DON'T KILL IT (Mike Mendez, 2016)

[Tom]

Decent amount with more theatres yet to be listed. I think that makes for a better than expected to release. Hopefully it'll get good turnouts.

[Jox]

Malaysian theatrical release March 2 (same week as the US)
http://www.gscmovies.com.my/dont-kill-it/
https://mmcineplexes.com/movie_details. ... -T-KILL-IT
http://www.cinema.com.my/movies/details ... IRGKb4G.97

Malaysian poster


(click for high-res)

[Jox]

Ed Travis’ Top 10 Action Films of 2016

10: Don’t Kill It
More a horror comedy than an action film, this tiny little movie does star Dolph Lundgren in one of his most energetic roles in years. This pick is also kind of a cheat because Don’t Kill It doesn’t see wide release until 2017, but seek this one out if you’re a fan of clever indie horror/action/comedy with its own unique monster and a fantastic turn from Lundgren.

https://cinapse.co/ed-travis-top-10-act ... .myfnmu7xm

[Jox]

I thought it might be for the UK release but apparently not. We're getting a screener in time for the March 3rd US release.

https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2017/02/ ... l-it-2016/

As a fully fledged member of the Dolph Lundgren appreciation society, the arrival of a new Lundgren special is a bitter-sweet experience these days. I say these days, it’s probably always been that way, but in the last five years in particular it’s a real crap shoot. He’s now firing out films with the regularity of Eric Roberts. Maybe not quite Eric level yet, but regardless, he’s got about half a dozen due out in the next three months over various territories and a few more in post besides. That being said it seems like ages since my last new Dolph fix. The last I saw was probably Kindergarten Cop 2 which was surprisingly not horrendous.

So Don’t Kill It arrives just before the withdrawal symptoms become too much to handle. From director Mike Mendez (Big Ass Spider), this one was billed as a comedy infused horror film. Last year it played, to good reviews, at an array of horror festivals in the US. So among a massive array of films on the horizon for Dolph, this one probably excited me the most. Firstly, he’s not done much horror in his career, and nor has he played for laughs much (his previous film, Kindergarten Cop 2, a rare diversion from skull bashing). Secondly I liked the concept. Lundgren plays a Demon Hunter tracking a body hopping demon who jumps from body to body when killed. So in essence, if you kill the possessed person, you then become possessed. It’s actually not too far off a concept Lundgren has already done with the Millennial apocalypse craptacular, The Minion.

Does the film live up to the festival word of mouth? Thankfully yes. In the best possible way, Don’t Kill It evokes an 80’s video nasty. It’s trashy, but it’s fun, unrelentingly gory, and like the old video cheapy horrors at their best, knows enough to give a knowing wink at the ridiculousness of it all. There’s nothing worse than a film with a silly concept that proceeds to take itself far too seriously. At its very best, Don’t Kill It brings to mind something like Peter Jackson’s Braindead, or Raimi’s Evil Dead 2. Brings to mind, but by no means on the same level (but few of the genre are in fairness). Mendez, along with writers Dan Berk and Robert Olsen know enough to make an enjoyable film. They didn’t have much budget to play with and a tight schedule, but rather than either half assing, or getting artistic aspirations above their station, they have ensured that Don’t Kill It entertains.

According to IMDB’s trivia this did once have Ron Perlman attached as lead. Protagonist, Jebediah Woodley has more than a hint of a Perlman character to him too. In actuality, Lundgren has always had the ability and potential to fill a sardonic role very well, but has all too rarely had the chance. As Woodley he’s a world-weary hunter who has spent most of his life tracking demons. Unlike the atypical Lundgren hero though, he’s not that great at it. As it transpires the demon is loose because having been safely housed, it escaped Woodley’s clutches. Whilst he sort of lumbers from encounter to encounter without much luck, or tact. He borders on amiably goofy at times, but there’s still enough of that badass Lundgren demeanour to keep him from falling into Frank Drebin territory. Dolph has a lot of fun here though. It plays off his charisma and allows him to be intentionally funny (he’s done unintentionally funny before). It’s good to see him in a leading role that carries the humour from start to finish, rather than the odd gag here or there (like The Expendables 2 for example). We can call Woodley the likeable asshole.

The rest of the cast are okay. Kristina Klebe is good as Woodley’s reluctant FBI cohort here, who finds herself unwittingly dragged into a small town murder spree and partnered up with a seemingly bonkers drifter. Lundgren and Klebe take the reigns of the film and the others pass in and out. There are an array of hick characters, often played for comedy and the law enforcement in particular provide some laughs.

Horror fans will of course be interested in the horror scenes. Mendez opts for a predominantly practical approach to the gore, combined with the occasional moment of CGI help. The gore effects are pretty good. There’s the odd prosthetic that looks, probably knowingly, a little bit shit, but that’s another nod to the video nasty of yesteryear. In addition if you embrace your ridiculousness with a wry grin you can get away with it, because not everyone has the benefit of being Rick Baker (or indeed having the time benefited to them to produce his glorious magic). By the time the final third kicks in though, the film just goes gloriously nuts and a town meeting turned to cluster-fuck in particular is great. You don’t even stop to question things like a chainsaw randomly appearing at said meeting.

