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Otis (2008) (V) More at IMDbPro »
13 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the Best Films of 2008, Hands Down, 23 June 2008
Author: Gavin Schmitt (gavin6942@yahoo.com) from Kaukauna, Wisconsin
Otis Broth loves pizza, Froot Loops and Kim. And Kim. And Kim. Multiple times now he has tried to make a girl love him by chaining her up in his basement and calling her Kim. His latest victim, Riley Lawson (played by Ashley Johnson, perhaps best remembered from "Growing Pains" or "What Women Want") isn't ready to die like the others. And her family doesn't trust the police, preferring to take matters into their own hands.
I keep seeing the quotation comparing "Otis" to "Juno" and I don't know what to make of that. I really liked "Juno" and I really liked "Otis". But I don't know that they have all that much in common. The tone is completely different, the humor is different, Otis doesn't talk like he lives next door to Pacey Witter or Josephine Potter. I would love to know the reasoning behind this claim, as it seems a bit of a stretch. I see it as a darkly humorous take on other horror films -- but "Juno"? "Otis" has a rocking soundtrack (best of the 1970s), a dark humor that many will not appreciate, and takes on horror motifs of today. Want a girl imprisoned in a basement (like Jack Ketchum's "Girl Next Door")? Want torture ("Saw")? You'll get it, but without all the rape and gore. All of the torture takes place off-screen. Or, at least, almost all of it. Your imagination might leave you feeling grossed out, but the film doesn't cross the boundary. How do you balance rape, torture and humor? I don't know, but the makers of this film came as close as anyone probably ever will.
The actors were great. Bostin Christopher (Otis) couldn't have been cast better. Ashley Johnson (Riley) is both sexy and yet girl-next-doorish, alternating one scene to the next. Daniel Stern (Mr. Lawson) is a welcome addition, although one wonders where all the extra weight and gray hair came from. Are you getting older, Stern? Has Kevin McAllister worn you down? It's understandable.
The special features on the disc are decent. The obligatory audio commentary appears, which I'm always a big fan of. There's an alternate ending (which is even more grim than the standard finish, though not as satisfying). And there's an "Otis Broth Joint" (thanks, Spike Lee) called "Suite 16" that seems ready-made for placing on YouTube as a promotion, but is worth at least one watch (it's short).
Of the horror movies I've seen this year -- and it's quickly approaching 100 -- this ranks in the top three, alongside Ryan Harper's "Circulation" and Ryan Nicholson's "Gutterballs". If you see only one horror film this summer, I suggest "Otis". Warner Brothers and Raw Feed make a compelling case that horror can be fresh and new no matter how stale the genre seems to be getting with each passing day. How this skipped theaters and went straight-to-video is a modern mystery.
20 out of 31 people found the following comment useful :-
Otis is destined to join Freddie and Jason as a horror icon, 13 March 2008
Author: larry-411 from United States
The 2008 edition of the SXSW Film Festival's 'Round Midnight section kicked off with the World Premiere of "Otis," the directorial debut of veteran television executive Tony Krantz. It would be redundant to state that this film is not for the squeamish -- just look at the screening time. That said, Otis is destined to join the ranks of Freddie and Jason among the most gruesome, twisted souls in horror movie history. The titular character is a rotund, middle-aged pervert who never quite matured past his senior year in high school. The pleasure he gets out of abusing the neighborhood's teenage girls has all the makings of classic torture porn. Yet writers Thomas Schnauz and Erik Jendresen have crafted a dark comedy, as impossible as it seems, and Krantz manages to keep "Otis" from straying into farcical territory. "Otis" is ultimately a character-driven piece, as the film's tone is achieved only with a careful balancing of performance styles. At one end are Bostin Christopher (Otis) and his "love interest" Ashley Johnson (Riley Lawson), playing their roles straight and chilling. At the other is Jared Kusnitz, as Riley's brother Reed, whose gallows humor provides many of the film's funniest lines and was clearly an audience favorite (Kusnitz' "Dance of the Dead" also has its World Premiere here this weekend). And smack dab in between the horror and the comedy are the parents, Illeana Douglas and Daniel Stern, who are the fulcrum. Veteran character actor Jere Burns leads a team of hapless FBI agents who throw the occasional farce into the mix. Add in the always on-the-mark Kevin Pollak as Otis' brother for more nervous laughter. "Otis" has an indie feel, with natural lighting and perfectly economical cinematography, relying more on powerful in-camera visuals than post-production effects. The soundtrack is killer (no pun intended) with Otis' high school years replayed over and over to tunes like Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper."
