Bullies (1986)

Disappointment for a huge fan!

Absolutely Fantastic

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

BULLIES is a low budget revenge thriller of the 1980s, better than I expected it would be. A family consisting of a mother, son, and stepfather move into a small redneck town to take over the running of the local grocery store. They soon make enemies of a local redneck family who use violence and general unpleasantness to keep the townsfolk at bay. I wasn't expecting much from this movie, but it turns out to be fast-paced and relatively engaging, even if the cinematography is too dark and the acting nothing to write home about. As in the best revenge thrillers, such as CLASS OF 1984, things build slowly to a violent climax which doesn't disappoint, and the villains are truly nasty in this one. Watch out for CONAN THE DESTROYER's Olivia d'Abo, far too pretty to be playing one of the redneck family.

This is a really good movie and again I probably liked it more than most people. If you read my review for disturbing behavior you know I like a real good group or individual who is the villain and the cullians certainly are that. They are evil individual but when you get them together they are even worse. This movie shows what money can do to people maybe in a non-realistic way but it still did. If you like action and drama rolled into one then this movie is for you. I guarantee as you watch the movie you will not be able to wait until the cullens get whats coming to them and I am not going to reveal if they do or not you are just going to have to watch it. Great actors and a Great simple plot that is easy to follow. This movie is another favorite of mine so that is why in my opinion it deserves a 9/10

Around the same time as Sean Cunningham's similar in vein "The New Kids", came director Paul Lynch (the original "Prom Night", ''Humongous'' and ''Cross Country'' to his name) with his Canadian produced mean-spirited, brutal and intense small rural town revenge / vigilante thriller. Quite grippingly bold, dangerously impulsive and competently made, making it just as good if not better than Cunningham's feature. It won't win any awards for its simple, routine plot, but it's pulled off with such exploding ticker and vigorous verve in really exploiting its primitive thirst for violence and control. There's no holding back, but what really makes this one work are the villains of the piece. The Cullen family (well the father and three sons) are a really hateful bunch of intimidating psychos that will always get their own way, until the city folks the Morris family arrive on the scene. While passive at first to the Cullen's strangle hold over the town, the Morris' soon begin to question the Cullen's on-going harassment until one unpleasantly scarring incident occurs that really tips the once mild-mannered father over the edge and the fear is turned around for a bloody confrontation. This is when it opens up to a thrilling last half, which is excitingly electrifying and dark. Bill Croft crafts a dominating presence as the father Ben Cullen. Bernie Coulson, Adrien Dorval and William Nunn are solid as sadistically nutty sons. Then you have the drop dead gorgeous Olivia d'Abo as the unlucky sister, who numerously finds herself at the wrong side of her father and brother's aggression. The Morris' are likeably played by Stephen Hunter (who mightily grows in the role), Janet-Laine Green and Jonathan Crombie as the tough, determined lad Matt. Dehl Berti is appealingly good as somewhat a mentor figure for Crombie's character. Especially those talks of the spiritual side of his people and you can't go pass the spearing skills he taught him that did come in rather handy outside of just fishing. The relationship and lessons formed between the characters (mainly between Crombie and Berti and Crombie and Hunter) might be old-hat, but remain thoughtful in its character drawings to make the gruelling situations even more stirring. It's emotionally driven by its characters, which are helped by the convincing performances when everything erupts. Lynch's grounded style keeps it edgy and well-paced in a technically sound production, blending the dynamics of its atmospheric score and picturesque mountainous backdrop. The latter having many stunning background shots.

It seems to me that perhaps the incessant violence in this film is what saves it, and what ruins it. I have to confess, the first scene of senseless violence got my attention in a big way, but after a while it began to get rather repetitive. There were just too many beatings, and there was too much intimidation for the film to be enjoyable. Was it interesting? For the most part, yes. Unfortunately, anyone who has seen a film before would know that this family would eventually be put in their place, so the interest was only maintained by waiting to see who would be attacked next.