I had never heard of Live Animals when I saw the DVD case at the pawn shop. I’m not sure why I decided to give it a shot. Perhaps because it was only $2. Perhaps because it was only about 84 minutes. Perhaps because it was a horror movie and Halloween is coming. What ever the reason, I picked it up and decided to pop it in the DVD player.
Live Animals was not made on a huge budget, but that actually works in its favor. The actors are pretty much unknowns. The sets are pretty limited which helps create a sense of being detached from society. The plot involves a farmer and his assistant that kidnap young people and sell them into slavery. The farmer brags about how he breaks horses and how he has learned to break people as well. We see the results of some of his “breaking” as he has his assistant cut out the tongue of one of the guys for cussing him and being obstinate.
I can’t say that Live Animals is a great film, but it is much better than it has any right to be. The acting by the twenty somethings is pretty weak, but John Still and Patrick Cox turn in very believable performances. Cox in particular has one scene that is way out of character for hulking killer Edgar, but the actor makes it work well enough that suspension of disbelief is not totally destroyed. It involves leaving keys and weapons where they can be accessed by the prisoners. The girls have a couple of nude or topless scenes as they are “cleaned up” (i.e. hosed down) by Edgar. They do a fine job with those scenes.
If you’re looking for a slightly creepy little film to toss on over Halloween, Live Animals isn’t the worst choice you could make although be warned it does start off a bit slow. I give it 2 stars. Part of me feels it’s more deserving of 1 3/4, but I think the performances of Still and Cox earn it enough good will for the other 1/4 star.
365 Days of DVDs 