The Collector (Midnight Man)
| release date | July 31 2009 |
| studio | Freestyle Releasing |
| director | Marcus Dunstan |
| writer | Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan |
| starring | Josh Stewart, Karley Scott Collins, Michael Reilly Burke, Juan Fernández, Jabari Thomas, Colvin Roberson, Michael Showers |
| rating | R |
| site | thecollector-movie.com |
| trailer 1 | Trailer #1 |
5 Comments
Review- Minor Spoilers to follow
The men whom Lionsgate trusted their valued “SAW” franchise to get a chance to stand on their own, and in a way, repeat some of their past…. to much success!
Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton, as you already know, are quickly becoming to go-to guys when you want a clever and twisted horror script, and here, they are given their chance to shine as the Director as well(At least for Marcus Dunstan). Originally pitched as a prequel to Saw, the duo wasted no time adapting their original story when the opportunity arose to turn it into its own film. Leaving behind the confusing plot twists of the Saw franchise, and the in-your-face-slapstick style of the Feast films, the writers succeed in delivering a much darker and depressing tone, more agonizing than anything seen in either franchises. From the very beginning, the film has an immediate sense of dread surrounding every character and location, and things only get worse when our Collector arrives. He wastes no time in setting up his playhouse with sick and sadistic contraptions, as one could very easily confuse him as an aged psychopathic “Kevin McAllister” with how quick and easily he boobytraps the entire house! Enter our hero, whose only hope to save his own family is to rob this family. Now, he quickly finds himself in a situation he was not prepared for, as he now has the added responsibility of saving the very same family he showed up to steal from.
The writers take a basic premise (Basically any home invasion movie with Saw elements) and find a way to elevate it to something much more than that. This is the type of horror film that wastes no time in getting under your skin, and enjoys every second of doing so. There isn’t a single act of violence or torture in this film that goes unseen. Everything is right out in the open for not only our hero to witness, but the audience as well. This pacing continues through-out the whole film, for once the game is set in motion around the 15 minute mark, no one in the theatre is allowed a second to regain their composure, as the Collector has set up to barrage you on all sides! Using traps so simple in staging, but yet SO BRUTAL in execution, the film will easily have any audience cringing in their seats. Of course, all the bloodshed in the world doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have something worth while behind it, and the Collector does not disappoint on that end. Granted, the character is not given any back story or explanation, and it’s that element that truly allows him to stand out. Given nothing to work off, actor Juan Hernandez infuses the character which such a dark, brooding, menacing viciousness that he easily ranks up there as one of the stronger new boogeyman(Impressive since they were not trying to take the character anywere to begin with, he was just meant to simply be there) And boy is he given plenty to do to show off that demeanor, easily creating a believably scary threat to anyone around him. Add to the fact he’s willing to do anything to anyone, just really sets him apart amongst a sea of mediocrity.
Spoiler:
All is not perfect, however. Due to the constraints of not really setting up a story for the killer, theres really no where for the film to go after the escape from the house. The film decides to merely just end, not allowing a final confrontation between hero and villain. The whole film, our hero waits and hides just out of reach of the collector, and at the end, as he’s being taken away in an ambulance, our collector does just that, he collects him and the movie ends. I wasnt upset by the fact that he doesn’t make it out with the money needed to save him own family. I wasn’t upset by the fact that was set up to be an unhappy ending, I was just upset that because what became before it was so engrossingly vicious, the ending seemed sort of a tack on. If it had just delivered the same feeling and reaction you got when you saw SAW for the first time (Admit it, you were Blown Away!) it would of easily been the best horror film of the year. Instead, now it’s a strong contender, but not a definite.
Either way, theres no denying that this film delivers on what it set out to do(and what SAW 2,3,4 and 5 failed at) and that’s to create a strong, effective, and violent horror movie. Now, let’s just see what these guys can do without a movie filled with traps!
Wow!! This movie was so fucking intense! Started out slow but then it is one hell of a rollercoaster ride. The traps were awesome as were the deaths. A new horror icon is born in The Collector. The ending was really badass. Also, loved the score they did to this movie as it made the movie more intense. Go check it out!!
so is it worth the $$ to see in the theatres of should we just wait to see it on dvd?
Crazy movie. I was glad that the characters were actually smart (well… some of them). It was interesting. Good for a one time view. Do as I did and catch the matinee of this. If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy this as well.
(Short review, due to time constraints)
This film is, in my opinion, perfect. To avoid spoilers, I will not provide too much detail.
