There is a certain peculiar terror that accompanies the premise of inanimate objects, such as furniture, gaining awareness and honing a desire to kill. While the idea itself is beyond absurd some films like 2010’s Rubber, or the more well-known John Carpenter 1983 film Christine take the premise to an unceasing reality. That in mind, written and directed by Bernie Rao, who has put his skills to work on pieces such as 2015’s Macau Stories III: City Maze and The Badlands, Killer Sofa follows the tale of a bloodthirsty recliner and trail of passionate slaughter. Absurd, right? Well, read on to see why it is worth checking on.
Shot in New Zealand, and released on Tuesday, October 1st in the North American market through High Octane Pictures on DVD and Digital, Killer Sofa begins with the brief dismemberment of an unknown victim before its cuts back to a trio as they open a storage locker. The space clearly has a reeking scent as expressed by the shared looks of disgust. Upon entering the storage space they find a recliner that has been chained up and has a note stating for it to be delivered to a woman named Francesca (Piimio Mei).
In the next scene Francesca appears with her best friend Maxi (Nathalie Morris) being questioned by police about Frederico (Harley Neville: Harrow series, Immi The Vegan series), an obsessive friend who has been dismembered and killed. She explains that men have always seemingly been obsessively drawn to her, resulting in some terrifying suitors but that she knows nothing about Frederico.
The recliner is accidentally taken to an antique shop owned by Rabbi Jack, portrayed by Jim Baltaxe, who coincidentally is the grandfather of Francesca’s best friend Maxi and the Rabbi receives a turbulent vision after touching the furniture. While the furniture seems to leave Francesca with an unnerving mood after it is delivered, she seems to fall under a strange, tantric spell of sorts after sitting in the recliner. The red-toned scene between her and the seat is insistent with its vague eroticism and quite humorous. When Francesca’s very-likely gay boyfriend TJ, as repeatedly pointed out by Maxi, is attacked it becomes clear that the furniture has some nefarious motivations. The plot that ensues follows any typical Slasher/Horror film as the victims pile up and the inspectors that investigate are left baffled as to the cause.
Killer Sofa is amusing in an innate way, it does not force the humor instead it is ingrained in the mundane. The acting is decent if somewhat intermediate coming from some supporting characters. The film does not overreach or overstay its welcome with cheesy effects, although the green screen work is somewhat rudimentary. The gore is not a sheer bloodbath but the film truly does not need it to shock or scare, the story does it by itself. In terms of the lore used to cement the logic and the twist ending, it has serious roots in real life, playing off the existence of the Dybbuk in Jewish mythology. Killer Sofa has an absurd premise no doubt but is executed in a simple, effective way resulting in a well-done Horror film.
While Killer Sofa is not an overly astounding Horror film, it is a refreshing story and rational approach to the genre that Cryptic Rock gives 3.5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment