Plastic (2011) Online

I'll admit: I was nervous heading into the theater to watch this film. From viewing the trailer, I knew it was going to be intense. I was afraid that it might be too graphic for my tastes. I do love a good horror film, though, so I went ahead, bought my ticket and settled in. I am so glad that I did! This is a fantastic film. Yes, there's some gore -- it IS about a serial killer, after all -- but there's also a superbly told story, made all the better by some truly stellar performances. North Roberts, Colleen Boag, Matt Prochazka and Walt Sloan are especially noteworthy.

There is far more going on here than one would expect. This is no two- dimensional story. These are characters you care about (yes, even Albert; one comes to feel a degree of pity for this tortured soul, even while being horrified by his actions... one wonders how he became the person he is). Even the "good guys" are imperfect. As Albert struggles with his inner demons, so do those that, one hopes, will stop him from his killing spree. The result is a complex, nuanced (and yes, horrific) film that takes the serial-killer genre in a refreshing new direction, examining good and evil and the depths of the human psyche in all of us.

Highly recommended, even for folks who don't normally (think) that they enjoy horror films.

I'm a big chicken when it comes to horror films, mostly because the genre seems to have devolved into cranking out as much gore porn as people can stand instead of plot and suspenseful and thoughtful films.

This movie was not about how much the viewer can be disgusted by on screen effects and for that I'm thankful. This movie made me jump out of my seat thanks to well done sound editing (Tolgar Alpagut), great acting by North Roberts (as Robert Mullin) who portrayed a man moved to murder by his inner demons and excellent videography by Jose Carlos Gomez.

The film reminded me of Rear Window as we watch Roberts descent further down the rabbit hole of his delusions. We witness the neighbor who becomes convinced that his oddball next door neighbor is the killer that police are looking for while he fights with a shrewish wife, and the summer heat.

The end is coming for Albert, he knows it, his neighbor knows it but you may just be surprised by who else meets their end at the conclusion of this grizzly tale.

Recommended for a horror film that recaptures the suspense of the genre and not just endless gore.