10 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
Worth seeing, if only for the imaginative brutality of the parents..., 14 June 2008
Author: brimstone_fox from United States
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Forget the character of Otis. Yeah, he's demented, calculating, and creepy in his own right...But the parents of the girl that Otis abducts...those people are insane in the best way celluloid could depict. This movie is certainly worth the price of the rental. But don't watch it thinking it's going to be a horror flick. It's got more going for it as a comedy than anything else. Anyone who is selling this as a horror flick is probably working for the advertising firm promoting the film, and they just don't know how to promote it as anything else. This film is hilarious, and is certainly a great show for a keg party, teen movie night, or just another Tuesday evening with nothing better to do.
7 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
The Missed Birthday Party, 17 January 2009
Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The twisted forty year old idiot Otis Broth (Bostin Christopher) delivers pizzas and is a pedophile serial killer. When he abducts a teenager, he calls her Kim and fantasizes that she is his sweetheart and date of the high school prom. After killing his last victim, Otis kidnaps the smart suburban teenager Riley Lawson (Ashley Johnson) and brings her to the basement of his house, hiding the girl from his brother Elmo Broth (Kevin Pollak). Their desperate parents Kate (Illeana Douglas) and Will Lawson (Daniel Stern) have friction with the arrogant and silly FBI Agent Hotchkiss (Jere Burns) that is in charge of the investigation. When Riley escapes from Otis's house and calls her family, Kate convinces Will and their son Reed (Jared Kusnitz) to seek revenge and punish Otis. However, the vigilantes confuse Elmo with Otis in their rampage getting into trouble.
"Otis" is almost a masterpiece of sick dark humor, with magnificent performances of the unknown Bostin Christopher and Illeana Douglas, very well supported by the great cast. The plot makes jokes with dramatic situations and is a sort of parody of the countless movies of torture that have been recently released. Unfortunately the weak open conclusion is not satisfactory and is disappointing. For my surprise, in the Extras of the DVD, there is an excellent alternate ending called "The Birthday Party" and in accordance with the explanation of the director, this would be the original conclusion of this movie. I really did not understand why this brilliant ending was not used. My vote is six.
Note: With the original "The Birthday Party Alternate Ending", my vote would be eight.
Title (Brazil): "Otis, o Ninfomaníaco" ("Otis, the Nymphomaniac")
7 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
A perverse and hilarious modern exploitation, 16 June 2008
Author: Anthony Pittore III (Shattered_Wake) from Los Angeles, CA
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
In recent years, there have been few horror films that could be considered great, and sadly, most of those great horrors come from outside the United States, the nation which once ruled horror. 'Otis,' however, comes to change that up, and change it up well.
Otis Broth is obsessive. Otis Broth is disgusting. Otis Broth is psychotic. But Otis Broth is also a romantic. He wants the perfect girl to bring to the Prom. The perfect girl to enjoy the front seat of his Trans Am with on the 'bluff.' For Otis, this perfect girl is (after five other attempts) Riley Lawson (Ashley Johnson of 'Growing Pains'). . . though he likes to call her Kim. After capturing Riley, Otis takes her back to the hovel that is the Broth household and treats her like the lady she is. . . only, in his mind, blinding lights and shackles are the chivalrous ways to treat his lady. After efforts by the police fail to find Riley, the parents (Illeana Douglas and Daniel Stern) bring their son (Jared Kusnitz) along to do what the cops are failing to do: Take care of the murderous Otis themselves.
Playing out like a comedic 'Last House on the Left,' 'Otis' turns the family-revenge tale into a near-slapstick horror-comedy, but it never goes TOO far over the edge of comedy and, thankfully, remains well in the realm of brutal exploit thriller/horror. While it's not overly disgusting or gory, the violence and subject matter will appeal to fans of exploitation cinema looking for a good modern flick that surpasses the normal 'Hostel'-type Hollywood torture film. The writing is sharp, the direction is well done, and the acting is superb. There are enough one-liners and constant comedy to keep us laughing throughout and the characters will make anyone from a dysfunctional suburban family reminisce. . . I know I did. And a great, ballsy, open-ended conclusion left us drooling for 'Otis 2.' Overall, 'Otis' is a hilariously fresh new horror-comedy that is set for cult fame.
Final Verdict: A worthy 8.5/10. Brilliant.
