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.
40 Reviews
Worth seeing, if only for the imaginative brutality of the parents...
brimstone_fox14 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Don't Fear the Obese Pizza Delivery Reaper
Coventry16 February 2012
Since the turn of the century, it has become very popular in horror movies to randomly inflict excruciating pains on people that are generally innocent and didn't deserve all the agony. Movie franchises like "Saw", "Hostel" and all of their knock-offs made us very familiar with the term Torture Porn and the nowadays younger fans of the genre don't get upset anymore at the sight of sadist devices that cut off toes or poke out eyeballs. Of course, when a 'new' gimmick in films turns out to be successful, it immediately gets exploited beyond normal proportions. It has even come thus far that themes like torture, child abduction and blood vengeance are processed together into a horror
comedy! Yes, "Otis" is primarily intended as a comedy, but personally I still prefer to see it more as a horror flick with some light-headed elements. It's a surprisingly good HORROR film, with a couple of imaginative gore sequences and interesting characters, whereas the comedy aspects are rather lame and derivative, like obnoxious authority figures and character mix-ups. Otis Broth is an obese and pathetic pizza delivery boy; pushing forty and still under the strict supervision of his older brother who regularly comes over to insult and beat him. But Otis loves to escape into his very own perverted and psychopathic fantasy world, where he is the hunky quarterback of the high-school football team and eagerly anticipates to attend the school prom with his sexy sweetheart Kim. But his "Kim" doesn't exist, so Otis abducts pretty blond girls that he spots during his pizza rounds and subjects them to humiliating ordeals until they play along. When the foxy Riley Lawson manages to escape his dungeon, her family prefers to extract their own justice rather than to let the uncooperative FBI handle the case. "Otis" has a good pace, highly enjoyable horror moments, great performances from a terrific not-so-obvious cast and
a downright phenomenal soundtrack! Anyone interested in classic rock and/or pop songs from Talking Heads, Quiet Riot and Blue Oyster Cult? As said, the comical situations aren't very noteworthy – even though Jere Burns depicts a delightfully slimy FBI agent – but the plot is solid and well- elaborated. The torture set pieces are often gross, but realized with splendid make-up effects. Recommended!
Funny and intense one minute. Ridiculous the next.
redeemingtheuneven29 March 2012
Having been reasonably impressed with other Raw Feed films, I was keen to check out 'Otis.' It has a promising, quite original storyline that should make for good entertainment in any horror fan's eyes. But I was rather disappointed.
The acting was good for the most part. Ashley Johnson and Bostin Christopher both nailed their leading roles, and Jere Burns as the left-of-field agent was an awesome injection. Illeana Douglas, on the other hand, er. She stood out amongst the pack as a let down, and even though this is a genre that doesn't get by on its acting merits, I had a problem with her performance.
In terms of soundtrack, I thought the licensed music used throughout was great (ie (Don't Fear) the Reaper), and so too were the few softer, touching pieces. Everything else felt out of place or too dramatic, and in a couple instances, music ruined entire scenes for me (much like Douglas' acting).
I can't rate this movie much above average, and that's coming from somebody who isn't a Horror cynic. Masses complain about modern-day horror flicks being unoriginal or just plain stupid and I never see the value in that. I know there are some bad ones out there, but they do get unfairly bashed on for the most part. So yeah, I'm not anti-slasher or anti-psycho material. 'Otis' just wasn't done right in places, whether that blame be laid down on the script or whatnot. It has its share of bright glimpses, don't get me wrong, but it also has its share of dull, cringe-worthy "you idiot" moments, where I just have to put my fist down.
The acting was good for the most part. Ashley Johnson and Bostin Christopher both nailed their leading roles, and Jere Burns as the left-of-field agent was an awesome injection. Illeana Douglas, on the other hand, er. She stood out amongst the pack as a let down, and even though this is a genre that doesn't get by on its acting merits, I had a problem with her performance.
In terms of soundtrack, I thought the licensed music used throughout was great (ie (Don't Fear) the Reaper), and so too were the few softer, touching pieces. Everything else felt out of place or too dramatic, and in a couple instances, music ruined entire scenes for me (much like Douglas' acting).
