Punk Rock Holocaust

We have a movie with a great concept--there's a killer on the loose during the Warped Tour 2003 and bands and fans are dying like crazy. We have a body count that rivals any horror movie to date. We have some decent gore. We have a crapload of awesome bands getting the axe and quite a few crappy bands getting the knife. Unfortunately, we also have no budget and no acting. Don't let that deter you though, because this movie is a fun trip with a great soundtrack and enough poser teens dying to make even the most jaded punk rocker happy.

It seems that Kevin Lyman, founder of the Warped Tour, has a problem. That problem wears a bandanna and goggles and has a mad on for killing everyone and everything associated with the tour. Of course, he doesn't want word to get out that this is going on so it's up to the insipid, I mean intrepid, reporter *coughbullshitcoughhackcough* Heather to get to the bottom of the mystery.You may know her name if you read her completely tongue in ass Pit Report. With opinions so annoying, you would at least hope that she's a hottie. Unfortunately, I'm a prettier woman than Heather and if her acting was as full as her moustache, the movie would be loads better. Instead, she deadpans her way through conversations and makes more faces when typing on a laptop than most men experience during oral sex. I know thinking up stuff to write is tough, but it ain't that tough. Fortunately, her bad acting is levelled out by Lloyd Kaufman, director of Toxic Avenger and founder of Troma, as Belial the evil record exec. Kaufman exudes sleaze and takes over his role quite well, providing a great foil that none of the protaganists can quite rise to the challenge of meeting.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, is safe from the killer. He even destroys a band full of retards. I'm not being mean here, the band is actually made up of some retarded kids and their teachers. Very odd. Still, those kids are about 500% better at acting than Heather.

Production values are slim, as are scenes utilizing a tripod but for a movie shot entirely during the Warped Tour, it's a heck of a job. It's the kind of movie that makes you want to get out and make your own just to wash the bad taste of Heather out of your mouth. You also get to see some live performances by a few of the most rocking bands around, which is nice too. All in all, a great low budget shlock fest that is sure to please punk rock fans of all ages.

For those interested, bands that get killed include but are not limited to: The Horrorpops, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Andrew WK, Bowling for Soup, Simple Plan, The Phenemonauts, Tsunami Bomb and more! Also included are several nods to horror movies you may have seen like Jason Takes Manhattan. The killings start off very slasher-like and in abundance, but then it starts getting rather supernatural and that's where the movie loses steam.

The video on the dvd is great and there are no problem shots or spots on it. The audio is a little trickier, often changing in volume so that you'll be turning it up to hear dialogue which is muddy and then turning it down when the bands come on. The dvd is packed with extras, including several commentary tracks, loads of music videos, outtakes and more.

A worthwhile purchase for fans of low budget horror that is long on the blood but short on the plot. Check it out.