Bereavement (2010)

A Masterpiece!

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Blistering performances.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

It's been a few days now since I watched "Bereavement", and the more I contemplate about it, the more I have to reckon that it was a unique viewing experience for me! It's a really good horror movie, and simultaneously it's a very bad horror movie. Usually you spot a couple of strong aspects in an overall bad film, or you find a few things disappointing in an overall good film, but "Bereavement" is quite different. The good aspects are truly great, whereas the bad aspects are incredibly bad and, in the end, I can't decide what to think of it! Therefore, and for the first time in IMDb history, I'll be writing a schizophrenic/Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde review! Dr. Jekyll says: "Bereavement" is a downright fantastic experience that you simply must watch in case you're a seeker of genuine and unhinged horror! For the first time in decades, we are faced with an atmosphere that is authentically grim and petrifying, and a screenplay that is vile, shocking and completely devoid of taboos or political correctness. Stevan Mena is the guy who finally dared to write a film about subjects that really scare people! Sick individuals prowling around in their eerie old cars and abducting defenseless young children, endlessly exposing fragile & undeveloped young minds to extreme violence, honest and good-hearted people getting slaughtered in front of their loved ones without reason, etc. "Bereavement" is one of the bleakest and nihilistically primitive stories ever and even the most experienced horror fanatics with strong stomachs and steel nerves are likely to be astounded by the brutality of this film. The remote locations (like the ramshackle meat & poultry abattoir) and set-pieces (like Sutter's van) are shivering and the total absence of comic relief makes the tense ambiance even more unbearable. The killings are relentlessly mean-spirited and there is a lot of graphic and uncompromising gore on display. It's always excellent to see Michael Biehn in a thriller/horror film, and his performance is reliably forceful as usual. Young heroine Alexandra Daddario is a stunning beauty with one of the brightest pairs of blue eyes I have ever seen, but with a breast size like hers, I would advise her to wear a sport bra when jogging. You're going to get back problems, girl! Mr. Hyde says: how far does writer/director Stevan Mena expect us to push our suspension of disbelief? The screenplay of "Bereavement" is utterly ridicule and implausible. I reckon there aren't any policemen in Pennsylvania, because the least inconspicuous child abductor/serial killer in history can carelessly remain at large for a period of at least five years! This guy slowly drives near schools and playgrounds with an eye-catching pervert van that even has his actual name written in bright white letters on the side. Stranger danger, anyone? Five years later, he's still driving the same damn piece of wreckage, even though you can clearly read in newspaper clipping that an old black van got spotted at the house where the quiet kid was kidnapped. His liar, a narrowly demolished family company abattoir, also isn't exactly a secure hideout. It's located right next to the main road, and practically all the widows are broken, so at some point, please tell me that someone must heard the screams of tortured girls or smelled the stench of rotting corpses? Apparently, nobody in this godforsaken hole bothers to call the authorities or search for missing persons, like the waitress, and even cool dudes like Michael Biehn make dumb decisions. The teenage girl (and also her boyfriend) is the dumbest of the bunch, since she solely ventures into the cellars and corridors of a nasty slaughterhouse that is full of blood puddles, body parts and torture devices. Without once looking over her shoulder! Oh well, what do you expect from a chick with a D-cup size who doesn't wear a sports bra when she goes jogging? I could raise several more examples to point out the characters' stupidity, but the message is clear: the script of "Bereavement" is an insult to the intellect of every self-respecting horror fan! Eventually, Dr. Jekyll narrowly wins the mental battle (hence the 6/10 rating) because I still principally respect the fact that Stevan Mena has the courage to bring a cruel and unrelenting fright-story.

My quick rating - 5,4/10. Glad I watched this first, so now I can watch the flicks in order. I actually didn't know they were related films before I started watching, so works out well. The story is about what turned a child into becoming a serial killer. This follows the journey the child was forced to take, molding him into what he becomes. The subject matter is a bit over the top but gets its point across well. The acting is not top notch but passable enough. The characters that are basically fed to the killer are more or less just there to further the story. I did enjoy this as a stand alone and now am looking forward to watching Malevolence and also "Killer:Malevolence 3" when it comes out.

I only watched this movie because Michael Biehn was in it. It did not take long to figure out this movie pretty much sucks! Oh, and then I recognized actor John Savage. These two guys are good actors! But the chick playing Biehn's niece is so annoying and such a bad actress, that's the real horror here. The plot is pretty much non-existent: a serial killer slaying a bunch of women in front of the kid he's kidnapped. (and now I get it that this is a prequel. That knowledge didn't help the quality of this film). Oh, and parts of the story made no sense. The victims' and their excessive screaming, but lack of fighting. The teenager telling her cousin to stay put in the upstairs bedroom as a fire burns downstairs. Geez! It was just ridiculous. But, of course, I had to watch the sequel. I'm watching it now and it's just as bad.

Stevan Mena is back with another pointless movie after his 'priceless' Malevolence' experience. This time Mena actually has a big budget, some name actors and all technical equipment needed but movie still sucks on most levels, mostly because of the story/script. This suppose to be a realistic film about the serial killer but It's not. Simply because it looks like a slasher movie you have seen thousand times before. There are no surprises(well,one maybe) in the plot and killer is such a cliché. Acting is rather weak - lead actress is pretty much terrible, her boyfriend too. Michael Biehn does a competent job here but he doesn't have much to play with and his part is not all that big. Good news is - John Savage, actor of one voice tone and one face expression, finally acts(usually he just 'appears')but he only appears in two short scenes and is pretty much useless for the storyline. There is quite a lot of graphic violence and gore but it only makes it worse for the viewer who's not exactly 'torture porn' lover and unfortunately this is a torture porn kind of movie, nothing more. Cinematography is nice, some special effects are OK done but with over 2 million budget It's a must. If you liked the first part, you will probably like this prequel. I know I won't watch this again. 3 out of 10 for two decent actors and cinematography, making this easier to watch.