Sometimes you have to dig deep into a movie to figure out why it is titled the way it is. Sometimes it feels very random, or a bit too obscure. And sometimes you watch a movie called Body Melt, which tells you that people are about to be in danger of experiencing their bodies starting to melt.
There are a few main characters here, and there is A plot, but this is a film that doesn’t need thorough examination. People are consuming some products that have negative side-effects, to say the least, and a couple of policemen on the case start to figure out how bad things are about to get. Are they fast enough to close the gate though, or has this body-melting horse already bolted?
Directed by Philip Brophy, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Rod Bishop, this is a messy and gory piece of work that proves Brophy to be quite the talent with a relatively low budget and a whole lot of inventiveness. Which makes it all the more surprising that this was the last, and actually the only, feature that he helmed.
The material is approached with a great mix of fun and commitment to the messy central idea, helped by a diversion into the kind of Outback horror that runs along similar lines to many famous American backwoods horror movies. This is a showcase for some absolutely superb practical effects, but there are also moments for you to get to know each potential victim. Not that you really care about them, but you get to know them.
Cast-wise, there are a mix of familiar faces here (many from Australian TV shows, arguably the most famous being Ian Smith AKA Harold from Neighbours). Gerard Kennedy is fine as the tough detective on the case, Regina Gaigalas gives off a decent femme fatale vibe, and Anthea Davis is working hard under a hell of a lot of disfiguring make-up. Everyone does what is asked of them, which is often to go about their day until their body starts to come apart.
A brilliantly barmy cult curio, Body Melt is a film that has retained a pretty good reputation over the past few decades. It’s easy to see why. It’s well-paced, not overlong, balances the ridiculousness against the horror of the situation, and absolutely delivers on the promise of the title. Many horror fans will have already seen it, but if, like me, you somehow missed it so far then do yourself a favour and check it out ASAP.
8/10
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Apparently I could watch it on Tubi though it sounds pretty gross.
ReplyDeleteIt is gross. But fun gross :)
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