O.T.T. for me) but come on, Leslie uses a syth and there is hardly ANY BLOOD in the film what so ever. Budget issues or was I watching an edited version?

I would say budget.

Prof. Farnsworth: Oh. A lesson in not changing history from Mr. I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!