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Review: VFW

God damn, I loved this movie!

I'd come off yet another lousy screener (you'll hear all about it on Friday's show) and just wanted to watch a low-budget horror movie that knew what it wanted to deliver, and followed through with gusto. Which is when I bet my hard-earned rental dollar on Joe Begos' VFW.

I really liked Begos' first flick, Almost Human. He had no money, early John Carpenter sensibilities, and made it work. Now he's got more money, a name cast, and he's still embracing early Carpenter... right down to the score and concept.

See, a desperate teen with a bag full of drugs runs into the local VFW with a street gang hot on her tail. Fortunately for her, this VFW is frequented by the likes of Stephen Lang, Fred Williamson, William Sadler and Martin Cover. Let's just say the street gang doesn't stand a chance.

Think Assault on Precinct 13 meets Class of 1984 -- with a little bit of Escape from New York and The Wild Bunch thrown in for good measure -- and you kinda get the idea. There's violence and gore galore, some rough and tumble humour, and damn fine performances from the leads.

While so many filmmakers seem intent on making serious horror offerings, it's refreshing to see one embrace the genre's exploitation roots. Begos knows what kind of movie he's making, and he knows who his audience is. He seems content to deliver entertainment on that level. I thank him for it!

VFW is great fun, thanks in large part to its cast and aesthetics. It's well made, well acted and rarely slows down. And as I said before, it doesn't shy away from the blood and thunder. It's a Good, and I highly recommend it to genre fans.
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