I came into this movie expecting a slightly more polished version of ‘Inside’ and it greatly exceeding any expectations from a horror movie released in North America. That’s not much, I know, but I cannot possibly recommend this movie enough,
The cinematography, was phenomenal. In the first 25 minutes of the movie (before the pace even picks up consistently) I thought to myself “the sound, music, and cinematography have been so great thus far I could leave the theater now and would thoroughly recommend this movie to any fellow horror fan”.
After a great start, the movie doesn’t ever disappoint. The gore, tension, and acting are all spot on. While one may not come to expect much in this department with regards to current horror, this movie goes above and beyond anything I have watched within recent memory.
I know this review is jumbled and poorly written, but I’m putting this out there for the sake of the movie. GO SEE IT. This movie will definitely impress anyone who is even remotely interested in horror. Don’t fucking blow it for the horror world and let another GREAT film that has been released nation-wide bomb. All that does is give horror movies a bad rep and make studios not want to release them for fear of not making it big in the box office. This movie is 100% worth EVERY penny you will spend on it in the theater.
Go see it NOW. Recommend it to EVERYONE you can because this movie deserves much, MUCH more than the six (fucking pathetic…) other individuals who were in the theater on OPENING day.
PLEASE, take my word for it. You will not regret it.
An EASY 10 in my book. THANK you everyone who worked on this film and got it wide-released for allowing me to have paid the price I did to see it in theaters, because it deserves SO much more.
This might be the worst movie of 2009. Don’t believe any of the reviews here that say otherwise, they’re probably just trying to make sure you pay to see it (meaning, bogus reviews from people involved in the movie). The guys who wrote this (and one directed it, if you can call it directing) are one trick ponies and not even good at that one trick. The SAW movies they wrote were the worst ones too. This is what happens when people who win reality shows make movies. If these guys didn’t get picked for Project Greenlight, they’d be flipping burgers, which is exactly what they should be doing if this is the extent of their talent.
a good flick the traps and kills were good i like the fact that they didnt give u a whole bio of “the collector”. it was shot well the acting was good like “nohandtyper” said its good 4 a viewing or 2 jus hope they let it b and dont go fuckin sequal crazy. fuck “a new horror icon is born” let the psycho b.
was it amazing?.. no.. was it entertaining as hell? yes.. was it gruesome and gory.. yes.. did it have the best cat kill ever? YES!
driven by dark atmosphere.. even though barely any dialogue the acting by josh stewart was solid.. it almost felt like an alternative solution to Saw 2.. but a much better version of Saw 2.. a house filled with booby traps.. definetely had a nice body count and creative kills.. pretty predicatable too but it was the ending that I would have wanted.. horror fans will enjoy
Hands down, the best horror film of 2009 so far. Looks like the horror genre is finally starting to get some balls again!! If the writers can come up with something THIS good, it makes me eagerly anticipate “Saw VI”. Go see it, you won’t be disappointed.
Sick movie, much better than I anticipated. I intentionally didn’t read too much about this movie so I’d be somewhat surprised at what happened. Far better than the past 3 Saws and liked the traps setup in the house. A ton of suspense and some definite squirmy moments of gruesome shit. Fun movie to see in the theaters for sure. Would have received another star if it wasn’t for some bitch opening the exit door to have a smoke about halfway through. The glare from outside on the screen made me want to butcher the dumb bitch. She also clapped at the end of it and kept yelling how bad it was. But aside from that (which really didnt have anything to do with the content of the movie) it was an unbelievable thrill ride any horror fan will enjoy. Unless of course you’re one of the pussies on this board that for some reason call yourselves “horror fans” and don’t like the brutal side of the genre. Still don’t understand why there’s Twilight fans on here.
Not bad, not great, but you’ll remember the kills in this one. Altogether not exactly what you’d expect given the trailers, but I guessed who the killer was a mile off. Lingering questions haunt me, like how much time did this guy have to set up all these traps (?), but ultimately satisfying. I’d say to go see this one, even if it’s for the killings, although I personally found the killer himself to be quite underwhelming (he looks to me like Tiny from House of 1000 Corpses, if Tiny were average height). Meh, at least it earns its hard R.
garyp, you’re a hater. you didn’t say one thing about the movie. did you even see it?
saw it today. thought it was great.
anyone else get annoyed by the people who rate movies like the person down there who hasnt even seen it but gives it a 1 and a half?