I can't rate this movie much above average, and that's coming from somebody who isn't a Horror cynic. Masses complain about modern-day horror flicks being unoriginal or just plain stupid and I never see the value in that. I know there are some bad ones out there, but they do get unfairly bashed on for the most part. So yeah, I'm not anti-slasher or anti-psycho material. 'Otis' just wasn't done right in places, whether that blame be laid down on the script or whatnot. It has its share of bright glimpses, don't get me wrong, but it also has its share of dull, cringe-worthy "you idiot" moments, where I just have to put my fist down.
The Missed Birthday Party
claudio_carvalho17 January 2009
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")
"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")
This movie is so bad, I can't begin to describe it
jimigorilla200020 August 2009
Warning: Spoilers
It is perfectly natural for the friends and relatives of the victims of violent crime, whether state-sponsored or as a form of private enterprise, to feel a need for revenge. This movie could have offered us an interesting take on this theme, as the parents and brother of a kidnap victim decide to take 'justice' into their own hands. What this movie should have done, is explore the difference between 'justice' and 'revenge.' For a while it looks like it does, as our bad guy isn't portrayed as a total monster. The first sign that there's something wrong with the movie is the cop who's in charge of solving the case. Any cop with his lack of pr talent would have been assigned to a desk job long before he would have had the chance to trample all over the feelings of any violent crime victims. It's a character that's so improbable that it can only be viewed as a complete parody. The actor playing him looks a bit too much like Owen Wilson to take seriously, anyway. The 'act of revenge' perpetrated on the brother of the actual criminal by the family of the kidnapped girl soon deteriorates into a totally unnecessary orgy of brutal and absolutely pointless sadism which serves no purpose other than to satisfy the rather base needs of a largely uneducated audience, mostly of a pubescent and adolescent nature, I'd assume. Movies like this do not really contribute to their education either. Quite the contrary, I'd say. But then, who cares, when you can make a quick buck? It's only 'entertainment', isn't it? I suppose the intended audience is supposed to howl with laughter when the irate mother threatens to put the toes of her own helpless and by and large innocent victim in the blender. I don't really see what's so entertaining about that, although it goes a long way to explaining why many Americans, some in very high places, seem to have no problem with torturing their POW's. They have been sort of programmed by 'entertainment' like this. I do wish the kids would stop believing that something's cool just because an older person thinks it isn't. I mean, I'm an older person and I don't eat crap (as in excrement, but I couldn't use the obvious word because it's prohibited, much like this movie should be) because I don't think it's cool and I suspect it wouldn't taste good. By the logic which our youngsters apply in approving a movie like this, they would now have to start eating crap. Enjoy, kids.
A nice little film.
thegreatbeast200019 June 2008
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.
All-around awful
hinzac16 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I don't even have words for how painfully terrible this movie is. The dialogue is a joke. It seems that the whole budget went to securing rights to great songs and hiring a writer for free. The characters interact in such fake and forced ways. WTF was one good thing about this movie? I'm not a troll, I just hated this movie. example: "F*** the FBI, let's call the cops!" The camera angles/editing added nothing to the story. The music and lyrics carried every emotion because the actors and dialogue didn't even come close do doing their jobs. What was with the parents cracking jokes and acting nonchalant when their daughter goes missing? I am now dumber for having watched this waste of time. One saving grace: the spoof on Nancy Grace when being all cold and factual when talking with parents. This movie took itself way too seriously and was a terrible miss. Spoilers don't exist because nothing was a twist or unpredictable.
One of the Best Films of 2008, Hands Down
gavin694223 June 2008
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.
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.
Dark, funny, different
Helen_Wheels19 March 2008
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.
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.
Clever, Disturbing, and Fastastic Storytelling----Has Nothing to do With This FIlm!
Scars_Remain31 July 2008
There was pretty much nothing whatsoever that I enjoyed about this movie. I sat in my room, staring at the screen for an hour and forty minutes and felt no form, not even a spark, of emotion, enjoyment or anything that makes a movie a good in my mind. I understand that it's supposed to be funny and scary at the same time, but it was neither.
The acting sucks pretty badly in this one but I guess that's expected from a bad horror comedy. The story is boring, predictable and uninteresting. I was bored and angry and wanted my time back once it ended. Thank God I didn't pay to see this mess. I hope you have the sense to not even waste your time on it.
Don't see this movie. Take it from a very disappointed horror fan. It's not worth it!
The acting sucks pretty badly in this one but I guess that's expected from a bad horror comedy. The story is boring, predictable and uninteresting. I was bored and angry and wanted my time back once it ended. Thank God I didn't pay to see this mess. I hope you have the sense to not even waste your time on it.
