csis, the awkward Dane (Donato) and a small circle of misfits anonymously organise a must-attend fancy dress party, with their tireless tormentors are the top of the guest list.
Soon enough, a rabble of jocks, cheerleaders and prom queen wannabes have donned their glad rags and flock toward party central; a booby trapped farm in the middle of the nowhere. Looking forward to a night to remember, the oblivious guests are soon introduced to their rifle wielding hosts and a long and bloody night of retribution ensues.
To be honest, The Final is a difficult film to judge. It hovers around in unadulterated slasher film territory one minute, before deciding on a more thoughtful and psychological stance the next. Taking inspiration from the all too real tragedy of high school massacres is a decidedly risky step, regardless of genre, but mixing it up with the brazen gore and relish of the Saw and Hostel movies is perhaps a step too far here. With such harrowing influences at the core of this film, it isnt just the bloody scenes of torture that make it an uncomfortable viewing experience.
That being said, theres more than a little effort made to ensure this film is at least halfway close to being a balanced affair. The young cast have been well chosen, and theres very little recklessness and giddiness in the performances to take the sharp sting out of the real life inspirations. Also, the handle of victim passes over many a character at some point in the movie, and theres a fair bit of meaty dialogue that helps round off the characters more than youd expect, giving us a decent insight into the motivations of all concerned.
But, ultimately; The Final is built upon and around gory spectacle. Despite the psychological element and well crafted exchanges between the two factions of characters; much of the focus is reserved for the blood splatter and bone breaking. The murderous misfits deal out final justice in increasingly brutal ways; with garden shears, cattle prods and a corrosive facial treatment being just a few tools in their deadly arsenal.
Overall Verdict: First time feature director Joey Stewart handles things well behind the camera, demonstrating a competent eye for visuals and a tactful approach during the more gut wrenching moments of the movie. However, an unsavoury idea and an unbalanced script mean this film cant quite shake off its unsavoury influences.
Special Features:
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Trailer
Reviewer: David Steele