This served it’s purpose, It was a grisly, grotesque and ultra violent film!
JUST “SAW” THIS MOVIE…AWSOME DEATH TRAPS…..BUT COME ON NO STORY LINE…NONE WHAT SO EVER….DIDN’T TELL YOU WHY??? HOPEFULLY THE PREQ WILL ANSWER ALL OUR QUESTIONS….
I thought this was one of the best original horror movies i’ve seen in a while. Just as i was thinking hollywood couldn’t do better than just remake old movies too. I was pleasantly surprised. I would definitely reccomend this movie alone just for the bear trap scene.
B-horror classic of the decade. It’s cool to see a good low-budget horror film get a wide release. It’s like Halloween and Night of the Demons. Those films were low budget even back then and they became successful because of their “underground” appeal, so get your chance to see the future “B movie classic” on the big screen. The best part was that it wasn’t done on purpose- this film tried it’s hardest to look amazing and came a little short, which I totally loved!!!
The story was so well done, they never made the mistake of revealing too much (like the old slashers) and the killer was BADASS.
The kills are definitely not made on the “Saw” budget, but they were still fun and wince-inducing (bear traps, anyone??). One fear I had going into this was that this would be torture porn, but it surprisingly isn’t! The closest thing you see to torture is the aftermath of torture. The killer is either busy chasing or stabbing (and sometimes shooting) victims when the traps don’t do the job. The traps were awesome and believable. This killer is on a budget and he does amazing stuff without being too unrealistic (although there is one trap that worked a little too perfectly). There’s a nice body count too so the film doesn’t become a boring chase scene.
My only complaint is that my local multiplex, after advertising the hell out of this film in their theater, sent the film to the shittiest theater in town (the rumbling bass speaker was busted, the seats were old and sticky, and the place smelled like body odor…).
Great flick, better than any of the saw flicks in my opinion. Cant wait to check it out again. Worth seeing in theaters id say.
very fun film with inventive kills, solid pacing, a color correction that screams 80′s slasher. All in all one of the most fun in the movies this year, right up there with Drag Me to Hell, Up, My Bloody Valentine 3-D, Taken, I Love You Man, Star Trek,and The Hangover.
Great movie.. but leaves you asking alot of questions, like how was he able to set up so many traps & board the windows in such a small amount of time…? I REALLY enjoyed it, though. Very intense, not too jumpy. The ending made me upset, though… seeing as though the SAW people never let anyone get away.
seen its tonight its a awesome movie !!
If you like a movie with very little plot and a lot of torture, then this is the movie for you. Luckily I am one of those people. It was great to see a low budget film in the theaters. Some parts were a little cheesy, but over all it was a really good movie.
Just got done watching the movie. I thought it was pretty good, very brutal… but i liked it. It was kind of creppy in a way. It just gave me chills, idk why. But i did like it alot. Better than the “saw” movies, i think the writers did a better job at this. very very good movie! I think alot of people will enjoy this movie!
A Great Modern Day Horror Movie.
The Collector was a very good little horror movie with a lower budget but there is nothing wrong with that. I hope this villain returns for more cat and mouse games for years to come. THe Collector has everything to entertain a horror movie fan: suspense, blood/gore, and alittle sex. Orphan and The Collector are definitely two very solid horror films that came out this summer and they definitely revived the horror genre in different ways. Go see them both!
badasss movie is all i gotta say.
its worth watching it.
I liked this movie, but I thought it could have used a bit more plot/back story. It was a very fun and cool ride, but never had a destination.
Just saw it I thought it was good. I found myself shaking my leg in a few spots due to the tension. It could be a good franchise, if it is dealt with properly. Creepy yet effective
Just saw this today and enjoyed the hell out of it.Good to see a low budget horror movie in theaters.It had a great 80′s vibe to it.This could be a start of a new horror franchise.To all the horror fans out their, go out and see this movie. Show your support and hollywood would have no choice and give us what we want.A gory good time!!The collector kicks major ass!!
Arkin wants to smooth over the rough patch his family is currently going through. He seems like a hard working man that’s trying to make a living by doing some housework for a family who lives out in the country. It turns out that Arkin has more problems than he lets on though. His wife, Lisa, has quite a pile of debt resting on her shoulders and the loan sharks want their share that very night. Knowing his paycheck isn’t enough to pay for their debt, Arkin assures Lisa that he’ll have the money by midnight. Arkin is actually a thief who has been scoping out his employer’s property the entire time he’s been working for him. With the family away on vacation, the safe behind the mirror in the couple’s bedroom is ripe for the taking. Unbeknownst to Arkin, however, is that the family never left and somebody else beat him to the punch. A man who’s known as The Collector has already broken into the house Arkin had his eye on. After a quick investigation, Arkin notices the traps The Collector has set up in nearly every room and by every exit. As Arkin weighs his options, he realizes he must try to help the family he originally intended to steal from in a race against time.
