Exit 33 Has Kane Hodder Getting all Sensitive – Not.
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Exit 33 is an interesting take on the ‘disappearing kids on a lonely country road’ concept, and teaches a valuable lesson- don’t eat the jerky.
Written by The Horror Czar, Don Sumner
July 9, 2011
Movie Trailer
Image Gallery
Release: August 2, 2011 (U.S. DVD)
Directed by: Tommy Brunswick
Written by: Mark Myers and Norman Koza
Starring:
Kane Hodder as Ike
Antoinette Nikprelaj as Angie
Jerry Reid as Matt
Maria Hildreth as Eva
Paul Elia as Dax
Virginia Bryant as Wife
Christian Koza as Boy
Ike (Kane Hodder) runs the “Last Chance Gas” station on an isolated country road that somehow seems to be on the way to just about everywhere. Whenever someone stops at Ike’s little shop they are treated to a grumpy and mean-looking proprietor and possibly a tank of gas from either pump 9 or pump 3 and maybe some tasty deer jerky made fresh by Ike himself during hunting season. If you ever come across ole’ Ike yourself as you travel across the country, you would be wise to choose carefully which of the available luxuries you partake in. The grumpy part is delivered to all, but the pump from which you get your gas and whether or not you satisfy your hunger is going to have a huge impact on your future.
You see, Ike uses his station as a means of finding women with perfect eyes, and when he sees them he must have them for his collection. Miraculously the ladies with the best eyes have severe car trouble moments after leaving Ike’s Last Chance Gas, but lucky for them Ike happens along in his pickup truck to deliver assistance, and a crowbar to the skull. Don’t be concerned about waste though, as after the eyes are collected the rest of the lovelies are put to good use.
Exit 33 is kind of a slasher film, kind of a psychotic. Detailed descriptions of the differences between the two are available in the book Horror Movie Freak (by yours truly) but the short answer is that a slasher has a covert villain who picks off victims one by one, usually right under the noses of the survivors, at least for a while. A psychotic is different primarily because of the nature of the villain, who may also be picking off victims one by one but appears to be a normal member of society in the process… think Annie from Misery. Ike in Exit 33 bridges both of these categories, operating like a psychotic by being completely out in the open and running his gas station, yet behaving like a slasher via dramatic and violent kills. The primary sub-genre breaker is that there is never any real secrecy or surprise in Ike’s actions. He is a mean and strange guy with no real friends who could be normal, but likely not… and he doesn’t lurk around killing folks but rather just walks up and smacks ‘em. This is an interesting horror movie concept, but it is a bit odd that he can continue his activities for any period of time without getting caught. Welcome to the magic of a Horror Freak’s ability to suspend disbelief.
The performances in Exit 33 are hot and cold,
alternating
between working really well and seeming kind of “off”. Aside from that,
one of the most unbelievable elements is the coupling of smokin’ hot
Antoinette Nikprelaj as Angie with the ratty-looking and greasy-haired
boyfriend Matt played by Jerry Reid. I’m sure he has a wonderful
personality, but in the real world it is hard to see this chick giving
Matt the time of day. I’m just saying.
The performance of Kane Hodder is “interesting” as well. We Horror Freaks love Kane Hodder, and greatly appreciate the horror icons he has brought to life over the years including a good number of stints as Jason Voorhees (New Blood, Jason Takes Manhattan, Jason Goes to Hell, Jason X) and Victor Cowley (Hatchet, Hatchet II) as well as either performing or coordinating the stunts for dozens of films, horror and non-horror alike. Hodder has an impressive resume and a commanding presence at horror conventions, and he is a big star to many of us. His sensitive side is just a tad less convincing than his murderous side. No offence Mr. Hodder… again, I’m just saying.
Overall Exit 33 works sometimes and just really doesn’t other times, and it can’t be isolated to one part of the movie or another – it’s just random. There will be a really great scene followed by bits of dialogue or a flashback sequence that snaps you out of the spell of horror engagement… kind of like circuit training on a treadmill. It’s difficult to get in a flow. When running at the gym starting and stopping, speeding up then slowing down is good for the heart. In horror it is death.
Kane Hodder fans will love Exit 33, if for no other reason than he gets a ton of screen time as the overwhelming star of the show. Aside from the appearance of such a Horror Freak favorite, some good eyeball scenes and the sexy Antionette Nikprelaj, unfortunately, Exit 33 is destined for the bargain bin. Oh yeah, and don’t eat the jerky.
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