Director – Michael S. Rodriguez (Night of the Sea Monkey: A Disturbing Tale)
Starring – Robert Allen Mukes (Slumber Party Slaughter), Melanie Robel (Sasquatch vs. Yeti), and Arch Hall Jr. (Eegah)
Release Date – 2014
Rating – 4/5
Tagline – “Meat the family”
I love when I watch a movie and can easily spot the film’s influence. I love it even more when I love the movie that influence the film. Friday the 13th Part III influenced so many slashers whileDawn of the Dead ushered in a new era for zombie films. However, one film that has influenced more horror films than I can count is Texas Chainsaw Massacre. That film has inspired several classic horror films and forever changed the way we see families in mountainous and rural communities. Among those films influenced by TCM is Rob Zombie’s classicHouse of 1000 Corpses. This film was heavily influenced by the original TCM and even starred TCM 2’s Bill Moseley.
Several months back director Michael S. Rodriguez sent me a trailer and stills for his newest short Lamb Feed. I immediately saw that the film was heavily influenced by House of 1000 Corpses. I am a huge fan of the film and this made me extremely excited to see the short. I had to wait for the film to be completed and Michael was kind enough to send me a link to an online screener. Thanks Michael!
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows a young business man as he is traveling out of town on a business trip. While traveling down a desolate road he breaks down. He decides to walk to the nearest house for help and forgets his phone in the car. He goes to a few homes where no one is home before coming across a man who tells him that he was expecting him. He tells him there is a phone inside he can use to call for help and they go inside a building where a party is taking place.
They convince him to have a drink where he is drugged and over time finds himself put up on a slaughtering slab where a big mother fucker walks out of the back wearing a butcher’s robe. They then take their sweet time tearing the young man apart.**Spoiler Alert**
Sometimes I watch a short and they never capitalize on the time they are given. They have such a short period of time to give the viewer what they wanna see. However, some films drag out their short with boring dialogue and scenes that are uncalled for. Lamb Feed is a short that has a hard time to get rolling but once it does it makes good on time and gives the viewer what they want to see.
The acting in this one is amazing. The entire cast is solid but what makes this film so enjoyable is the performances from Robert Allen Mukes and Arch Hall Jr. Both gives amazing performances and created two characters that I need to see in other films. The story for this one is more of the same but with great execution. The story around an individual or individuals breaking down and encountering a backwoods family that kills for no reason has been done numerous times from The Hills Have Eyes to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. However, Rodriguez is able to give us that story in a new light and in a ferocious manner.
Finally, the film only has one on screen kill and they make that one kill count. The special effects for that kill is great as well making the kill even more enjoyable. Overall, Lamb Feed is a savage and fierce short that has a great cast. Fans of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and House of 1000 Corpses need to check this one out!
