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MASTERS OF HORROR: THE V WORD (2007) Director: Ernest Dickerson. Hacktors: Michael Ironside, Branden Nadon, Arjay Smith. Rating/5: The lowdown: Among Slasherama's favourite lesser-known and under-appreciated US horror flicks, sits Tales From The Crypt: Demon Knight. A really fun ride, full of marrauding demons and splashy shock-gore, it was one of the 90s' better horror moments. We mention it here, because Ernest Dickerson directed it. And here the great man is again, helming a Masters Of Horror episode.     Video game enthusiasts Justin and Kerry put down their imaginary shoot-'em-up guns for a night, in order to head down to the local mortuary and check out a real dead body. Things, you'll be shocked to learn, do not go smoothly. Good points: The first half is chock-full of creepy suspense, as we wait to see exactly what kind of unpleasantness will dwell inside the funeral home. And it's always a pleasure to see Michael Ironside, whose rich horror lineage includes Scanners, Visiting Hours and The Machinist. He gets a suitably evil role here, and definitely raises the Fear Factor a couple of notches. It's also good to see that director Dickerson hasn't lost his taste for flying blood! There are a couple of nicely nasty moments here. Bad points: Once we find out what this story's title denotes, things naturally become more obvious and familiar. And therefore less scary. We've seen most of this stuff before, although that admittedly doesn't make it much less enjoyable. It also strikes Slasherama as odd that the main duo's first-person-shooter addiction never pays off in the story that follows. DVD Details: Extras include stills, DVD-ROM PDF screenplay access, a Making Of featurette, a make-up featurette and audio commentary by Dickerson and writer/executive producer Mick Garris. Overall: While perhaps not the all-guns-blazing return which we might have dreamed of Dickerson delivering, The V Word remains a solidly gruesome addition to the distinguished Masters Of Horror stable. Release Date: Masters Of Horror: Sounds Like is out on DVD now in the US. [Check it out at Amazon US] [Reviews Menu] [Home] © Copyright Slasherama 2002-present