-AP3-
14 out of 25 people found the following comment useful :-
Dark, funny, different, 19 March 2008
Author: Helen_Wheels from United States
Saw this Friday at the local film festival and LOVED it. First half plays ALMOST like your standard horror fare; second half is like Home Alone with power tools: raunchy, painful, funny as hell. Without the strong performances of Illeana Douglas, Daniel Stern, Kevin Pollack and Bostin Christopher, the film wouldn't work half as well. Douglas is consistently amazing, a character actress who makes her every role believable. As she transitions from suburban mom to vigilante, she never makes one turn or expression out of place: her morph is both understandable and natural.
The film leaves a few ends untied: we never quite learn what exactly happened between Otis and his brother, but we're given enough back story to guess the rest. We also never see the original "Kim." Which would've helped people better understand the obsession.
Somehow, though, as everything is coming apart - it all comes together. Audiences in both festival showings loved this movie! I hope it gets distribution before Warner releases it to DVD this summer.
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Diamond in the Rough!, 17 October 2008
Author: tonywebman from Canada
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
I was compelled to write an entry here only because of all the negative reviews I read BEFORE I watched this movie. I almost didn't bother with it because so many people put in their two cents worth and gave it a thumbs down. I'm so glad I watched it regardless.
This movie is highly underrated and I believe the reason for this is that there are so many people who don't get that it is a Black Comedy. It is a social satire with a statement about the desensitization of the American white middle-class to the violence that is so pervasive in their (our) society.
Either that or it is just plain funny as hell but also very sick and disturbing. It's a fine line between black comedy and bad taste but the director manages to pull it off.
I would have rated it higher except that the ending was unfulfilling, but sets things up nicely for Otis II (which I will be hoping to see soon).
4 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
A nice little film., 19 June 2008
Author: thegreatbeast2000 from United States
It was great seeing Daniel Stern & Illeana Douglas back at work. They are both great actors who deserve to be working more. The story starts playing out and you are unsure as to what type of film it's going to be. Torture porn? FBI profiler idolatry? Cat & mouse psychological thriller? ... Comedy? There are a number of nice turns done by the actors here. The head up his ass FBI profiler. Riley, the daughter. Reed, the more than a little disturbing younger brother. Kevin Pollak's Elmo Broth, brother to the antagonist. And finally the nut-job kidnapper/killer Otis Broth who amongst all the different dramatic currents still is able to imbue his character with a bit of poignancy. You'll notice a few holes in the story but, again, this isn't a police procedural that you are watching. Counter to that there are some surprises as to the paths that the characters eventually end up taking. Nothing especially distinctive cinematographically, stylistically or in editing. But it is a good film, and that is enough.
3 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
A humorous and disturbing look at kidnapping, torture, murder and the family., 16 June 2008
Author: pslj-1 from United States
I enjoyed this movie greatly. There were times I wanted to cringe and laugh at the same time. A humorous and disturbing look at kidnapping, torture, murder and the family. All overlapping at various part of the movie. Don't expect the movie to make great leaps and bounds in plot and you will enjoy it. If you like some laughs with your gruesome visuals, you just might find this movie fun. Many of the actors you will know and appreciate from other works. All turn in a solid and fun performance. All want to play their part in the movie. They all seem to be having fun along the way. I saw the UN-cut version and it is not for the squeamish. Nothing like "Saw", but pretty graphic. What really sets this movie apart is the antics surrounding the production of gore on screen. Think "The Three Stooges meet Jason" and you might have an idea of what is going on in this little bloody, funny gem of a movie.
16 out of 31 people found the following comment useful :-
Unexpectedly great!, 11 March 2008
Author: ham-sandwich from United States
Just saw the movie premier of "Otis" at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin. Reviewers are comparing it to "Juno" albeit a much darker version. The similarities are there even tho the story lines are vastly different. Initially what appears to be just another slasher movie takes a hard left turn about 10 minutes in. Wit, humor, contemporary hip dialog, and the perfect ensemble cast take over. Every actor will be recognizable from other movies even if their names are not household words with the exception of Otis. Otis, however, could not be more real or despicable! He is wonderfully evil, pathetic, and deranged yet still evokes sympathy from the audience. This movie is "ripe" for a sequel and will definitely have a cult following if it makes it into distribution. See this movie if you can! My friends call me Miss "Picky" for a reason and there was nothing to pick at in this movie. In fact, if you want a sure thing, see anything written by Erik Jendersen in my opinion the smartest of today's Hollywood writers. No dumbing down in any of his scripts.
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