The Collector is a film that is somewhat hurt by its own hype. It’s written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan (who also directs), the writing team who penned the last three Saw films (including part VI). News broke right before its release that the film was almost a prequel to Saw. In the horror community, being a part of the Saw franchise is a rather large achievement. Even if you’re not a fan of the franchise, it’s hard to deny how well the Saw films do at the box office as their gross revenue is sometimes up to ten times what the film’s budget was. The down side is that The Collector seems to make this point blatantly obvious. The film gives off a sense of deja vu throughout its entire duration. The Collector’s traps are very reminiscent of Jigsaw’s traps, at least in the way they’re set up (reverse bear trap in Saw compared to the bear trap scene in The Collector). The Collector also looks and feels like a Saw film. The quick edits that a lot of people expressed their dislike for in Saw are used more often than not in The Collector. Grainy and high contrast filters along with those quick edits make it a bit hard to distinguish what events are actually occurring on screen at times. The first ten minutes or so of the film feel like an extended music video. These qualities don’t necessarily make the film bad, but a film that’s advertised as being original shouldn’t have so much in common with a well distinguished franchise in the same genre; let alone when some of the same people are involved. Something that may have been easily averted if the marketing campaign didn’t throw that fact in the public’s face.
With all that being said, the film still has enough originality going for it to bring in horror fans. While the film does have its flaws (the main one being, how’d The Collector have time to set up all these traps?), they actually don’t take away from the overall enjoyment for the film. What The Collector collects is rather interesting and even with its similarities to Saw, it’s an original horror film that isn’t a remake. Something we don’t see a lot of anymore. What also might make or break the deal for horror fans seeing this film is that it doesn’t shy away from blood and guts. The bear trap sequence alone is rather gruesome, but you do get to see some intestines make a cameo. So this definitely isn’t for the squeamish. The film did leave a few open-ended questions, but they don’t seem to be negative. The most memorable one is more of a sense of wondering why a certain character did a certain act rather than it being a glaring mistake. If this gets turned into a franchise (which depending on its reception, it just might), we’ll probably get answers in the sequel(s). The Collector also seemed to establish a bit of tension at times, while the closing moments of the film were similar to a seesaw. The events that unfold seem to be going in one direction, but then quickly shift and go in another direction.
TV spots are saying things like, “Horror has a new icon,” and that The Collector is the best horror film to come out in years. While the latter could be debated, the first part of that statement could very well be true. I, personally, wouldn’t mind seeing more of The Collector as I like the idea and the character. The film as a whole, however, may have let its influences shine brighter than its original aspects. In retrospect, The Collector is an entertaining horror film composed of a decent antagonist, standard acting, an original storyline, and a few buckets of gore.
What more could you possibly ask for in a horror film these days?
With all the crappy horror films Hollywood is churning out this is a mighty fine gem.
Awesome soundtrack and camera work.
I’ve seen in in theaters twice already!
‘The Collector’ is a waste of time and energy. Period.
There is an interesteing concept formulating here: “What happens when you walk into a horror movie scenario that’s already in progress?” The film asks that question, then sidesteps it to show repeated shots of victims struggling, squirming, and (more often that not) trying to hold back their yelps of pain.
The Collector himself is a somewhat interesting creature, in appearance more than anything else. He looks as though he’s blind and wears a sort of melted rubber/leather bondage mask. Considering his look, however, he brings with him very little menace, especially considering that he is constantly hidden in shadow. Sometimes this works (John Carpenter’s Halloween), but here it feels like an attempt at style. If he is someone that lurks in the shadows, keep him in the shadows. If you want us to see his face, have your D.P. light his face.
The art direction in this film follows very closely to the ‘SAW’ films. Grungy locations, strange lighting, and characters that are constantly getting bloodier and bloodier. For the people that have described the traps in this film to be reminiscent of the ‘SAW’ films, they are sadly mistaken. In the ‘SAW’ films, the intention is to create dread, lasting tension, and finally a violent release (although not always). Here, the traps are like ‘The Last House on the Left’ meets ‘Home Alone’.
