Check out the review of Cub - A recent Artsploitation Films Blu-ray. Read the review below:
The slasher genre is such an over utilized genre in horror that it has become increasingly difficult to find quality films in the genre. Often focused on recapturing or imitating successful films of the past, the slasher genre is filled with far more misses than hits. Fortunately every once in a while a new film made in the genre brings a breath of fresh air that gives some life to the genre. Cub is one of those films. While not necessarily an amazing film, Cub melds a certain slasher familiarity with a new touch of originality. For this alone it is a quality film worth searching out, especially for fans of the genre. Cub is a new age slasher that uses a lot of slasher tropes but tacks on new and unique ideas to present a familiar film but with a feeling of freshness.
The story of the films is essentially about a boy who cries (were)wolf. The story of the films follows a group of cub scouts as they go on a camping trip into the woods. The camp supervisors mention to the boys that the part of the woods they are staying in is home to a werewolf like monster called Kai. One boy in the group, who most of the kids don't like and the leaders feel bad for, keeps on seeing the Kai but cannot convince anyone to believe him, to the eventual detriment to the rest of the group.
While the film appears to be heavily influenced from other forest/camp based slashers, this film has been able to add a little bit of originality. In many ways this film reminds me more of The Final Terror than other forest/camp slashers, specifically because in both films the killer in the forest lives there and has made the forest work to their advantage. In both films, kills occur through the use of organic based traps plus the use of some technology. For example in the film one death trap includes a cut down tree that has been put back on metal hinges so that when the line is tripped the tree will fall over on the individual who tripped the wire. This is just one of the few inventive blends of nature and technology that the film employs. As well, in both films there is a low body count throughout the first hour or so of the film until the end were most of the action takes place.
Another positive aspect of the film is that the film features some pretty good acting. Often one of the down spots of films in the slasher genre, the acting in Cub is very solid and the actors were successful in keeping the audience interested in their characters. Though it should also be said that while there is a rather large cast, only three or four of the actors have any real depth to their characters. The rest of the cast are essentially throw away characters, which is no surprise considering the type of film this is, however the actors are decent enough were the audience is not taken out of the story.
Interestingly, I have seen a lot of comparisons being made (including the films description on the back of the Blu-ray) between this film and the fantasy film's of Guillermo Del Toro. Personally I don't see it. Besides having a kid as the main character of the story and the story in the film tangentially relating to a monster story, there is not much of a comparison. Thankfully this film is strong enough on its own to not need the comparison to a popular director to pump up its achievements. The film is highly innovative despite being part of one of the most predictable genres of horror. That is quite an accomplishment in itself.
Overall the film is a great exercise in the perfectly crafted slasher. It builds tension, features some cool kills, adds new ideas, and has a lot of opened ended-ness in the storyline. It is the type of modern horror film that effectively balances familiarity and newness. In other words this film will have a wide appeal range that includes older and newer horror fans. While not an instant classic, the film is a really good and provides some encouragement that the slasher genre is not dead and still has some surprises up its sleeve.
Special Features:
-Deleted Scenes
-SFX Reel
-"Of Cats and Women" - a short film
-Music Video - Deadsets "One Hour"
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