Of all the genres of film, none is so hard to pull of as the horror comedy. When the combination of a genre dependent upon lightning fast timing and a genre devoted to establishing mood and atmosphere works, it is a wonder to behold (Shaun of the Dead). When it fails, it’s a mess (Creepshow III, Return of the Living Dead II).

Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer - I am happy to report - falls resolutely into the first category. This is one of the most entertaining horror comedy hybrids I’ve seen since the aforementioned Shaun - a movie that makes a legitimate effort to establish the character and his surroundings before leading the audience into an action paced, splattery coup de’ resistance of a finale.

It seems that plumber Jack Brooks (Trevor Matthews) has had anger issues ever since he watched his family get viciously slaughtered by a monster as a boy. Now an adult, he is in a pseudo relationship with a an overbearing woman/classmate named Eve (Rachel Skarsten) , attends night school and makes frequent visits (invited or not) to his hapless therapist (Daniel Nash) where he vents his seemingly endless rage

His class- (the subject seems to be chemistry) is taught by the kindly Professor Gordon Crowley (Robert Englund, in the best performance he’s given since he played the Phantom of the Opera back in 1989), who one night after class asks Jack to come by and work on some pipes which are giving him trouble at home. Jack agrees and in the course of the job unwittingly unleashes an ancient evil buried on the Professors property.

Soon enough Crowley gets infected by the evil and begins to transform, leading to a cataclysmic episode at the school. The class - nay the entire world - is in grave danger should this monstrous force go unchecked. But - fortunately for everyone - standing in the way of this growing threat is one very pissed off plumber!

Oh man, where to begin? I try not to gush about films, but this one has it all. Let’s begin with the acting. It’s pitch perfect. Matthews ( who also helped develop the story for the film) is engaging and extremely funny as Jack Brooks. His first two visits to the therapist provide some of the biggest laughs in the film as he launches into an increasingly angry rant at every suggestion the counselor makes. I also enjoyed the twitchy, sort of barely controlled way he tries to avoid letting his anger get the better of him when someone or something is annoying him.

Likewise, Englund is in top form. He really demonstrates his acting chops here and his transformation from benevolent educator to possessed host is alternately funny and creepy. Horror fans everywhere should delight in this top notch turn from one of our beloved genre greats.

Then there’s Skarsen, who is annoying as hell as the bitchy would-be girlfriend/classmate. At first I thought this might hinder my overall enjoyment of the film, until I realized that she’s supposed to be annoying as hell. You know an actress has delivered the goods when she can elicit feelings of contempt on purpose.

Daniel Nash is also entertaining to watch as the therapist. He has a quiet, reserved-yet-exasperated way about him which plays off Matthews extremely well in their scenes together.

The effects are a complete throwback to the 1980’s (as is the tone of the film in general). David Scott of Form and Dynamics gives us a variety of monsters, each of them a combination of animatronics, prosthetics and make up effects. I found it ironic that visually the film is more imaginative and refreshing using the old school techniques than most CGI heavy films. Think The NeverEnding Story Goes to Hell and you’re in the right ballpark.

Composer Ryan Shore is also a star of the film, albeit unseen. He provides a wonderful score, devoid of rock songs or urban beats or any of the other repetitive music we hear in most film today. This music is strictly orchestrated and bears a closer relationship to the days of Jerry Goldsmith then anything else.

What I admired most about the film was that it takes it's time. The screenplay by director John Knautz and writer John Ainslie is determined to give us an interesting story, not just some creature feature free for all. Knautz, by the way, shows some serious skill in his handling of the material and I foresee a really bright future for the guy.
The film is very well paced. There are monsters onscreen from the first few frames, but their appearances are evenly distributed and the gore/monster slaying doesn’t come until the third act, around the last twenty minutes. The setting is established, the story unfolds, we get to know Jack and even get to know some of his classmates. There is quite a bit of humor and all the while the plotline about the professor’s predicament unfolds. Then all hell breaks loose.. and that leads me to my final observation of what makes this an instant classic and a film with a destiny as a full-on cult favorite. The finale.

The last twenty minutes deliver on the title of the film in spades. There is gore, but not in excess. It’s interspersed with a lot of monster ooze as well. But what makes the finale really special is that when Jack starts slaying monsters he goes to fucking town.

Think Ash is a bad ass? You’ve got to see the complete and total smackdown Brooks puts on these creatures. I’m not just talking about using his tool belt or other implements to inflict damage either (though there is plenty of that) ..he literally gets in there and uses his fists to kick the living shit out of some of these beasts. I was cheering the entire time. It’s hard not to applaud a character using life-long rage issues as a motivation to kick some otherworldly ass.

Jack Brooks:Monster Slayer had already earned raves from the horror community before I watched it. Having finally seen the film , I can honestly say I’m right there with them. This film is fresh, it’s extremely funny and it’s a lot of fun. It also deserved better than to be relegated to the straight-to-DVD shelf, as it’s light years and away superior to 90% of the horror product making it to big screen today. Word is that the sequel is already being developed. I don’t think it could possibly get here fast enough.

Ten out of Ten movies which are sharp enough to show how a monster reacts when a potential victim won‘t stop screaming.