Don't see this movie. Take it from a very disappointed horror fan. It's not worth it!
Horrifying And Hilarious. Channeling Your Inner Homicidal Psychopath.
johnstonjames12 October 2011
Warning: Spoilers
whoa. every time i see this wicked little bit of horror it gets funnier and more disturbing. it is satire. no doubt. it satirizes our fear, our relation to it and how our emotional responses deal with it. it is a satire about society and how it deals with anger, revenge and our suppression of our blood lust. beyond satire, 'Otis' is also a really vicious and grisly horror B flick. worthy of comparison to some of the best of Romero and Craven.
lets start with the character of the piece, Otis. Otis is one of the best horror film monsters in recent years. Otis is off putting not only because he is a 6 foot tall, 400 pound, creepy gorilla who is demented in a particularly foul way, but also because he is disturbingly human. the viewer can't help but respond to both sides of the coin when Otis's much shorter, but older brother lays into Otis and berates him. nobody likes to see someone lectured or berated by another, but you also can't help but feel the brother has insight and is pointing out some truths when he calls Otis a "moron and a idiot". Otis IS a moron and a idiot, and worse, he's a mean, cruel, and evil young man. but it isn't hard to understand how a society that seems designed to confuse and frustrate, can create such a desperate monster. after all, Otis's brother's only solution is for Otis to keep his job as a pizza delivery guy.
after being exposed to Otis's disturbed and sadistic nature to start, we are then introduced to the family of Otis's next victim. they are actually nice enough, reasonable people with the usual amount of dysfunction. the husband and wife carry on in a repressed frustrated manner while their son degenerates into a sociopathic delinquent and their only daughter seems more interested in learning about her sexuality and boys more than math, history or science. a real brain the daughter ain't. doesn't mean she deserves to fall prey to the likes of a disgusting monster pig like Otis.
what results eventually is a hilarious send up of revenge and capital punishment, but also our obsession with violence and blood. we all have that crocodile brained carnivore waiting to be unleashed. lets just hope we don't all inner channel it to the extreme the victim's family does.
the acting, direction, photography and idea concepts here are excellent. the whole thing is executed (hah a pun) almost flawlessly. i can think of better horror films than 'Otis', but i can think of few that are brought off so well and with so few rough edges.
with so much talk of bullying in our society today it is good to remember that within every victim is a bully waiting to get out. it's not that i don't support victim's rights, but the "bully" cry that is being made at the moment is very outward in it's projection and accusation with very little insight on the victim's passivity and subjectivity about the incident. what do they say? don't take it too personally. i sometimes believe that every person is capable of being bullied and of being a bully. something this film points out in a very strange manner.
lets start with the character of the piece, Otis. Otis is one of the best horror film monsters in recent years. Otis is off putting not only because he is a 6 foot tall, 400 pound, creepy gorilla who is demented in a particularly foul way, but also because he is disturbingly human. the viewer can't help but respond to both sides of the coin when Otis's much shorter, but older brother lays into Otis and berates him. nobody likes to see someone lectured or berated by another, but you also can't help but feel the brother has insight and is pointing out some truths when he calls Otis a "moron and a idiot". Otis IS a moron and a idiot, and worse, he's a mean, cruel, and evil young man. but it isn't hard to understand how a society that seems designed to confuse and frustrate, can create such a desperate monster. after all, Otis's brother's only solution is for Otis to keep his job as a pizza delivery guy.
after being exposed to Otis's disturbed and sadistic nature to start, we are then introduced to the family of Otis's next victim. they are actually nice enough, reasonable people with the usual amount of dysfunction. the husband and wife carry on in a repressed frustrated manner while their son degenerates into a sociopathic delinquent and their only daughter seems more interested in learning about her sexuality and boys more than math, history or science. a real brain the daughter ain't. doesn't mean she deserves to fall prey to the likes of a disgusting monster pig like Otis.
what results eventually is a hilarious send up of revenge and capital punishment, but also our obsession with violence and blood. we all have that crocodile brained carnivore waiting to be unleashed. lets just hope we don't all inner channel it to the extreme the victim's family does.
the acting, direction, photography and idea concepts here are excellent. the whole thing is executed (hah a pun) almost flawlessly. i can think of better horror films than 'Otis', but i can think of few that are brought off so well and with so few rough edges.
with so much talk of bullying in our society today it is good to remember that within every victim is a bully waiting to get out. it's not that i don't support victim's rights, but the "bully" cry that is being made at the moment is very outward in it's projection and accusation with very little insight on the victim's passivity and subjectivity about the incident. what do they say? don't take it too personally. i sometimes believe that every person is capable of being bullied and of being a bully. something this film points out in a very strange manner.