The editing is a constant source of distraction. Things flash in front of the screen for no reason. We see shots of CGI spiders looming around. Why? To create atmosphere? I don’t think so.
And the story; What story?
I went to ‘The Collector’ with a joy in my step and a song in my heart, only to be disappointed in almost every concievable way. This is not art, this is not scary, this is not craft. Hell, it’s hardly even cinema.
The Setup: A repairman working on a house out in the middle of nowhere decides to break in while the family’s away to steal a jewel, so he can help his own family avoid trouble with loan sharks. Little does he know, “The Collector” has beat him to the punch… But he isn’t there for some stupid Ruby…
The Review: I fucking love slasher movies. I grew up with them and I’ll die with them. Yeah, yeah, most of them have the same plot and disposable characters, but every once in a while, you’ll get something totally new and wonderful within the genre. Sadly, The Collector was neither. But before I get to that…
This film didn’t have a huge budget and kinda crept into theaters out of nowhere, but that didn’t stop it from delivering decent acting, sharp camera work and a lot of blood. Although I didn’t think the gore was over-the-top (Freddy Vs. Jason, anyone?) it did have a heaping serving the red stuff, which is just the cherry on top for me. In fact, there was actually one scene that had me looking away, and that NEVER happens! So, kudos for that.
The setting was too typical and the characters made it all too clear, but the way the film was shot did give it a moody feel. The color work was pleasing on the eyes and really set the tone well. The CGI (Although not much) wasn’t bad but I did find myself thinking, “FUCK, just use real bugs! They’re cheaper anyway!” Thankfully, it wasn’t too distracting.
As far as the acting goes, there was hits and misses. The more disappointing aspect wasn’t so much the acting, But the decisions of the characters themselves. One major action stands out more than others, but I won’t spoil it. Now, Back to when I said this film was neither new nor drop dead wonderful.
If you’ve seen a Saw film then you would most likely agree with me when I say that the idea isn’t all that fresh. A bunch a films have been playing off the torture aspect of the genre for years now and so it’s easy to fall into the “been there, seen that” category. The Collector is a little different in how it tends to feel more like a slasher as opposed to a (Forgive my use of this word) Torture-Porn entry. The use of the traps are really what held my interest. It isn’t the “He forced me to…” machinery, like in the saw films, but more like booby traps, which I loved. For me, that was reason enough to like the movie, but if you’re the type of person that could care less, then you may not feel the same.
Overall: Although not a breakthrough flick, it had enough goods to keep me wondering what exactly was going to happen. I say it all the time… You’ve gotta love horror for what it is and even though I didn’t LOVE this movie, I did like it… and not just enough for a one time viewing.
I thought it was awesome he definitly, without question, in my opinion in the big leagues with the elders of the horror genre..liked the way he showed no mercy n how well and unique the house was rigged brought something new to the table…yes in a way a little tobin bell, but still showed originality. Plus the story line was great showed how another villian could wind up being a hero or just trying to make it out alive to save his own family…overall a great movie..im not a film critict but i gave it ten
To all horror fans:
Today I went and saw The Collector I would give this movie a 7 out of ten because it lacked original story line. It seemed to use a lot of different part like the hook seen from Saw 3, hanging body seen from saw 4, and chase seen from Halloween. The only difference from this movie and the Saw movies is that the writer for the movie directed the movie. To me this movie made no since to much left unanswered like when did the killer get the time to put all the pad lock on the doors, when did he get the time to board up all the windows, and when did he get the time to rig up the house with the traps. To me the gore was badly done all the killer used was throwing knifes. The other person used nothing even though he had a lot of weapons to choose from . I’m think this movie is a sad attempt at try to save the writers of the Saw movies just in case Saw VI doesn’t do good that way the can still make some money. This movie is just like Are You Scared and Are You Scared 2 to the Saw movies just a sad attempt to make some money and have a safety net just incase it doesn’t do while I’m glad Twisted Pictures and Lionsgate did not produce this movie it would have been a down grade of there horror franchise. The only reason I like this move was because it had gore, guts, nudity, and a good story line even thought it wasn’t original.
Overall, I thought it was a cool horror flick.
Nothing groundbreaking but the premise of the “bad guy” becoming the “good guy” was cool and Arkin was a character you truly sympathized with almost from the get-go. I also thought the character of The Collector, while nothing mindnumbingly original, still looked great with his “all in black” look and the mask will be a new Halloween favorite this year…just watch.
