PG: Psycho Goreman will not appeal to everyone. Like most horror comedies, it is wacky, over the top, and incredibly juvenile. It is everything fans of the sub genre love but will also frustrate others. The film is about a pair of siblings that mistakenly resurrect an ancient alien overlord. The two discover they can control the newly named Psycho Goreman (PG). Before long, PG’s awakening brings the attention of aliens from around the universe.
Psycho Goreman is unashamedly ridiculous. The movie is reminiscent of a Troma release. A rolling head being graphically run over by a speeding vehicle is one of the more normal moments. Unsurprisingly, the titular monster lives up to his name. PG is unbridled evil. He indiscriminately kills children and turns others into soulless husks. Psycho Goreman still manages to make the character endearing, however. His brutally honest comments are hilarious and the ending is a silly surprise.
Psycho Goreman has some great practical effects. Writer-director Steven Kostanski embraces the film’s low budget. The many aliens amount to little more than men in rubber suits. This adds to the campy atmosphere and makes things that much more interesting. Things come close to being a spoof, but it is always clear it is a loving – and disgusting – homage.
The other characters are just as intresting to watch. Mimi (Nita-Josee Hanna) is overconfident and more than a little mean. The way she speaks to people can be just as vicious as PG. Her father Greg (Adam Brooks) is also great. His extreme selfishness fits the film. Basically, there is always an interesting character on screen in Psycho Goreman.
This does not mean that the film is just a story about a mean kid with an evil alien. The premise is not a particularly original one – Luke (Owen Myre) wonders whether his sister has gone too far this time – but the writing keeps things interesting. Psycho Goreman moves at a quick pace; some scenes are barely more than skits. Through it all, there is an undertone of what will happen between Mimi and Luke.
Psycho Goreman is a boisterous comedy horror that never holds back. The film is a chaotic ride of violence and laughs. In between all the madness, it tells its own twisted story about familial love. It may not always be pretty to watch, but it is a whole lot of fun.
PG: Psycho Goreman comes to Shudder May 20
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