ROID RAGE
Movie Review
by Arthur Cullipher

   There is a new vein of exploitation film on the independent horizon... the (Muscle) Musc-Killer Movie. The latest venture from Wickid Pissa Films, Roid Rage, definitely falls into this bizarre sub-category. Like a cross between Jersey Shore and 28 Days Later, Roid Rage delivers on the one thing it promises.. and little else.

  The story revolves around Billy Beck, a physical trainer, with aspirations of owning his own Gym/ Tanning Salon with his live in girl friend. In order to raise the money to live his dream, Billy deals in various kinds of illegal body building supplements. Yet, after obtaining an anabolic steroid combined with, a Mad Cow infected strain of bovine growth hormone from the U.K., he injects practically every contestant in a Monster Muscle competition put on by his gym... for free.  The opening of the film plays out like C.S.I., Boston. It’s obvious the director of photography knew what kind of movie he was making. The camera movements make the action for every kill a one trick pony. Filled with one really big guy with lots of veins, plenty of hypo stabbings, believable drug traffic info, only a bit too much of it for this reviewer. It does showcase a Great Gym location but sadly a bad Contest locale. The rest of the film takes place in the woods and the blood is ... pink.

  This is an interesting idea for a short film, where the ultimate impact could be left on the horizon. Unfortunately for us all, making money from a short film is an exceedingly rare event. As a result, many good ideas become padded features.

Roid Rage is one of these.

However, some exceptional performances were delivered. Nikki Robertshaw was quite good as our hero's enabling lover and Jim Sullivan helped me believe that a large, trained D. E. A. agent could end up fighting for his life against bloodthirsty bodybuilders, in the middle of an island, beside a two-bit drug dealer. Fight? Yes. Let the drug dealer lead? No. Still, for a fan of these new Musc-Killer exploitation indies that are pounding the pavement, Roid Rage isn’t the worst way to spend an hour and thirteen minutes of your time. I wanted to watch it to the end. And that’s saying something.





Edited:5/3/2010 1:24:58 PM (HellHound)