I’d give it an 8 out of 10 for pure horror buffs while the general viewing public might think it has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
If they build a sequel….I will come.
this was a good movie.an original slasher movie going to theaters thats not a remake is saying enough right there.the kills were cool but the whole movie felt recycled from sawish traps halloween chase scences.but overall fun to watch
This was a brutal movie. The traps and kills were awesome, and the camera almost never looks away. If you took Inside and combined it with Saw you have the Collector. It comes highly recommended.
The only thing going for this movie as that it Wasn’t a remake. A complete knockoff of SAW that made less sense (oh, so there’s an acid that burns shoes, cats, and books, but not the floor? to name one instance) it goes out of any logical path to give us a lame and unbelievable ending. I really hope there is no sequel because I did not like this movie at all and I don’t see the appeal.
I thought The Collector was a fun movie, it was suspensful and brutal. The Killer was great but his weapons were weak, and he set nmerous amounts of clever traps. Like the saw movies it has a ending that reveals things about the movie that maybe unclear, such as the mystery box.
Thought it was incredible! Blew me away!It was actually intense like the first three saw’s.I do believe it could have been a prequel but this movie deserves to stand on its on! bring on part 2! Get out there horror fans so we can see more of The Collector!!! I would love to know his motive(s)!!!!!!!!!
Horror movies these days are so weak, they’re almost not worth seeing. So when i walked into the theater, in the back of my mind i was thinking “writers of saw. writers of saw. please don’t be bad.”
OH MY FREAKING GOD!
It was good.
i haven’t squirmed in my seat during a movie in so long (besides the saw movies) and I was squirming so much in this movie it was like a workout. It was so gory, and brutal, and intense, and suspenseful, and everything a horro fan loves! Also, I have NEVER covered my eyes during a scary movie. In this one, I did. It was so creepy. and the Villian scared me. I was afraid to go home because of this movie. Horror movies never affect me like this one did.
With all these huge compliments, I’m not trying to make it sound like it was perfect because it wasn’t.
It was pretty low-budget which WAS noticable, but they made the movie in a way that it didn’t matter if the budget was $1,000. It was still very good.
Also, I would have liked them to explain more about the person and his motives and everything, but then again, it’s scarier if you don’t know anything about the person who invaded your home.
I have hardly any bad comments on this movie. It was just so creepy and scary and intense and everything… and most important- ORIGINAL!!!!!!!!! Every movie these days is based on a book or another movie.. ugh.
this was just so original and truly unique.
Definately go see this one!
I am usually really upset when i get all excited about a movie and their isn’t enough gore and violence. I was nervous when I told people I was seeing it and no one had heard of it. When we got to the theater and it was just me and my friend the whole time. I absolutely loved it! The beginning reminded me of a Nine Inch Nails video…so it starts with a BANG! I love gore and this had a decent amount of it. I really enjoyed how it was realistic…because a real serial killer doesn’t care about feelings, children and animals he will kill them all…I loved this movie .
it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great either. There were some good kills, but that was the only thing I liked about this movie.
I Went Into This Movie Honestly Not Really Knowing ANYTHING About It. I Only Saw One Trailer For It And Just Thought “Wow,I Don’t Know What The Hell Just Happened…But It Looks Amazing!!”. So I Went And Saw It With My Mom & My Best Friend. And I Have To Say It Was A REALLY Good Thing We Were The Only Ones In That Theater Because We Spent Most Of The Time Screaming/Covering Our Eyes/Yelling At The Characters/Complimenting The Killer On His Creativeness. haha(we’re sorta morbid)
By The End Of It I Realized That This Is The Most Amazing Horror Movie I’ve Seen In A LONG Time. I Was SO Glad It Wasn’t Like Other So Called “Horror” Films That Were Really Just “Slashers”. This Was Real Horror To Me. And I Thought It Was EXTREMELY Better Than The Saw Movies,Too.
All In All I Think This Movie Was AMAZING,The Uniqueness Of The Kills Were Great!
The Only Thing I Was Skeptical About Was How The Killer Could Have Possibly Set Up ALL Thoes Traps In The Amount of Time He Had.
But Other Than That I Give This Movie A 10/10.
