The Greasy Strangler — The Greasy Strangler (DVD)
The film is 2016 US production, directed by Uk director Jim Hosking- whose other film credits include a story in 2014 horror anthology ABCs of Death 2, and 2010 short Renegades- so this is his first full-length directorial debut, and he also co-wrote the film too.
The film's plot tells of Ronnie & Brayden- a father & son team who run a rather bizarre disco walking tour in their small town. They have a host of odd characters appearing for the tour, and one of them is the rather plump & mannish like Janet- who the pair both fall for. Then fairly soon a serial killer called The Greasy Strangler ( named thus because he’s naked & covered in grease) turns up, and starts knocking people off in bizarre fashions.
I guess if you can imagine a blend of early John Waters, mixed with Napoleon Dynamite, topped off with slightly bizarre 1980’s horror you get a feel of what The Greasy Strangler is like. It’s certainly one of the more distinctive films I’ve seen in some time, and this is due to a blend of the frankly weird looking cast, odd & often cringe-inducing humor, and general bizarre interactions.
Ronnie, the Father is a man in his later years with long gray hair. And Brayden, the son is an over weight, bespectacled & bolding yet long haired middle aged man- both of the pair spend a large part of the film in just their underpants. But when they are dressed they wear a selection of geeky & odd get-ups, for example the pair do their disco tour in matching two-piece pink glittering shirt & short get-up.
The supporting cast is equally odd too- taking in a selection of fairly unique looking older actors. And these are filmed with the backdrop of rundown small town America, with the often bright-yet- angular synth soundtrack.
On the whole, I found myself often chuckling & gasping though-out the film, and the shift in tone from awkward humor, to horror, onto all out bizarre ending is handled well. At times it did become grating with the use of repeated dialogue, and over-long scenes with little happening- but I guess this is down to this been Mr. Hosking first film.
The DVD I’m reviewing( on Filmrise) is sadly very barebones- with not commentary or interviews, which is a great pity, as this was a film I really wanted to find more out about. So I’m not sure if other editions/ releases on the film offer more than this.
On the whole, The Greasy Strangler is a certainly a memorable mix of bad-taste humor, bizarre characters, and horror. Sure, it has it's faults in some of it's pacing, and a few other issues…but as first feature films go it’s impressive, and I’ll certainly be interested to see what Jim Hosking does in the future.