A humorous and disturbing look at kidnapping, torture, murder and the family.
pslj-116 June 2008
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.
An insult to the movie industry.
david-pillard6 September 2008
I don't even know why I'm taking the time to comment on one of the worst films I have ever seen in my life. Honestly, right now, I can't remember anything that has been so awful in the past few years, decades even... Here's why:
This movie has absolutely nothing, and I mean nothing, that should make you watch it. The scenario is entirely predictable, the actors are shockingly boring, the suspense is inexistent, all the dialogues are empty, the violence is unmotivated, oh my god!! But what is wrong with this film??? If you haven't seen it yet, then just go rent any other one, it'll be a good one, I guarantee you. Please, seriously, for the Movie Industry's sake.
This movie has absolutely nothing, and I mean nothing, that should make you watch it. The scenario is entirely predictable, the actors are shockingly boring, the suspense is inexistent, all the dialogues are empty, the violence is unmotivated, oh my god!! But what is wrong with this film??? If you haven't seen it yet, then just go rent any other one, it'll be a good one, I guarantee you. Please, seriously, for the Movie Industry's sake.
"Black Comedy" gem.......
merklekranz6 November 2008
"Otis" is a huge surprise. Ileana Douglas, Daniel Stern, and Kevin Pollak, eat up the screen. The script is fresh, and the slob-loser kidnapping his date for role playing his senior prom is absolutely brilliant. Although most exploitation films of this type feature ample quantities of female nudity, there is zero t.&a. in "Otis". This might disappoint some in the crowd, but the fine script and acting keeps things interesting. If you think twisted perverts like Otis combined with biting black comedy can't be entertaining, seek this one out, and be amazed. Wildly imaginative, and highly recommended...................MERK
No good but good music
formiga454 October 2008
Very weak horror movie.
The film is so weak that you can thing that this film is a comedy.
The actors are average to weak.
Production is weak but not so poor.
For this reason this film deserves only a 3. But there is a surprise: I like the musics of this movie.
Whitout the music this film will gain probably a 2 score.
But attention, the DVD film don't have a good 5.1 sound (no good distribution in all the speakers).
So the average score is 3. Not recommendation.
The film is so weak that you can thing that this film is a comedy.
The actors are average to weak.
Production is weak but not so poor.
For this reason this film deserves only a 3. But there is a surprise: I like the musics of this movie.
Whitout the music this film will gain probably a 2 score.
But attention, the DVD film don't have a good 5.1 sound (no good distribution in all the speakers).
So the average score is 3. Not recommendation.
Diamond in the Rough!
tonywebman17 October 2008
Warning: 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).
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).
A confused, unfunny, meaningless mess
bob_meg10 January 2011
Otis is possibly the most ineptly made "professional" film I've seen in at least a decade. Its incompetence is infuriating.
It has absolutely no idea what it wants to achieve or what it wants to elicit. If it's a comedy, it's not funny. If it's a horror movie, it's not horrifying. if it's a commentary on vigilante-ism and the pop culture appeal of serial killing and kidnappers, it's not pithy, clever, or inventive.
As other reviewers have pointed out, the script is achingly bad. How Daniel Stern and Illeana Douglas (and Kevin Pollak!) were persuaded to lend their names to this pile of stinking dung is mystifying.
This is not satire. Satire needs to be played out with at least a shred of parody and there is no parody in this script. It's too badly written to comment on anything except how badly it's written.
Please Tony Krantz, take the massive well-deserved theatrical rejection this film received seriously. Keep the day job. We beg you.
It has absolutely no idea what it wants to achieve or what it wants to elicit. If it's a comedy, it's not funny. If it's a horror movie, it's not horrifying. if it's a commentary on vigilante-ism and the pop culture appeal of serial killing and kidnappers, it's not pithy, clever, or inventive.
As other reviewers have pointed out, the script is achingly bad. How Daniel Stern and Illeana Douglas (and Kevin Pollak!) were persuaded to lend their names to this pile of stinking dung is mystifying.
