Anderson Bench (2016) - I'm guessing like many of us I didn't quite expect this movie to be what it is. When you think of blood splattered comedies, names like Herschell Gordon Lewis, David F. Friedman and Ted V. Mikels come to mind. Somehow I must have missed the boat in associating that guy from The Dukes of Hazzard, John Schneider. Well, it seems like a new name has been added to that list of producers/directors of twisted, blood splattered movies.
Anderson Bench (Jordan Salloum) is a down on his luck guy not too different from many of us who feel life has passed us by and left us spinning our wheels in the muck of our misery. His job of flipping burgers was probably not his goal in life, and married life for him is not any better. Then this young woman shows up out of nowhere and takes him on the ride of his life, a murderous ride that is.
That description would sound kind of like a horror movie, or certainly a more dramatic movie. But alas, it is a comedy, and a twisted one at that. From shootings to cutting people up into tiny little pieces, and a shredding machine thrown in for good measure, what takes place in this movie would be the envy of 60s and 70s exploitation directors. This takes a page from splatter movies of yesterday and updates it with the technology of today.
Anderson Bench has a visual and audio quality you would expect from top studios, even though this was made by an independent studio. Unlike most movies I have ever seen, the soundtrack plays throughout the movie. I found the use of an Italian western soundtrack through nearly one third of the movie to particularly enhance the scenes.
I don't claim to get this movie entirely. I don't know if that is the intention as I got the feeling the movie was presented as it is, and what you make of it from there is what you make of it. Don't get me wrong, the story is complete, it's just what you get out of it personally is more up to you.
As a comedy it is dark. This is not a teen comedy, or any other comedy you have likely seen. But, despite being dark it does have fun with it, and pumps energy and laughs into what could have easily been a sideshow splatter movie in lesser hands. As it is, Anderson Bench is thoroughly soaked in blood while having its tongue firmly planted in its cheek.
As a comedy it is dark. This is not a teen comedy, or any other comedy you have likely seen. But, despite being dark it does have fun with it, and pumps energy and laughs into what could have easily been a sideshow splatter movie in lesser hands. As it is, Anderson Bench is thoroughly soaked in blood while having its tongue firmly planted in its cheek.
I give it 3 1/2 Daggers. It is entertaining and well made.
Availability
I had actually seen at least one review and several trailers for this movie on Twitter on many occasions. It is available as video on demand on Vimeo.
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