"What we have here is a failure to deliver..."
Any filmmakers reading this review; This story needs re-filming and telling properly.
This film needed developing correctly since the story is so good. For me, the movie could be greater than psycho, if they'd applied some skill.
William Girdler gives the audience a story of a broken man and his son. Pa Townsend has single-handedly been raising Billy since his wife left. It's been a trying time as Billy has a problem. He appears to have a gruesome affection for the ladies. One night he's driving home and comes across four damsels in distress. Their car has broken down. Billy invites them to stay overnight at the farm and he'll drive them into town in the morning. Unfortunately, they don't get to see the sunrise... and Billy doesn't remember a thing. Though Pa believes Billy's been a very bad boy indeed.
This is just the start. As the story progresses, more secrets and skeleton's tumble out of the closets. The best is the triple twist at the end. I didn't see it coming, I'd only worked out two of the three. It's the third one that would have raised the film above Psycho's bar. You must watch the film as I don't want to give any spoilers. I can say it concerns Pa Townsend. The knowledge we receive at the end needed interweaving into the main storyline. I don't know why they didn't do this. They subtly threaded one twist into the story right from the start... and come on, the title is 3 On A Meathook!
Even though Girdler had a splendid story idea, he fails miserably at its transmute to film. He manages some scenes well enough. The ending and the monologue from Pa Townsend are good. However, it's Charles Kisinger's acting that elevates the scene. Regrettably, there are too many subpar sections, and the steady pacing doesn't help. The film runs for only one hour and twenty minutes... but it feels longer.
Though I liked the two Funk-Rock songs in the film, they didn't need to show the band performing them. Yawn. They could employ the misused time to construct a stronger story. But it's just a waste. Also, Billy's romance with Sherry needed more time and rounding out.
The one thing I loved was the killings, which were carried out quickly and cleanly. I find some directors like to draw out the kill. Unless the story calls for it, then it's not needed. My favourite in this movie is the pickaxe murder. Superb.
As for the acting. The four distressed damsels and Billy, played by James Carroll Pickett, are fine. Charles Kisinger fluctuates between good and MUH! His drunken stooper is respectably disrespectful. However, Sherry Steiner who plays Sherry took acting classes from a tree stump. Steiner is as wooden as you get.
As it's a short film, I would recommend to anybody who's exhausted their viewing pleasures. Though I wouldn't suggest spending money on it. Try to snag a free copy from somewhere or someone... who knows, they may be all too happy to throw it at you.
Ratings:
Story 1.5 : Direction 0.5 : Pace 0.5 : Acting 1 : Enjoyment 0.75 : Total 4.25 / 10
Come see where this pickaxed movie landed in my Killer Thriller Chillers and The Game Is Afoot charts.