Hello cinema lovers. Brute 1976 is not a subtle movie about deep, important themes, but director Marcel Walz is not aiming for that in the slightest. This is a fun slasher that leans hard into its influences. Shades of directors Tobe Hooper, Wes Craven and Rob Zombie fly all over the place with an added LGBTQ+ flavour. A wild swing that sometimes works. This film is proudly part of the queer horror craze. best watched with a cocktail.
Set during America's Bicentennial year, the film follows a group of models and a photo crew that unwisely drive into the Nevada desert for a magazine shoot. They soon come upon a ghost town called Savage and, of course, decide to investigate. The town belongs to a family of masked psychos led by a creepy matriarch; the viewer knows exactly what's happening next. This movie is aiming for Texas Chainsaw Massacre but lands more towards a gory episode of Scooby Doo.
A lesbian couple on a road trip opens the film, showcasing the movie's modern credentials from the beginning. The characters are not deeply written; these are horror archetypes at best, but the actors are charming enough. More interesting is one of the killers, a Leatherface homage in a flowing kaftan and large glittery earrings with added Silence of the Lambs nods. There's a real ambition by the filmakers here, but it's shown with a freak show sensibility rather than portraying a villain that happens to be queer. Another movie might have done a better job
Roxy (Adriane McLean), the film's final girl, is a little more interesting. McLean holds the screen with a quiet presence and gives the best performance of the movie. Sunshine (Sarah French) is a last-minute replacement model with a secret. French is a regular player in American indie horror films and works hard with the script she's given. Raquel (Gigi Gustin) is a captured model who goes through quite an ordeal over the film's runtime. She's talented and watchable.
Representing the baddies, Zeus is a chainsaw-wielding lunatic who also acts as a Leatherface tribute act. Robens, a huge man, has no dialogue but lets his massive physique do the talking. Mama Birdy (Dazelle Yvette), the family matriarch, has a creepy, almost childlike presence and is a fun addition to the cast.
Director Walz, whose past credits include Blood Feast (2016) and Pretty Boy (2021), directs the movie with a love and knowledge of horror. Shot on location, the film has a gritty, raw and rough vibe, filled with rusty old cars and rotting wooden sheds. The filmmakers know the genre references they are aiming to homage. The welcome queer characters elevate the movie for a modern audience.
The victims' fates are sadly all over the place. A glory hole sequence featuring a hot daddy is fun and turns really knarly. However, several other kills feel quick and cheap. This is disappointing for a movie with grindhouse ambitions. The first half of the movie drags a bit, but the second half picks up the action to a level that we should expect from a movie called Brute 1976.
But if you are a fan of '70s horror movies, there's more than enough here to enjoy. It's refreshing to see queer characters take centre stage in the horror genre rather than be relegated to smaller parts. Kick back, unplug your brain and enjoy the ride. The perfect Friday night movie.
Brute 1976 is available on Digital and VOD via Cinephobia Releasing.
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