FOR THE SAKE OF VICIOUS (REVIEW)

Dir. Gabriel Carrer, Reese Eveneshen

Reviewer. Martyn Wakefield

Like Ben Wheatley's FREE FIRE, FOR THE SAKE OF VICIOUS is a plot built around a single action sequence that takes up the films selling point. The difference here is that instead of fancy flair, groovy soundtrack and a-list stars, instead we have quite literally the most brutal action scenes in recent cinema history.

The films official synopsis; An overworked nurse returns home to find a maniac hiding out with a bruised and beaten hostage. When an unexpected wave of violent intruders descend upon her home, it becomes a fight for survival.

Translated; One big, messed up brawl with enough blood and violence to make Sam Raimi jealous.

Gabriel Carrer and Reese Eveneshen promise, and they deliver as this is certainly worth its BBFC rating and as such is not for the feint of heart. There's very little depth here and a few moments of downtime indicate there should be some warmth to certain characters but amongst all of the gun and knife fighting, there's very little time to be attached.

Somehow, FOR THE SAKE OF VICIOUS, despite its penchant for blood, never really delves too heavily into horror. Wit hthe exception of a few Halloween masks, it could easily be intercut with a 2nd rate Steven Seagal movie that had Rob Zombie directing. There could have been more motion to the horror of home invasion but here it's more nail biting waiting for it to finish than for it to occur and as such when there is nothing happening on screen, the film tends to drg, an achievement for a film at only 82 minutes long.

For those wanting to leave their brain at home and just sit back and take in all the blood, seat and tears of kicking out time at the OK Coral will have something to enjoy here, for those looking for a little more depth, this one is only skin deep.