This is not satire. Satire needs to be played out with at least a shred of parody and there is no parody in this script. It's too badly written to comment on anything except how badly it's written.
Please Tony Krantz, take the massive well-deserved theatrical rejection this film received seriously. Keep the day job. We beg you.
Otis is destined to join Freddie and Jason as a horror icon
larry-41113 March 2008
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."
The rare film that's better because its storytelling is so relaxed
MBunge17 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Otis is a dark comedy that never quite comes into focus, but sustains itself by never raising the stakes so high that it matters.
The title character (played by Bostin Christopher) is a hulking serial killer plaguing the suburbs. He kidnaps teenage girls, holds them prisoner and makes them pretend to be his girlfriend, then chops up and disposes of their bodies after he takes them to the "prom". His latest victim is beautiful blonde Riley Lawton (Ashley Johnson), whom he nabs in broad daylight as her slacker smartass brother Reed (Jared Krusnitz) walks away in the other direction.
When Otis calls the Lawsons to ask permission to "date" Riley, that brings the FBI into the case in the form of dickish diva Agent Hotchkiss (Jere Burns). He's supremely confident and just as clueless. With the unwitting assistance of Otis' terminally angry and abusive brother (Kevin Pollack), Riley is able to escape. But her mom (Illeana Douglas) makes her promise not to tell the authorities anything about Otis. Mom wants to take care of things herself, no matter how much Riley's dad (Daniel Stern) objects.
The first thing you have to know about Otis is that it's not that scary or suspenseful. The only scene of real violence is completely undercut by some blunt humor and even as Riley is held captive and threatened by Otis, she always seems more inconvenienced than frightened. The second thing you have to know about this film is that it doesn't matter that it's not scary or suspenseful. It's fairly entertaining because, not in spite, or that.
Let me explain. There's a lot about this movie that doesn't fit together. Riley's family is like something out of an 80s sitcom. Agent Hotchkiss, however, resembles more absurd fair like something out of Airplane! or The Naked Gun. Otis, meanwhile, is far more serious than anything else in the story. Even the things he does that are supposed to be funny flow out of a more dramatic place. And while the film is clearly going for satire at many points, the purpose or point of the satire is often unclear. For example, there's a slew of scenes where Otis is acting out his high school dating fantasy with Riley where it's all played for comedic effect, but there's no actual punch line to any of it.
Those sorts of incongruities usually doom a movie. Not it this case. The tension and energy of the story is kept pretty low and that, intentionally or not, prevents the unfitted pieces of Otis from cracking into each other. You're able to appreciate the individual elements of the movie, even though they don't belong together. The character of Otis and Bostin Christopher's performance is very creepy and a little unsettling. Agent Hotchkiss is completely over the top. He's a couple of pratfalls and an atrocious accent away from Inspector Clouseau territory. The Lawsons are corny and clichéd and when this sitcomish family is plunged into the world of torture porn, the contrast works. It's like combining the Cosby Show with Saw.
None of that goes together and if the film were tight and energetic, you couldn't help but notice. By keeping things loose and inexact, the edges don't irritatingly scrape together.
Otis is amusing, intriguing and a little unformed. It's a dark comedy that I think isn't nearly as dark as it's makers intended it to be, and it's all the better for it. Torture porn fans will enjoy it as a lark and normal folks might like it too.
The title character (played by Bostin Christopher) is a hulking serial killer plaguing the suburbs. He kidnaps teenage girls, holds them prisoner and makes them pretend to be his girlfriend, then chops up and disposes of their bodies after he takes them to the "prom". His latest victim is beautiful blonde Riley Lawton (Ashley Johnson), whom he nabs in broad daylight as her slacker smartass brother Reed (Jared Krusnitz) walks away in the other direction.
When Otis calls the Lawsons to ask permission to "date" Riley, that brings the FBI into the case in the form of dickish diva Agent Hotchkiss (Jere Burns). He's supremely confident and just as clueless. With the unwitting assistance of Otis' terminally angry and abusive brother (Kevin Pollack), Riley is able to escape. But her mom (Illeana Douglas) makes her promise not to tell the authorities anything about Otis. Mom wants to take care of things herself, no matter how much Riley's dad (Daniel Stern) objects.
