Revenge-movie classics like MS. 45, I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE and THEY CALL HER ONE EYE have all had a major influence on up-and-coming filmmakers. Some have paid tribute to these flicks by making their own features in this particular genre, such as DEATH ANGEL DECEMBER: VENGEANCE KILL (on DVD from Chemical Burn). While the idea sounded very promising, the film itself is a total and utter letdown.

The story itself is simple enough, and it’s one that has been told numerous times. As a young child, December witnesses the brutal rape and murder of her mother and her brother. Years later, she stalks the streets, dishing out her bloody brand of justice. However, when the evil men responsible for her family’s death resurface, she stalks and kills them one by one, leading up to an orgy of mayhem, carnage and a bloodsoaked finale.

As stated, it’s a simple story. However, the execution is just atrocious. The cinematography makes the movie appear as if it was shot on someone’s cellphone, and lighting is pretty much non-existent throughout the movie. The entire soundtrack is muffled, and it’s painfully obvious that the crew didn’t have a boom mic. For some reason, almost every other scene ends with freeze-frame images, which is just annoying. And the plot is all over the place, with the backstory presented in both black and white as well as in color, which is confusing at times; I didn’t know what was real time and what was a flashback. As for the acting, it’s just one notch above a high-school drama-club play. None of the characters have any real depth, nor did I care about our heroine December. We’re supposed to sympathize with her loss and cheer for her when she extracts her revenge, but those emotions are nowhere to be found. As far as extras go, the DVD offers deleted scenes and outtakes (which this viewer found bewildering) as well as two trailers.

DEATH ANGEL DECEMBER: VENGENCE KILLS is a sorry excuse for an exploitation/revenge flick. Filled with bad acting, inept dialogue and abysmal scripting, it makes PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE look like CITIZEN KANE. Sometimes when reviewing a film such as this, I’m reminded of a joke from MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: “In the future, shouldn’t there be a law that says films have to be made by filmmakers?” After viewing this movie, yours truly wholeheartedly concurs with that statement.

 

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Reviews - DVD/ Blu-ray Reviews