Ed Gein: The Musical — Ed Gein: The Musical (DVD)

Ed Gein: The Musical is a mix of ghoulish/pitch-black humour, low-budget period drama, and of course as its title suggests musical. The early 2010 film is a low-budget affair, though there is a real spirit, flare, and passion here with some neat parody of well-known songs, a few wavering ‘n’ wonky original tunes, and more than a few fake limbs. Here from SRS Cinema, one of the key low-budget/ SOV labels is a region-free DVD release of the film, taking in a commentary track & trailer as extras.

Ed Gein: The Musical was from the year 2010. It was filmed in rural Wisconsin, with a relatively good stab at 1950’s period costumes, vehicles, etc.  The film was directed by Steve Russell, who had just one other credit to his name revenge-themed western West Of Thunder (2012). It was written by Dan Davies, who also plays the lead role of Gein.
 
The film opens towards the end of Gein’s ghoulish & murderous activities. With Ed(Davies) pulling up at the local hardware store, where he guns down the store's owner Bernice Johnston(Laurie Friedman-Fannin)- taking her body in the back of his pick-up truck to his farm/ homestead. Just as he tidied up his choping-up, and singing along to a buoyant country song with a severed hand. The son of his neighbour drops by keen to see Ed’s collection of shrunken heads. This leads to him being invited to dine with his neighbour- but it's a brief visit, as the local greyed butter ball sheriff Ray Murdock (Clifford Henry) knocks at the door to arrest Ed.
 
The film then takes place in the local police station, with lots of flashbacks to Ed’s past/ his fantasy world. The film largely seems to stick to the original case, though we do get a few bizarre asides- like where Ed awkwardly MC’s at a dance. There is really little gore present, though a fair use of fake severed limbs.

Davies looks maybe a slightly balkier than the real Gein, though he really does well with his take on the ghoulish & simple Ed, with slips into his cool alter ego, who has a wig- shifting between smooth hot rod driving dude, and fast-talking noir PI.  Henry is good as the fairly likeable local sheriff, with the rest of the supporting cast being ok too.
 
On the musical side of things, we get some well-presented & ghoulishly amusing takes on known songs- such as "Pure Imagination"( from 1971’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory), "My Favourite Things"( from 1965’s The Sound Of Music), and Elvis Presley "All Shook Up"- re-titled "All Cooked Up". The original songs are a blend of twangy/ folky country, and orchestral sing-song fair. These are rather mixed in their quality, often not terribly tuneful/often a little wonky/wavering in their feel.
 
I openly admit I’m not a musical fan, but I did enjoy most of what is presented here- the musical elements of course appear fairly regular, but they never overstay their welcome. The rest of the film blends flashbacks, Ed’s fantasies, and interactions between Ed and the sheriff. The film plays at just over the one hour & thirty-minute mark, and this is just right- with little lull or lag. All in all, I was surprised by how much I found this entertaining, as I was pulled to the film by its true crime focus, but wary of the musical side of things.
 

Moving onto this region free blu ray, and extras wise we get a commentary track & trailer. The track is with the film’s director Steve Russell, lead actor/ writer Dan Davies, assistant director, and the film's composer/ songwriter. This is a very chatty & laid-back affair, with the group cracking a few beers. They move from location talk, to commenting on the overly thick Wisconsin accent of one of the actors, through to pointing out bit-part actors- many of who were friends/ family. They talk about songwriting, bats in one of the barn locations, and how all of the songs are in Ed’s head. We find out the main house used was owned by a collector of 50’s memorabilia, and moments where the fourth wall is broken- some of these were cut from the film. They discuss the filming of certain scenes, colour correction, and other issues. It’s an ok track, which certainly has its worth- though at points we do get moments of talking over.

If you appreciate more darkly humorous takes of serial killer cases then I’d say give Ed Gein: The Musical a go. And don’t be too put off by the musical element of the film, as it’s not too overbearing, and the ghoulish parodies of known songs are rather good.