The first thing you have to know about Otis is that it's not that scary or suspenseful. The only scene of real violence is completely undercut by some blunt humor and even as Riley is held captive and threatened by Otis, she always seems more inconvenienced than frightened. The second thing you have to know about this film is that it doesn't matter that it's not scary or suspenseful. It's fairly entertaining because, not in spite, or that.
Let me explain. There's a lot about this movie that doesn't fit together. Riley's family is like something out of an 80s sitcom. Agent Hotchkiss, however, resembles more absurd fair like something out of Airplane! or The Naked Gun. Otis, meanwhile, is far more serious than anything else in the story. Even the things he does that are supposed to be funny flow out of a more dramatic place. And while the film is clearly going for satire at many points, the purpose or point of the satire is often unclear. For example, there's a slew of scenes where Otis is acting out his high school dating fantasy with Riley where it's all played for comedic effect, but there's no actual punch line to any of it.
Those sorts of incongruities usually doom a movie. Not it this case. The tension and energy of the story is kept pretty low and that, intentionally or not, prevents the unfitted pieces of Otis from cracking into each other. You're able to appreciate the individual elements of the movie, even though they don't belong together. The character of Otis and Bostin Christopher's performance is very creepy and a little unsettling. Agent Hotchkiss is completely over the top. He's a couple of pratfalls and an atrocious accent away from Inspector Clouseau territory. The Lawsons are corny and clichéd and when this sitcomish family is plunged into the world of torture porn, the contrast works. It's like combining the Cosby Show with Saw.
None of that goes together and if the film were tight and energetic, you couldn't help but notice. By keeping things loose and inexact, the edges don't irritatingly scrape together.
Otis is amusing, intriguing and a little unformed. It's a dark comedy that I think isn't nearly as dark as it's makers intended it to be, and it's all the better for it. Torture porn fans will enjoy it as a lark and normal folks might like it too.
bad direction, bad lighting, bad acting plague this. . . film?
Andubatman2 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
reading the synopsis at SXSW this year, i was intrigued by the comparison to Jason and Freddy. sadly, this was not even close to the truth. ultimately, it came down to the fact that this was the first movie where i could absolutely tell that this was the fault of the director. Bostin Christopher was completely miscast. he looks 20, not 40, as they repeatedly say he is in the film. Ashley Johnson was about as good as i've seen her. but man, Illeana Douglas? Daniel Stern? i've seen these actors put on great performances, but this was horrible. and Kevin Pollak? i've never seen him do a bad performance, until now. it can only mean one thing when you have that many consistently bad performances from so many good actors: the director is to blame.
even the lighting was bad. when you have the torture chamber focusing so much on the light, you need to invest in a good cinematographer. sadly, this looked more like a soap opera with soft lighting, than a horror/comedy with harsh lighting. half the time it felt more ethereal than scary, because of the bad lighting.
the only saving grace for me was Jere Burns. his consistent "i don't give a rat's ass" mentality was great. over the top at times, yes, but he was the only thing i laughed with, not at.
even the lighting was bad. when you have the torture chamber focusing so much on the light, you need to invest in a good cinematographer. sadly, this looked more like a soap opera with soft lighting, than a horror/comedy with harsh lighting. half the time it felt more ethereal than scary, because of the bad lighting.
the only saving grace for me was Jere Burns. his consistent "i don't give a rat's ass" mentality was great. over the top at times, yes, but he was the only thing i laughed with, not at.
A perverse and hilarious modern exploitation
Shattered_Wake16 June 2008
Warning: 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-
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-
Pizza with a side order of psycho.
michaelRokeefe3 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Dark comedy and slasher flick rolled into one. Sick humor to your delight. Otis(Bostin Christopher)is not your ordinary pizza delivery guy. Okay, he's pushing forty and living alone in the house his mother left. His brother Elmo(Kevin Pollak) comes by to downgrade his mentally challenged brother regularly. Otis is actually a sometime pizza guy; but a full-time psycho. He has a well equipped torture chamber in his basement and he has everything he needs for the prom; a baby-blue tux, corsage and a pretty blonde named Kim chained to the middle of the floor with no way out. Did I mention that Otis is a serial killer; kidnapping blonds and forcing them all to act out high school scenarios...and by all means answer to the name Kim. Otis likes to play rough at times and his playmates don't seem to last too long.
