CRUSH THE SKULL (director/writer: Viet Nguyen; screenwriter: Chris Dinh; cinematographers: John Nguyen /Tuan Quoc Le; editor: Viet Nguyen; music: David Frank Long; cast: Walt Bost (Killer), Tim Chiou (Riley), Chris Dinh (Ollie), Katie Savoy (Blair), Chris Riedell (Connor), Lauren Reeder (Vivian); Runtime: 80; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Aya Tanimura/Jimmy Tsai; Cherry Sky Films/Breaking Glass Pictures; 2015)
“Clever black comedy horror-crime thriller.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Viet Nguyen directs and co-writes this clever black comedy horror-crime thriller. Chris Dinh is the co-writer. It was financed by Kickstarter.A misfit band of 4 young thieves unknowingly attempts to rob the house of a sadistic serial killer and end up trapped inside his underground torture den. The burglars are the rational Blair (Katie Savoy), her useless leader brother, Connor (Chris Riedell), the moronic aspiring hi-hop rocker Riley (Tim Chiou) and Blair’s boyfriend Ollie (Chris Dinh). The burglars find themselves as prisoners in the unusual house of the killer (Walt Bost), as all the doors are locked. Also trapped in the house is the skinny Vivian (Lauren Reeder), who is locked in a subterranean cage. The cast is likable, the premise is fine, the dialogue is sometimes funny and despite awkwardly filmed it’s a solid film.
REVIEWED ON 6/30/2016 GRADE: B-
Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”
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