Slaxx is a comedy horror movie that takes a stab at trends and the clothing industry. The film is about a pair of possessed jeans. The pants proceed to wreak havoc on the staff of a trendy clothing store. Even as comedy horror goes, the premise is a ridiculous one. Possession is common in horror – even in clothing – but few films are willing to make an entire slasher based on the idea. Slaxx takes the risk and it pays off in a fun movie.
This film is not just about the many outlandish moments designed to make the audience laugh. There is an actual message in Slaxx. The movie takes place in a hip color coded clothing store. They make sure to remind everyone how they are working towards a better tomorrow with a progressive working environment such as using earth friendly materials in all their clothes. The corporate culture is constantly under fire in some frightening and believable scenes.
Like any good campy horror movie, Slaxx is filled with gore. Since the big bad is a pair of killer jeans, this leads to some creative kills. The pants also provide some of the funniest parts of the film. The film loses some steam in the final act. The plot becomes more reliant on the characters. They are well defined but they are also little more than archetypes. Slaxx keeps going back to its idea of corporate hypocrisy to keep things interesting, however.
Slaxx is one of the most unique horror movies in years. The idea of a pair of killer jeans stalking and killing seems too silly to work. It may be good for a laugh or two, but unsustainable for an entire film. That is not the case here, thanks to a willingness to lean into its campier moments while still presenting a strong message audiences can appreciate.
Slaxx premieres on Shudder March 18
You must be logged in to post a comment Login