Bruiser (2000)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

George A. Romero

Writer:

George A. Romero (writer)

Release Date:

13 February 2000 (Canada)

Genre:

Thriller | Horror

Tagline:

Revenge has no face.

Plot:

The young executive of a publicity agency Henry Creedlow is a man that has repressed morbid thoughts...

Plot Keywords:

Face | Revenge | Mask | Suicide | White Mask

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jason Flemyng	...	Henry Creedlow
Peter Stormare	...	Milo Styles
Leslie Hope	...	Rosemary Newley
Nina Garbiras	...	Janine Creedlow
Andrew Tarbet	...	James Larson
Tom Atkins	...	Det. McCleary
Jonathan Higgins	...	Det. Rakowski
Jeff Monahan	...	Tom Burtram
Marie Cruz	...	Number 9
Beatriz Pizano	...	Katie Saldano
Tamsin Kelsey	...	Mariah Breed
Kelly King	...	Gloria Kite
Susanne Sutchy	...	Colleen
Balázs Koós	...	Chester
Jean Daigle	...	Faduah

Also Known As:

Bruiser (France)
Devil's Mask (Philippines: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, violence, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

France | Canada | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15 | South Korea:18 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Italy:T | Philippines:PG-13 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

The Misfits, a horror-punk band from New Jersey, are featured in Bruiser. The play two songs from their Famous Monsters album: Descending Angel and Scream, as well as two songs written for the film: Bruiser and Fiend Without a Face.

Quotes:

Henry Creedlow: The man had gone to market, to buy a diamond ring. The man who never noticed, that he was not a king. He choose the brightest sparkle, a diamond made of glass. The setting bright and gold, was crafted out of brass. The man spent all his money, the jeweler was a cheat. He told the man that royals, wore diamonds on their feet. The man went proudly walking, inside his shoe the ring. And no one ever told him, that he was not a king.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Vanilla Sky (2001)

Romero's finest since "Day of the Dead"

A man awakes one morning without his face - and he decides to take revenge on all people who betrayed him in a way.

This, in short, is the story of George A. Romero's first feature film since 1992's "The Dark Half", a decent if not really convincing adaption of Stephen King's story of the same title. And even though "Bruiser" is not a very spectacular or action- and goreloaded picture, it undoubtedly is Romero's finest film since his third zombie-epic "Day of the Dead" back in 1985.

It's a unique movie, rather quiet and sensibly developed: something You've see far too rarely in the last few years. The acting is also first rate, above all Jason Flemyng as the lead character. Peter Stormare is once again delicious, this time as the eccentric, sex-mad publisher of the "Bruiser"-magazine (you never really get to know what the magazine is all about, but it is obviously kind of a lifestyle magazine) and therefore Flemyng's character's boss. Stormare's enthusiastic acting is everything but annoying.

There is also some well placed humor in the picture, which has been present in most of Romero's films, only that this time it's more obvious than in his earlier pictures. The humor doesn't destroy the melancholy touch, though, that makes all of Romero's pictures so unique.

An audience who expects to see another "Dawn of the Dead" or "Creepshow" surely will be disappointed at first - but who ever said that "Bruiser" is a pure horror movie? It is more similar to "Martin" or even (in a metaphoric way) "The Crazies". One thing that's out of question is that Romero proves himself to be a real auteur, and it's always good to see new films from him - especially after an eight-year hiatus!

Highly recommended.