Jack Be Nimble (1993)

Good start, but then it gets ruined

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Fantastic!

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

This low-budget horror film from New Zealand is, for me, a textbook example of why I love the genre.It has everything a quality horror movie needs, including the elements which big-budget and "typical American" horror all too often lack.The film looks great, using the natural beauty of NZ alongside impressive cityscapes, but also showing us the very ordinary and (of course) the dark and ugly side of both the rural and urban environments.The plot is straightforward but intelligently thought through and far from simple, resting on the characters and the tragic events in which they're embroiled.There is violence and death, disturbing rather than gory, and an insidious tension which builds slowly and isn't allowed to dissipate until the very end.The characters are sharply defined and individual, yet at the same time convincingly complex.The dialogue is unpretty (sometimes even crude), but direct and often powerful - in many ways watching this was like discovering an unknown early Cronenberg flick, but in place of Cronenberg's cool intellectualism Garth Maxwell has crafted a highly emotional film which isn't afraid to take its viewers into uncomfortable territory.Some of the performances might perhaps have been a little more fluid but Alexis Arquette (as the titular Jack) and especially Sarah Smuts-Kennedy as Dora are exceptionally honest in their portrayals of a damaged brother and sister. Mention must also be made of the blunt, persuasive presence of Bruno Lawrence, bringing to life a character who could easily have been badly mishandled.Mainly, though, it's the ideas which make this shine. There are more surprises in this film than in the last dozen Hollywood horrors I watched... and thankfully they're the kind of surprised which make you think, not the kind which make you jump! There are very few FX beyond straight-up film techniques and a little fake blood, and that too is to the film's credit. This is a film about people whose lives have spiralled out of control and into the dark side, and while the paranormal elements are ever-present they're never the meat of the meal.There are a few rough edges. As I mentioned in passing, the script has its clunky moments and not all the acting matches the quality of the standout roles. There were also some heavy-handed edits, and the sound design wasn't as accomplished as the visual aspects of the movie.These are, however, minor quibbles, which didn't detract in the slightest from my enjoyment.If you have an interest in the more sombre, conceptual side of the horror genre, this is an underrated modern classic, and comes highly recommended.

~Spoiler~Jack Be Nimble can be summed up in one word: weird. This is a strange import from New Zealand revolving around twin siblings who are separated at a young age. One leads a decent life while the other, Jack, is tortured and belittled by his adopted parents. This humiliation leads Jack (played by Alexis Arquette) to build a machine in metal shop that allows him to kill his new parents in particularly nasty ways. Don't worry, these people had it coming. He then sets out to find his long lost sister. I would have been very pleased and fulfilled if the movie had ended there. But it doesn't. Jack finds his sister and runs into a whole new set of troubles to kill, er, deal with. If you enjoy a good abnormal creepfest, this won't disappoint you.

I just finished this film. Bought it at eBay. I collect obscure movies. This one is a jewel. A very dark jewel in its very own genre. I'm not one to reveal plots, but I can describe the movie. Director Garth Maxwell takes you on a bit of an unexpected trip. It smacks of classic horror, but, it's new horror and you never know where it's going. Maxwell's use of light and color is simply astounding and unforgettable. I'm sure I'll sleep with some of these images tonight. It's not for those of you who like typical movies. It's very different. I have but two technical problems and they're small: 1) Maxwell let's Dora say, "Marigolds." and they're not. 2) One line slips out while no lips move. Otherwise, the film is certainly going to chill some blood cells and keep your brain ticking. Sorry, but Alexis Arquette couldn't be more good-looking, either. It's not big Hollywood (and I like that), but it's very, very provocative film-making. I like that, too.

Bizarre but serious horror film that piques your interest from the opening scene. Maintains a unique and colorful atmosphere throughout. The depths of human evil are depicted here as if one were watching a fairy tale with witches and goblins (thus the Jack of nursery rhyme is chosen here). Great score, by the way, that helps to create the atmosphere throughout.I recommend it as a good Halloween treat, but definitely not for children.