"Masters of Horror" Pelts (2006)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Dario Argento

Writers:

Mick Garris (creator)
Matt Venne (teleplay)

TV Series:

"Masters of Horror" (2005)

Original Air Date:

1 December 2006 (Season 2, Episode 6)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

A sleazy, desperate fur trader who haunts a local strip club, gets his hands on some priceless raccoon furs that might be more than just priceless but cursed.

Plot Keywords:

Fur | Raccoon | Fur Trader | Stripper | Trapper

Cast

Meat Loaf	...	Jake Feldman (as Meat Loaf Aday)
Link Baker	...	Lou Chinaski
Emilio Salituro	...	Sergio
Elise Lew	...	Sue Chin Yao
Shawn Hall	...	Bouncer
Sylvesta Stuart	...	Beefy Bouncer
Ellen Ewusie	...	Shanna
John Saxon	...	Jeb 'Pa' Jameson
Michal Suchánek	...	Larry Jameson (as Michal Suchanek)
Brenda McDonald	...	Mother Mayter
Melissa Gonzalez	...	Mira
Darren E. Scott	...	Agent
Chuck Duffy	...	Detective
Kelvin Lum	...	Cop

Runtime:

58 min | Germany:54 min (cut)

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-MA | Australia:R (2007) | Germany:18 (DVD rating) (cut) | Italy:VM14 | Germany:18 (TV rating) (cut)

Company:

Starz Productions

Movie Connections:

References Cheerleader Camp (1988)

Disgusting but fascinating

Story deals with a furrier named Jake (Meat Loaf). He's always in a bad mood and obsessed with stripper Shanna (Ellen Ewuise). Meanwhile Jeb Jameson (John Saxon) and son Larry (Michel Suchanek) illegally trap raccoons and kill them for their pelts. Their fur is beautiful but has a horrifying effect on anyone who touches it...

Director Dario Argento's second little film for Showtime's "Masters of Horror" series. This is pretty strong stuff. The story is far fetched (even for a horror film) but then stories have never been the strong suit for Argento. With him visuals and gore come first and "Pelts" has plenty of both. Some of the shots are astounding (especially when Saxon and Suchanek get the raccoons) and there is tons of gore in this. I usually don't flinch when I see graphic gore but this one got to me. It comes out of nowhere and is rubbed in your face. The ending especially pours it on. If you're offended by graphic blood and guts do NOT see this. Actually I think it went way over the line--but I'd rather Argento overdo it than censor himself. Also there's tons of female nudity in this one.

Some good acting helps. Meat Loaf is (surprisingly) not that good. He has a great role here but seems to be unwilling to run with it--he always seems to be pulling back. Ewuise is good and deserves credit considering she's near nude half the time. Saxon is obviously having a whale of a time in his role and Suchanek is convincing as his son.

I can only give this a 9 because it's too gory and the needless nudity got annoying quick. Still it's a strong little movie and horror fans should check it out.