Don’t Kill It won’t win awards for originality but it’s made with good intentions and all too many films just aren’t. Lundgren himself has starred in films that almost seem wilfully bad. Like they actively want to shit on the audience. Recent film Shark Lake was so bad I couldn’t finish it. A film about Dolph chasing a shark that was so dreary and self serious, that the wretched melodrama, dire CGI shark and awful acting couldn’t be forgiven. The concept could have been injected with fun (without necessarily going the Sharknado route) and embraced its badness but it didn’t. Mendez ensures that mistake is not made. This is Ivan Drago goes Braindead. Funny and grotesquely brilliant, Mendez crafts a potential franchise with limitless possibilities for Lundgren’s demon hunter to get involved in. Here’s hoping the film is successful enough to do so.

- Tom Jolliffe

because not everyone has the benefit of being Rick Baker (or indeed having the time benefited to them to produce his glorious magic)

The effects and make-up were done by none other than the once legendary Robert Kurtzman though, and with Mendez on board he sure seems to have given more latitude and freedom to have some fun with it than on SHARK LAKE (which most of the on-camera effects were redone in CGI)...



Mendez retweeted you

Mike Mendez ‏@madmanmendez

Mike Mendez Retweeted Flickering Myth

Kind words are always appreciated! "Don't Kill It" in theaters & VOD starting this Friday!

EDIT:
NSFW: Bloody Exclusive Clip From DON’T KILL IT; The Dolph Lundgren Demon Hunter Movie!
http://www.blumhouse.com/2017/02/27/nsf ... ter-movie/


MOVIE REVIEW: DON’T KILL IT
http://www.alienbee.net/moie-review-dont-kill-it/

[Tom]

Ah that's cool. Nice of Mr Mendez to give the review a retweet. He did a good job with the film. Very enjoyable.

[Axel Berntsson]

Swedish Cover

[Jox]

DKI comes out theatrically in Cambodia on March 10
http://booking.platinumcineplex.com.kh/ ... 1000000974

[savagesketch]

I thought director Mike Mendez was listing more theatres that this will be playing at come March 3rd... Oh well. VOD simultaneous with a limited theatrical release is better than nothing, I guess.

[Jox]

Wait for Friday to make sure where it plays I guess...


Pretty good interview with Mike Mendez on Behind The Lens Radio Show yesterday:
http://moviesharkdeblore.com/site/misce ... -02272017/
(starting at 35:00)


Review:
http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2017/02/2 ... l-it-2016/

[Moltisanti]

Dolph and Mike Mendez on the Adam Carolla Show podcast:

http://adamcarolla.com/dolph-lundgren-mike-mendez-and-jason-jones/

The interview starts at about the 48:00 minute mark.

[Jox]

Malaysian release
publicity page with gory pics + background banner
http://www.gscmovies.com.my/new-horror- ... -lundgren/


Center Stage interview with Mike Mendez by Mark Gordon (53 min)
http://stageandscreen.com/mike-mendez/
https://soundcloud.com/mark_gordon/mike-mendez

DIRECTORS STATEMENT
Horror doesn’t have enough cinematic heroes. We have Ash from the “Evil Dead” series, but that’s about it. For years I’ve wanted to do something that was like the Indiana Jones of horror. A character that we were dropping in on, who we felt has had many previous adventures and could go on to many others. So it was a wonderful surprise when I read the script for “Don’t Kill I” because here was a character that was part Indiana Jones crossed with “The Exorcist”. When Dolph Lundgren was added to the equation, I knew we had something special. Something out of the box, which is always a fun place to start. It was also great to work with a legend like Dolph Lundgren. He was really open and game for playing with his image. He’s used to playing either tough guy or psycho. Here we got to play him as a booze swilling cowboy shaman. We had a great time bringing this character to life and it’s a different side of Dolph than you’ve ever seen before. Dare I say it’s the funniest you’ve ever seen him. Balancing out the cast is horror favorite, Kristina Klebe. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kristina before and it was great to have her bring balance to the film. We needed someone who could be tough and stand up to a giant like Dolph, yet be vulnerable at times. Kristina did an awesome job of bringing that element to the film. It was also great to work with a variety of practical fx, which I’m a big fan of. We were lucky enough to have FX veteran, Robert Kurtzman (“From Dusk Till Dawn”, “Evil Dead 2”) on our side. His team did an amazing job of helping me spread the red. And boy did we! As they say, the gore the merrier! “Don’t Kill It” is part horror movie, part action movie mixed with a healthy dose of black humor. What I really aim for is to give you something fun. To give you a heaping helping of the things you go to the movies for. To be thrilled, to laugh, be scared and maybe gross you out just a wee bit. It’s a fun combination and a wild ride. I’m really excited for audiences to see it.

[Jox]

The Village Voice gives it its first negative review...
Sadly, Dolph Lundgren's 'Don't Kill It' Just Ain't Killing It
http://www.villagevoice.com/film/sadly- ... it-9726093

Special screening tomorrow at the Alamo Drafthouse at 10pm hosted by Michael Gingold
https://drafthouse.com/yonkers/show/dont-kill-it

[Jox]

Interview with producer Craig Albrecht
http://ubnradio.com/craig-albrecht/

[Tom]

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/dolph-lundgrens-five-favorite-films/

Dolph on his Five favourite films for Rotten Tomatoes, and briefly talking about DKI.

[Jox]

Clip
http://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3426 ... exclusive/





Reviews
http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news ... review-164
http://thatmomentin.com/2017/03/02/dont ... 17-review/
http://www.everythingaction.com/2017/03 ... dont-kill/
http://www.monkeysfightingrobots.com/re ... t-kill-it/




Mike Mendez interviews
http://www.screamhorrormag.com/mike-men ... dont-kill/
http://www.starburstmagazine.com/featur ... -interview



See new Dolph interviews in the INTERVIEW section