A refreshingly original horror comedy from the land of kangaroos and Vegemite, "100 Bloody Acres" is a well-written slash-and-gash B-movie romp.
Brothers Reg and Lindsay Morgan own a blood-and-bone fertilizing company in which they collect roadkill (both animal and human) to create their own unique organic blend. Lindsay is the brutish domineering older brother who wants to run the company his way. On the other hand, Reg is more reserved and morally conflicted about the brothers' operation.
Reg eventually crosses paths with a traveling group of friends who seem to be romantically intertwined. Sophie appears to be dating both Wes and James, but the threesome manage to get along rather nicely despite the awkward arrangement. The small group is on its way to a music festival when their car breaks down and they hitch a ride with Reg, who happens to be driving by. In an attempt to impress his brother, Reg schemes to start processing live bodies in order to improve the purity of their organic formula.
Despite both brothers lacking a sense of right and wrong, Reg's moral compass ultimately gets in the way of their new plan as he ends up falling in love with Sophie. The three travelers are held captive as they await their transition into plant feed. Meanwhile, the brothers struggle to stay on the same page as they butt heads over the fate of their prisoners.
On paper, the plot itself is rather generic, but the movie is truly a well-written piece of schlock. Moreover, "100 Bloody Acres" is surprisingly well acted given its budget. The dynamic that develops between the two brothers is particularly intriguing. The movie has its fair share of hand-loppings and blood-splatter, but it's by no means the bloodiest horror romp I've ever seen. The comedic edge lends a much needed sense of breathing room to the entire plot; without it, the movie would be a plodding mess.
In terms of DVD special features "100 Bloody Acres" is teeming with extras. There's behind-the-scenes footage, a special effects featurette, a gag reel and more.
All in all, "100 Bloody Acres" is a surprisingly delightful horror comedy treat. With its unique plot twists and genuinely grin-inducing humor, it's the perfect movie for this time of year.
Film: 3.5 Yaps Extras: 4 Yaps