I am lukewarm about this movie, it is in equal measure refreshingly genius and a derivative turd. A lot of attention is given to comparisons with SAW, it has very little in common with SAW. It comes across more like a sadistic HOME ALONE and PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS. The booby traps are viscious homemade contraptions as designed by a psychopath hellbent on maiming and killing with very little MO. I appreciate slasher films with no exposition given to the killer; a villian that shows up, kills and leaves. At its best, it is a taut claustrophobic cat and mouse haunted house thriller. At its worse it tries too hard for flashy stylization and comes across like a cheap student film. The first act is horribly trite; for me the movie doesn’t start until Arkin enters the house for his heist — followed by a solid 20 minute sequence of brilliant tension.
This movie, in my opinion, is fucking great. I can’t wait until the sequel. I just hope that they get a little more inside the story of the killer, like how long he’s been at his “collecting”, and whether or not he’s even human. But, all in all, it is a great movie and a great beginning of a new franchise if there is to be one.
I think this well end up being a trilogy like saw
I wanted this to be amazing. Instead, I just thought it was mediocre. Some of the effects were good and The Collector himself was a great character (silent, cold, methodical), but other than that, I wasn’t blown away.
This movie is alright. The traps are kind of cool. It’s not very scary, but it is entertaining.
Now normally this is a rarity for me especially when it comes down to a movie like this. I have heard some pretty bad things about this movie (mainly from the girls I know), and rarely some good, but I was curious myself to see this movie since I heard about it’s release. Not very surprising here in Utah, but the theatres close by weren’t playing this movie, I thought to myself, “If this movie isn’t being played in Utah, then it must be one hell of a movie!” So I got a text from one of my close friends and she said that there was a theatre down south from where I live that was playing it…little did I know this theatre was over an hour away, but eventually I managed to get a ride down there, and this movie didn’t disappoint. Even straight from the beginning, the opening sequence with the creepy soundtrack, which was very amazing and spooky throughout, impressed me. This movie started just like any old one, introducing the characters and the whole reason for what was about to go down but what I liked about it was that it didn’t extend it’s welcome. It got right to the point and got right into the action. This movie was heart racing and was very intense throughout. I figured the whole “traps” word meant that some SAW elements were going to be put into this but it’s far from what I thought. The traps were new, refeshing, rigged to kill, not torture, the eyes of the killer were way cool and the acting was superb but there really isn’t much I can say about the killer except the fight scene was fast paced on one of the few enjoyable ones. To put it simple, the cinematography was amazing. The camera angles as well are a big mention, it made it very interesting and fun to look at. (To wrap this up quick) The ending was exactly how it should be, not a happy one, and for those who haven’t seen it this might be a SPOILER but the ending stayed true to the tag line, no matter what, he always takes one. For me to be giving this rating is very rare so this must mean this was a damn good movie.
An better than expected, thrilling and tense brutal/thriller that had the feeling of unease and dread throughout, it definitely has one bad@ss killer and puts all the Saw films to shame, well maybe not the 3rd one. The acting wasn’t the best at all nor had likable characters yet that little blonde girl definitely was the most likable and better actress to be honest. It succeeds in atmosphere, set up and design and you got to hand it to them for the impressive deadly traps that makes Saw look like Home Alone, nicely done! I think they should forget about the overrated Saw franchise and bury it for good and focus on making this a trilogy or something because I think they have something pretty good on their hands, be smart and continue with this! I will have to agree with some horror critics and say A NEW HORROR ICON IS BORN! Overall I ended up liking this underrated thriller which also has a pretty good soundtrack by the way and they definitely knew their audience which was purely gorehounds! FORGET SAW THIS YEAR AND SUPPORT THE COLLECTOR BECAUSE IT SURPASSES ALL OF THEM! Recommended!
I liked this one alot. I think the talent in the saw series is in this film. Mad props to the cinematographer, lighting and director/writer.
This is a creepy film that is begging for 2 sequels. Its nice to a low budget film made in hollywood that works.
I dug this movie, but still felt a bit empty. A new horror icon is definitely not born. It really isn’t ground breaking. There really isn’t a point to this guy collecting anyone, in fact, this movie would be better if he wasn’t collecting anyone. Since he is collecting people, you know that there is someone/something higher than him and that he is just a foot soldier. This sort of kills the terror of the collector himself.
The booby trapping, while cool, is stupidly unnecessary for our collector.
I really liked the cast in this movie and loved the collector’s get-up and mask.
This movie was entertaining, but nothing to talk about at the watering hole either. I won’t buy this on DVD when it comes out. There isn’t replay value, and it just isn’t that impressive.
I give it a 4 out of 10 for being average.
