Effects
(Synapse Region 0 NTSC DVD)
(1980)
review by Cap'n Kunz

Many hardcore fans of horror films become a little wistful when looking back at the 1970's, a time when now legendary directors like Romero, Carpenter, Hooper and Craven were violently slashing their names into cinema history, creating unforgettable films that have come to exemplify low-budget horror cinema at its bloodletting best.

Those who can identify with this sentiment, and who have also voraciously consumed every horror film from this era that they can get their claws on, will be pleased to know that Synapse Films has conjured up a new DVD for a little seen and largely unknown movie titled Effects, made by some of George Romero's cohorts just before the sun was to forever set on the 1970's horror boom.

The film's story centers around a very small, low-budget film crew who, when they're not too busy either taking drugs, bickering, drinking, or trying to sleep with the gaffer, are attempting to make an equally small, low-budget film with a slightly strange and possibly deranged director. Why deranged? Well, besides having a rather odd demeanor, the director has cameras planted at various locations (plus an additional crew) which affords him many opportunities to film his actors and "crew" without them knowing it. In addition to this, the director screens a snuff film, claiming it was sent to him by a friend in England. However, when his cinematographer flips out the director changes his story by saying that it was merely a student film he made with some realistic special effects. Of course, from this point things take a turn for the worse as members of the "crew" discover, perhaps too late, that they have all been cast as hapless and helpless victims in the director's latest attempt at violent cinematic realism.

To a great extent, Effects succeeds in being, at times, an engrossing horror film with some interesting ideas that were surely somewhat novel during the time period in which the movie was made. With the many films that have commented on reality entertainment (Series 7, The Truman Show etc.) not to mention the actual (and unmerciful) onslaught of reality television itself, the ideas expressed in Effects might not be as fresh as they were in 1980, but are nevertheless an interesting component to the film. Adding to this, the film within a film, within a film concept is pulled off nicely in Effects, and is a nifty (one might say) added dimension to the movie.

For the most part the performances are quite good, especially considering that the cast consists entirely of people with very little acting experience. The film is adequately shot, nothing too fancy, with a couple of effective sequences that really standout over some of the film's lesser material. Finally, while Effects gets off to a
rather slow, and at times rocky start, patient viewers should be pleased when the film eventually gets on track, weaving its way towards a satisfying conclusion.

Although Effects is not especially gory, the snuff film sequence is a harrowing 2 minute affair (not quite the "caliber" of Emanuelle in America however) and there are a couple of other moments that might make viewers wince slightly. In all, while certainly not a classic, Effects is a film worth checking out, especially for those in need of a good 70's horror cinema fix.

Synapse Films has (almost literally) unearthed Effects and given it a really nice presentation on DVD. Special features include: commentary with Producer John Harrison, Director Dusty Nelson and Editor Pasquale Buba, the short films UBU (directed by John Harrison) and Beastie (directed by Dusty Nelson), a behind the scenes photo gallery, and last, a really great documentary called AfterEffects about the making of Effects and the filmmaking scene in Pittsburgh during the 1970's.