1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I have to disagree with the general consensus, March 24, 2009
This review is from: The Suckling (DVD)
`The Suckling' opens with a very self aware (and very funny) preamble scroll which reads as follows:
"On April 1st 1973 the most bizarre and macabre event in all of Brooklyn's modern history occurred. Twelve people, inhabitants of a reputed house of prostitution and an illegal abortion clinic were killed. Only one occupant survived.
When found by police, she told a tale so fantastic and horrific, she was believed to be insane. Authorities immediately placed her in an insane asylum.
The most brilliant investigators spent years trying to solve this gruesome mystery, but to this day, are still baffled.
Could the rantings of a girl, supposedly insane, be true? The makers of this film believe so."
I believe this film delivers entirely on the expectations set out by the premise and themes, as well as its placement in the late 80s/early 90s era indie horror genre field. I consider this to be a completely unfairly neglected classic, and as far as vaguely satirical, boundary-testing gross-out mutant-monster vehicles, few films surpass the wonderful demented tone and execution of this one. It is truly one of the last GREAT entries into this field.
On very limited means this film deals admirably with some of the most uncomfortable issues, never compromising once no matter how potentially tasteless or offensive. This film did sincerely make me squirm a few times, particularly in its handling of the proceedings of an illegal abortion clinic. It balances well the dual emphasis on bold exploitation and absolutely deranged black humour. I would wager that a lot of the alleged genre fans who pan this film are being slightly dishonest, and I think their real issue comes from their being made to feel genuinely uncomfortable by it.
Aside from the already mentioned strengths, it also features a great synth score, and some excellent, inspired special effects. The editing is decidedly goofy, and while you could consider this a sign of ineptitude, I am amused by it as a quirk rather than a weakness. There is also nothing wrong with the direction at all, and in the sewer scenes it actually achieves a rather impressive mood, which I think is true throughout most of the film in fact.
If you are wondering if this film "delivers" (get it yet?), I promise, if you fully appreciate films like `Basket Case', `Blood Feast', `The Toxic Avenger', `Class of Nuke 'em High', or `Inseminoid' to name a few, you will not find it stillborn (I do go on).
The general atmosphere is one of delirious absurdity and hyper-macabre, and it should not be taken too seriously as a reflection on anything but taste standards in film. Obviously this film is not "Vera Drake", and it doesn't quite have the social conscience of other films in its close family, but it's brilliant in its own right, so do not be dissuaded by what I consider to be a misleading sampling of opinion here or elsewhere.
The DVD itself is a very nice treat. It is a really sharp anamorphic widescreen, has perfect colour balance, and is neither too bright nor dark. The print is very clean and the transfer shows a LOT of grain, so being a fan of that I am really impressed here. Elite does a fine job, as usual, especially considering the relative obscurity of this and most of the other films they release. There are no "special features" to speak of, but the theatrical trailer is included, which I always love to see, as they are always fun with films like this. Other than the lack of additional content, there is little to raise issue with here.
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