Their output is highly variable in quality, but purveyors of low-grade B-movies that the Band family are, the world needs them. The same can't be said of some of their collaborators, or other like-minded filmmakers, but even at their silliest, most low-budget, or most downright schlocky, one way or another the Bands' works offer a good time of some nature. I'd go so far as to say that in some titles one can recognize the roots of film-making and storytelling that have made their way into plenty of major studio pictures, with the difference that Full Moon Features - or whatever other banner under which the Bands may operate - generally lacks the resources and star power to create genre fare in its ideal form, and any notion of "finesse" or "polish" is not just deprioritized but maybe discarded outright. With that said, I'd argue that 'Crash and burn' is a fair example of the latter, or possibly even above average when all is said and done. I'm not saying it's "great," but it's enjoyable, and not remotely as poor in quality as is broadly assumed of the Bands. I had a good time!
Save for the limitations this faced, and the general tenor of whatever Charles Band and his kin touch, we have on our hands a sci-fi/horror-thriller with familiar narrative elements (admittedly, some are actually rather imitative). We have the quasi- post-apocalyptic setting, mixed with classic dystopian airs of corporate rule in an era of environmental ruin, and into this is introduced suspicion, paranoia, and murder as a group of people are trapped within an enclosed location with a killer on the loose. For good measure toss in gratuitous love scenes (and nudity), throwaway character moments or lines of dialogue, and some characters who are more or less sympathetic than others. The production values may be a step or two down from more well-financed equivalent flicks, but as far as I'm concerned everything here nonetheless looks quite excellent, to my delight: sets, effects, special makeup, stunts, and so on. The stop motion animation is really just about as swell as we could ever hope to see. The plot and its development may be comparatively light, and dialogue sometimes questionable, but by and large I see no especial issue with J. S. Cardone's screenplay, and in fact I think it's all-around solid.
Band's direction is fine, in my book, and the acting. Richard Band's original score is nothing terribly special, but is more than suitable to lend a tinge of flavor and atmosphere throughout. Really, to me 'Crash and burn' comes across no differently than the glut of genre flicks that we got in the 70s and 80s as standards regarding blood and gore became more lax, and the technology and techniques of effects and makeup artists improved. I see a through-line from slashers and sci-fi thrillers of the preceding years to this, and while perhaps a tad modest, I think this is just as entertaining and worthwhile, if not more so, than some other pictures that have gotten far more of a limelight. To be honest, if anyone aside from the Bands and Full Moon were behind the project, I don't think anyone would bat an eye about how this turned out. By no means is this something that demands viewership, and there's nothing so special about it to specifically set it apart from similar movies. All the same, I'm pleased with how fun and satisfying 'Crash and burn' is on its own merits, and reasonably well done, and I'm happy to give it a firm and genuine if casual recommendation for fans of the spaces it plays in. If you have the opportunity to watch, I think you'll be surprised by just how enjoyable, well made, and rewarding a viewing experience it is. Cheers!
Save for the limitations this faced, and the general tenor of whatever Charles Band and his kin touch, we have on our hands a sci-fi/horror-thriller with familiar narrative elements (admittedly, some are actually rather imitative). We have the quasi- post-apocalyptic setting, mixed with classic dystopian airs of corporate rule in an era of environmental ruin, and into this is introduced suspicion, paranoia, and murder as a group of people are trapped within an enclosed location with a killer on the loose. For good measure toss in gratuitous love scenes (and nudity), throwaway character moments or lines of dialogue, and some characters who are more or less sympathetic than others. The production values may be a step or two down from more well-financed equivalent flicks, but as far as I'm concerned everything here nonetheless looks quite excellent, to my delight: sets, effects, special makeup, stunts, and so on. The stop motion animation is really just about as swell as we could ever hope to see. The plot and its development may be comparatively light, and dialogue sometimes questionable, but by and large I see no especial issue with J. S. Cardone's screenplay, and in fact I think it's all-around solid.
Band's direction is fine, in my book, and the acting. Richard Band's original score is nothing terribly special, but is more than suitable to lend a tinge of flavor and atmosphere throughout. Really, to me 'Crash and burn' comes across no differently than the glut of genre flicks that we got in the 70s and 80s as standards regarding blood and gore became more lax, and the technology and techniques of effects and makeup artists improved. I see a through-line from slashers and sci-fi thrillers of the preceding years to this, and while perhaps a tad modest, I think this is just as entertaining and worthwhile, if not more so, than some other pictures that have gotten far more of a limelight. To be honest, if anyone aside from the Bands and Full Moon were behind the project, I don't think anyone would bat an eye about how this turned out. By no means is this something that demands viewership, and there's nothing so special about it to specifically set it apart from similar movies. All the same, I'm pleased with how fun and satisfying 'Crash and burn' is on its own merits, and reasonably well done, and I'm happy to give it a firm and genuine if casual recommendation for fans of the spaces it plays in. If you have the opportunity to watch, I think you'll be surprised by just how enjoyable, well made, and rewarding a viewing experience it is. Cheers!