Upon delivering a large with the "works" to repeat customers(the Lawson household) he is smitten with pretty Riley Lawson(Ashley Johnson), who becomes Kim #6 or is it #7? Anyway this little hottie has the smarts to escape. Riley's parents(Daniel Stern and Illeana Douglas)are told Otis' address by their beaten daughter and along with son Reed(Jared Kusnitz) this movie gets to be outrageously funny. They wait in the dark for Otis to walk in his front door. Bad time for brother Elmo to arrive. The suburban family go into maniac mode and beat the living daylights out of who they think is Otis. Down right gruesome; but pee your pants funny at the same time. Realizing their mistake...revenge is still just a pizza order away. Absolutely brilliant!
Chritopher is a hoot as Otis; and you have to have sympathy for Pollak's Elmo. Also in the cast: Ellie Gerber, Tarah Paige and Jere Burns. Kudos to writers Erik Jendresen and Thomas Schnauz; and to director Tony Krantz for his choreographed violence.
Upon delivering a large with the "works" to repeat customers(the Lawson household) he is smitten with pretty Riley Lawson(Ashley Johnson), who becomes Kim #6 or is it #7? Anyway this little hottie has the smarts to escape. Riley's parents(Daniel Stern and Illeana Douglas)are told Otis' address by their beaten daughter and along with son Reed(Jared Kusnitz) this movie gets to be outrageously funny. They wait in the dark for Otis to walk in his front door. Bad time for brother Elmo to arrive. The suburban family go into maniac mode and beat the living daylights out of who they think is Otis. Down right gruesome; but pee your pants funny at the same time. Realizing their mistake...revenge is still just a pizza order away. Absolutely brilliant!
Chritopher is a hoot as Otis; and you have to have sympathy for Pollak's Elmo. Also in the cast: Ellie Gerber, Tarah Paige and Jere Burns. Kudos to writers Erik Jendresen and Thomas Schnauz; and to director Tony Krantz for his choreographed violence.
Gimme me Milo & Otis over this any day.
ElijahCSkuggs5 July 2008
Otis revolves around a abused, 40 year old pizza delivery guy, who's suffers from probably a slew of mental disorders, but most of all he suffers from a state of mind that I'm very familiar with, loneliness. Otis kidnaps hot blondes and makes them play "high-school" until the big day of the prom. Through, physical abuse and chains he keeps his victim tied up to his little escape-proof room and just simply prays and hopes the chick he kidnapped plays along. Well, his next victim is up, and he's up for another round of "high-school". With a whole new victim, he's bound to get a little ass outta this. But Otis doesn't know about his latest victim's family. They're almost as strange as him. Watch OTIS to see how it all plays out.
Otis, for myself, unlike most the majority (it seems) who've seen it, was a pretty big let-down. There is zero tension, zero scares, barely any grue, zero nudity, and lots of humor that does not hit the mark. Though we do have some good acting, but mix that with less than stellar writing, the performances seem to lack. The son and mother are fed these way over-the-top lines that didn't even slightly begin to crack my smile. Just because the kid swears and the mother has a thing for violence....sorry, gotta be better than that. But for most people, it seems to be doing the trick. The Dad who constantly blamed the mother for everything that occurred was a nice touch and him and the head detective give by far the best performances. Otis and the chick, were alright, but nothing really outstanding. I also didn't even care for the story. I'm not a fan of kidnap movies, unless of course there's some serious torture or rape going on, cause that's what really happens, right? Well, nothing great occurs, and nothing funny really happens either. Oh by the by, the last scene of the movie, I f@ckin hated. Awful, predictable crap that made me seriously think about how weak the writing in this flick was.
Funny thing happened while watching this flick. I had Deja Vu, during the church scene, and it completely ruined the surprise. Wouldya believe that. Ha! Nevertheless, it was a slightly predictable scene anyways.
Overall, Otis delivers a constant average-feeling source of entertainment, but without anything truly remarkable it misses the bill. Average acting, average writing and well, average everything. But it is better than most crap being churned out these days. If you're looking for a better, sicker modern flick, check out Neighborhood Watch.
Otis, for myself, unlike most the majority (it seems) who've seen it, was a pretty big let-down. There is zero tension, zero scares, barely any grue, zero nudity, and lots of humor that does not hit the mark. Though we do have some good acting, but mix that with less than stellar writing, the performances seem to lack. The son and mother are fed these way over-the-top lines that didn't even slightly begin to crack my smile. Just because the kid swears and the mother has a thing for violence....sorry, gotta be better than that. But for most people, it seems to be doing the trick. The Dad who constantly blamed the mother for everything that occurred was a nice touch and him and the head detective give by far the best performances. Otis and the chick, were alright, but nothing really outstanding. I also didn't even care for the story. I'm not a fan of kidnap movies, unless of course there's some serious torture or rape going on, cause that's what really happens, right? Well, nothing great occurs, and nothing funny really happens either. Oh by the by, the last scene of the movie, I f@ckin hated. Awful, predictable crap that made me seriously think about how weak the writing in this flick was.
