Monday, December 24, 2007

"Black Sheep" (2007)

Directed By Jonathan King
Review based upon U.S. unrated DVD version


I've always loved Peter Jackson's early movies... "Bad Taste" is one of my absolute all time favourites, and "Braindead" is up there too. When I heard about this one I was more than a little bit excited. Killer Zombie sheep? Effects by Jackson's own WETA Workshop? A woolly gore-fest?

Can't go wrong... right?

Well... thankfully the answer is a resounding YES! This movie took me back to the heady days when I first discovered Jackson's genius, sitting in the dark at the Prince Charles Cinema in London as an under-age spotty git watching "Bad Taste" for the first time (when no-one else knew anything about it). "Black Sheep" really is that good, that gory, and (most importantly) that funny.
who frankly have no chance. I haven't laughed so much in ages (the foot scene - I don't wanna spoil it
The basic premise centres around genetic modification of livestock (very relevant in today's society). When a sheep farmer decides to interfere with Mother Nature in order to create a new line of super sheep, he inadvertently creates a menace that goes on the rampage in VERY large furry numbers.

The best thing about this movie is that the whole thing is tongue-in-cheek whilst still delivering some great scares and gory moments. The final sheep attack is brilliantly realised, as thousands of the little buggers descend on a group of farmers - is a killer). Every conceivable sheep joke is in here, from shagging to farting via an extremely original use of a jar of mint sauce.

And as for the were-sheep transformations (yes, you read that right) well, they're brilliantly realised and a deliberate homage to "American Werewolf In London" (that's coming from the director's own mouth).

Excellent to see a film that doesn't rely on CGI to get scares - this is a physical effects movie that works brilliantly, and reminds me very strongly of the likes of "Re-Animator", where the gore seemed well... more nasty but silly at the same time.

This is a BRILLIANT movie and definately one for anybody with a sense of humour as sick and depraved as mine. I loved it, and I really hope it does well.


Bring on "Black Sheep 2: Shawn of the Dead"!!!


8 out of 10
This is the real deal... humour, wool and gore. No mutton dressed up as lamb here!