SAVAGE
NATURE: 4 DEADLY FILMS
Flu
Birds (2008), Monster Wolf (2010), Wolvesbayne (2009), Headless
Horseman (2007). Various Directors. (361 min)
ON
DVD FROM
Review
by Josey, the Sudden Catđź
I’ve
reviewed several collections of thematically-similar films from Mill
Creek Entertainment and one thing I’ve learned is you can’t
really assess them like regular releases. Most of the movies
premiered on the SyFy channel, meaning lots of questionable CGI,
silly plots and no-name casts supported by a fading star or two
trying to stay gainfully employed. So only an idiot would appraise a
film like Flu Birds by comparing it to, say, Contagion.
It
makes a lot more sense to decide how this collection stacks-up to
similar budget bin bonanzas, and in that respect, Savage Nature
gets pretty high marks. If nothing else, there’s a bounty of
beastly bloodletting.
Unfortunately,
the title creatures in Flu Birds look more like flying dinosaurs
than fowl gone afoul. An obnoxious batch of twenty-something
teenagers are hunted through the woods by mutated, disease-carrying
birds. Some get eaten, while those who survive an attack contract a
flesh-eating virus that eventually kills them. Former Last
Starfighter Lance Guest is on-hand as a local ranger who comes to
the rescue. The film is dumb but lively, with a few nicely gruesome
kills.
 |
| Half the man he used to be. |
Monsterwolf
is the best of the lot. When a greedy developer (Robert Picardo)
violates sacred Indian ground, he unleashes a supernatural hound that
commences slaughtering anyone who works for him or sold their land.
Jason London – who’s appeared in more of these things than Dean
Cain – teams up with an old flame to try and send it back where it
belongs, but not before it kills those who more-or-less have it
coming. The CG effects are chuckleworthy, but the story itself isn’t
bad and Picardo looks like he’s having fun.
 |
| Consider this man fetched. |
Headless
Horseman was directed by Anthony C. Ferrante before hitting the
big time – so to speak – with Sharknado. Updating the
classic tale in order to feature a gaggle of dumb teenagers, this one
could use some of the self-aware silliness Ferrante is famous for,
but it’s bloody as hell and some of the make-up effects are well
done for its budget.
The
one pooch of the package is Wolvesbayne, featuring Jason
London’s brother Jeremy as a narcissistic property buyer who gets
caught-up in an ongoing war between werewolves and vampires.
Interminably boring and highly derivative, it wastes the talents of
supporting stars Mark Dacascos and Yancy Butler. Not only that, the
film has been badly formatted, with most scenes looking like
uncomfortable close-ups.
But
three out of four ain’t bad and batting .750 will likely win a game
for you. None of the films are gonna make anyone’s top 10 list (or
even top 100), but there’s some gory fun to be had here.
Comparatively speaking, Savage Nature is one of Mill Creek’s
better recent collections of silly cinema.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
DIGITAL
COPY
KITTY CONSENSUS:
PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS.
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