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All Movie Info
Starring:
Kevin Gage, Elizabeth Pena, Brett Harrelson, Robert Englund, Linda Cardellini, Amy Smart, Robert LaSardo, Dee Snider, Ivonne Coll, Tucker Smallwood, Tucker Smallwood, Andrew Cooper, Archie Smith, Lois Hicks, Carey Westbrook, Amal Rhoe
Directed By:
John Pieplow
Written By:
Dee Snider
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Strangeland (1998)
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Movie Review by Jenny
October 29th, 2007
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I don't know how I missed this movie when it came out. It came out in 1998, when I was a sophomore in college, and we would scour the hole-in-the-wall video rental places in our tiny college town for movies just like this one. 1998 was when I started really getting into horror movies and I rented just about anything that looked sick and or twisted. I would have loved this if I saw it when it came out.
But now, with the advancement of technology, this movie is more funny than scary. The basis of the movie is a serial killer/torturer who lures teenagers into his basement 'o' horror by using the internet. We were so innocent back in 98, weren't we? Back when chat rooms were sooooo cool and the internet was something that you only had if you were rich. Heck, the only reason I had the internet in 98 was because my college had it. We even had it in our computer labs! Wow, what a concept!! Seems like so long ago, doesn't it?
Back to the movie. I couldn't help but laugh at some of the things they do in this movie. They log on to the chat rooms and nobody is using any kind of short-hand. No "LOL"'s or "c u l8tR"'s. Now that I think about it, that's not such a bad thing. But it is really funny to see everyone typing so slow and typing so correctly. Also, there's a part where a girl is in a chat room and her friend is watching her type. All of a sudden the friend says, "He wants to im you? What's im you?" The other girl (Linda Cardellini from "Scooby-Doo", "Grandma's Boy", and "Freaks and Geeks") laughs and says, "No, silly! It's I. M. you. Instant Message." There are several conversations like this throughout the movie that really date it. It makes me want to watch "The Net" with Sandra Bullock again. I don't think I've seen it since it came out. I'm sure that one's pretty dated as well.
Aside from the choppy story-telling, the bad acting, and the complete datedness of the technology, Dee Snider's Captain Howdy is a pretty cool character. He's tattooed, pierced, and just completely bonkers. He was really fun to watch, and you can tell he had a great time making the movie. Captain Howdy is exposed as a serial crazy person and is locked up in a mental hospital for awhile, so we also get to see him dress like a normal guy. Dee Snider has such a long face...Which sparked Jeff and I to tell the obvious jokes. One being, "Dee Snider walked into a bar. The horse said, 'Why the long face'?" Yeah, we were rolling. Guess you had to be there.
Dee Snider, while also writing and starring in the movie, also had quite an influence on the soundtrack. Jeff was rockin' out the entire time. I have to admit, it was a really great hard rock soundtrack. Speaking of music, one of my favorite scenes was a crowd scene protesting Captain Howdy, and one of the protesters is holding up a sign "We're not gonna take it!!" Gotta love Dee Snider. Oh yeah, and Robert Englund is in the movie too, taking his turn as a victim. If THAT doesn't make you want to see the movie, I don't know what will.
2 out of 5 stars. One star for Dee Snider, Robert Englund, Amy Smart (yup, she's in it too!), and the soundtrack. The other star is for Linda Cardellini. Meeee-yow!
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 | Tim
Oct 29, 2007 8:16 PM
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| I do not remember a ton about this film but I do remember that it was horrible. I have to agree with your star rating except I would add Kevin Gage into the list of cool actors in it because I love him in Heat. |
 | Zara
Oct 29, 2007 10:55 PM
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| I just like the box graphic with the chick's mouth. Don't know if I'll watch the movie or not. |
 | Zombie Boy
Oct 30, 2007 8:45 PM
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| This is not a good movie, but it has a place in my heart. Dee Snider is just such a lovable goof. He did a radio show here in CT for a while, on a Hartford station that now plays R&B. I met him outside a Stop and Shop once, and he was pretty cool. There was a sequel in the works, to be filmed in Florida, but it eventually fell through. Probably not an all-together bad thing. |
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Oct 30, 2007 8:44 PM