Starring
Joe Pilato, John Harrison, Tom Savini, Susan Chapek, Bernard McKenna,
Debra Gordon. Directed by Dusty Nelson. (1980, 84 min).
On
the outer fringes of the Romeroverse lurks Effects, a
grassroots Pittsburgh production that was never given a proper
release. There's nary a single zombie to be found and the film itself
is unremarkable. But it's particularly
noteworthy today for featuring early appearances by a few guys who'd soon
become horror icons under George A. Romero's wing, most notably Tom
Savini and Joe Pilato.
Effects
features another of Romero's alumni, John Harrison (Creepshow
composer & Tales from the Darkside director), as Lacey,
an unhinged filmmaker who's supposedly directing a horror movie, when
in-reality he's making a snuff film using his cast and crew as
victims. It's a terrifically twisted concept and the film is pretty
well made considering its shoestring budget, but undone by an
overly-talky script, scattershot pacing and rambling scenes where not much happens outside of partying.
But
the curiosity factor alone makes Effects worth checking out.
Think about it...few cult actors are as
legendary for a single performance
as Joe Pilato. Three decades after Day of the Dead, he's
still synonymous with Captain Rhodes because most of us haven't
really seen him in anything else. He's sort-of a revelation in
Effects - and a leading
man, of all things! - playing
a congenial cameraman who's almost the polar opposite of his most iconic
role: soft-spoken, handsome, charming and...well, likable.
 |
| Mr. Pilato gets lost in his own monkey farm. |
Tom
Savini may be a horror legend, but those hoping to see his horrific
make-up skills will phenomenally disappointed. Though he does provide
the film's few effects (which are tame compared to his later work),
he's mostly utilized as an actor here, playing an obnoxious crony
who's in cahoots with Lacey. Savini's always been a decent actor, and
although he has relatively little screen time, he turns in an amusing
performance.
Effects
will hold little interest for casual viewers, who'll likely be
put-off by its bargain-basement production and dull execution. From a
historical perspective, however, this
disc is a must-own for those obsessed with anything even tenuously
connected to George A. Romero. It also includes an hour-long
documentary that's arguably more entertaining than the movie itself.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
"AFTER
EFFECTS" - An hour-long retrospective documentary from 2004
that's part cast & crew reunion, part behind-the-scenes. Easily
the best feature on the entire disc, including the film (includes
optional audio commentary).
2
SHORT FILMS - Weird early shorts made by some of the same folks.
AUDIO
COMMENTARY - With director Dusty Nelson, actor/composer John Harrison
& editor Pasquale Buba.
KITTY CONSENSUS:
NOT BAD...FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
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