Scary Movie Month 2015 Day 3: DEATHGASM

DEATHGASM (2015)

"I can't tell if I have a fear-boner or a boner-boner" -Giles (Daniel Cresswell), "DEATHGASM"

New Zealand is full of insane people. That's really the only explanation I can think of for this deliriously vulgar splatstick insanity, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a full ear-to-ear grin the entire running time. 

It's the story of a couple of metalhead teens who start a band called DEATHGASM (because, according to the one who comes up with the name, lowercase letters are for pussies) and accidentally awaken a horde of demons after playing an ancient cursed song (called the Black Hymn, because of course it is), like you do. This leads to an over-the-top gorefest that does Sam Raimi and Peter Jackson (very clear influences, but the movie remains 100% its own thing) proud. Honestly, I thought splatstick couldn't be this much fun anymore, I felt like Evil Dead 2 and Dead Alive were the last word on it, but DEATHGASM is an unexpected, amplified blast of fresh air.

From deadly dildos to guitars equipped with table saws, the blood never stops flowing (or spraying, or shooting, or doing pretty much anything blood can do) and the laughs stay consistent the whole way through. Also, stick around after the credits for a pretty funny bit that makes sure you end the whole thing still smiling.

What really surprised me was how likable the characters were, even when they were being kinda dicks. They could have come across as obnoxious very easily, but they stay on the likable side of that divide and keep you rooting for them. Even side characters like the other band members are more than just one-dimensional jokes, which goes a long way in movies like this where you don't necessarily want to see some people have their spines forcibly removed. That being said, you will see people have their spines forcibly removed. DEATHGASM is, as its tagline states, Brütal as Fuck, and I wouldn't want it any other way.