Funny thing happened while watching this flick. I had Deja Vu, during the church scene, and it completely ruined the surprise. Wouldya believe that. Ha! Nevertheless, it was a slightly predictable scene anyways.
Overall, Otis delivers a constant average-feeling source of entertainment, but without anything truly remarkable it misses the bill. Average acting, average writing and well, average everything. But it is better than most crap being churned out these days. If you're looking for a better, sicker modern flick, check out Neighborhood Watch.
A real sicko
geoffox-766-41846722 January 2011
I blame writers Erik Jendresen and Thomas Schnauz for writing this sick movie and Tony Krantz for directing this piece of crap. No wonder we have serial killers running around killing people at the mall in schools, parks and playgrounds. Writing like this only encourages the demented killers to continue their rampages. When are we going to end this blood thirsty make a buck movie? Time to put a stop to them, for good. When you let something like this movie out to the public and then make money on it especially allowing the killers to get away with this sick crimes, you want to face the writers and actors and tell them all to go to hell. I'm going to mention this cast as I hope none of us are forced to watch them again in any film. With the exception of Kevin Pollak (brilliant in A Few Good Men) and wasted in this trite. And lovely Ashley Johnson, the only realistic actor in the movie as the victim. But put the likes of Bostin Christopher (Otis), Daniel Stern (psycho father), Illeana Douglas (sick mom with Peter Lorre bug eyes), Jared Kusnitz (complete ass of a brother with the brains of an ant) and Jere Burns (playing a gum chewing cop whom you get sick of watching) together in one movie and you get so you want Otis to kill them all. Absolutely no sympathy for the sick family and you wonder how the young girl, Ashley, can even live with such a family. This kind of film should be banned from showing. Just imagine all the psycho killers out there getting ideas from the sick minds of the writers intentions. Are they too looney tunes?
guy next door, and Daniel Stern's continuing career
lee_eisenberg3 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Aside from the time that Daniel Stern came to Lewis & Clark College (where I was a student) in September 2004 to tell about his USO trip to Iraq the previous year*, I was wondering what had become of him. It turns out that he still appears in movies, and he starred in a pretty neat black comedy. "Otis" casts Bostin Christopher as the title character, a pizza delivery guy with a go-nowhere life. But he loves Kim: that's the name that he gives girls whom he kidnaps, including Riley Lawson (Ashley Johnson). Mostly a typical kidnapping story.
However, the second half of the movie looks like a totally different movie. You see, Riley's mother (Illeana Douglas) has her own idea of how to carry out justice, and she gets the father (Daniel Stern) and brother to cooperate. Surprisingly, it wasn't an incredibly gory scene, but I would still call it a guilty pleasure. Overall, the movie pokes fun at the suburban lifestyle - complete with the brother's unsavory version of film-making - and horror flicks. Think of it as "Silence of the Lambs" meets "American Beauty". To crown everything, there's even a smarmy detective.
All in all, worth seeing, and I still say that Daniel Stern is a better actor than he gets credit for. Also starring Kevin Pollak and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs.
*While Stern was in Iraq, some Iraqi children recognized him from "Home Alone". This made him realize the extent and impact of American culture.
However, the second half of the movie looks like a totally different movie. You see, Riley's mother (Illeana Douglas) has her own idea of how to carry out justice, and she gets the father (Daniel Stern) and brother to cooperate. Surprisingly, it wasn't an incredibly gory scene, but I would still call it a guilty pleasure. Overall, the movie pokes fun at the suburban lifestyle - complete with the brother's unsavory version of film-making - and horror flicks. Think of it as "Silence of the Lambs" meets "American Beauty". To crown everything, there's even a smarmy detective.
All in all, worth seeing, and I still say that Daniel Stern is a better actor than he gets credit for. Also starring Kevin Pollak and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs.
*While Stern was in Iraq, some Iraqi children recognized him from "Home Alone". This made him realize the extent and impact of American culture.
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