As I sat through this movie I really enjoyed the intensity of it. There were few moments during the film that I felt as though the character was “safe” and I could relax for him.
The only part of this movie that truly disappointed me was the lack of plot. This guy collects people but why? *SPOILER* The guy who was collected from the opening scene who falls out of the box says that he was the bait. But why was it necessary to have bait when the house was already rigged against any possible escape?
The fact that we didn’t know anything about The Collector and his motives make him all the more terrifying, and definitely takes away the feeling of being safe in your own home. This film could go either way. I was content with the ending, but if they do decide to do a prequel or sequel I hope they explain who the villain is and why he is the way he is.
I really liked The Collector quite a bit, while no it wasn’t quite perfect it was really headed in the right direction.
I thought the gore was well done and you even felt for the main character.
It was imaginative and innovative and really made me feel like I was watching more then torture porn.
The soundtrack was phenomenal and worked well with the movie, they didn’t seem like two seperate entities. This movie is a must see/must buy for any true slasher film fan.
Ok this wasnt as good as i was expecting it but it was still pretty good.
This movie actually did have some good character development and you actually care for the characters in this movie.
The collector was a creepy villain and was extremely fun to watch kill and there were bucket loads of gore, possibly one of the goriest movies in awhile…
the acting in this movie was great and just helped make the story more believable
the only problem i had with this movie was that i wished a girl was the main character because a horror movie doesn’t affect me as much if a girl isnt the main character or has a big part in it.
this was a excellent film and i will definaitely be hoping there is a sequel and if done right could possibly become the next saw franchise…
Ok let me start off by saying I did not hate this movie. That being said I did not enjoy it either. I liked the main character and the little girl. The teenager was to cliche for me to care about her much. I hated the ending. They are becoming cliche.
The collector was a captivating experience for me, but the lack of emotion provoked in the film is what makes the film earn an average score. It might be bloated with gratuitous carnage, but it’s hollow with characters or any emotion, feeling. I admire the intelligence in the director trying to be devoid of the typical cliches and tackling on a fresh concept, but sometimes it takes more than originality to make a good film. Not terrible by any means, but certainly not something to write home about.
Damn good… intensity, clever, and a good twist to boot… what more could you ask for
Great Film Awesome Villain Great Gore Cool Characters And Sweet Twist No Happy Ending
A little disappointed. Over the top gore and mutilation. Did like the main character and his
interaction with the little girl. Didn’t like the ending and will not go watch a Collector II!
This movie actually made me feel light headed after watching it, a feeling I haven’t had since I was in 7th grade, though there were a few rough patches it gave us a new icon, something that hasn’t happened in a long time and was way passed due. Great job Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, and keep ‘em coming.
Its a shame this movie bombed in theatres, because its one of the best slasher flicks ever.
The concept is brilliant and original.
As with most horror flicks, there are a few moments that require the viewer to suspend belief, but not enough to take anything away from this terror staple. If this were to be the foundation stone to a larger franchise, i would be a hardcore fan through and through.
i really liked this =D
A Saw movie for people who have become worn out from the Saw franchise… all with a mean-spirited, midnight fright-film charm.
The opening credits had a very Se7en/NIN vibe to it, which I could argue screamed of rip-off if I didn’t enjoy them both as much as I did.
Great movie!!! You can tell that this movie was inspired by the “Saw” series, but the story line is completely different. I actually prefer this movie to the “Saw” movies. Definite addition to my collection when it gets released on DVD in April.
This movie was so badass. I loved everything about it. The killer was awesome and so were all of his traps. Ya it was kinda like Saw but this was way better. Great movie all around. One of the better slasher films i’ve seen in a long long time. Check this one out.
Yawn. An exercise in Saw-ish excess and general tedium. Some critic slammed it as it being cooked up by a 14-year old devotee of Bloody Disgusting. Pretty much.
I strongly disagree with some of the things Mr. Disgusting said about The Collector. The slasher in this movie was really stupid. The way he looked with his mask was more funny than it was scary. The traps were, I must admit, really cool. Definitely had a “Saw” feeling to it. The acting was poor. The ending was actually good though. I like No happy endings in horror movies. The kills were very stylish and the gore was good. The story line was poor though, very poor. All in All, The Collector has it’s shining moments but a lot of it is weighed down by a poor storyline,bad acting, and lame Slasher.
This movie is top notch! A totally flat-out fantastic movie! Very good i really enjoyed this on!
FUCKING A. I think this is deft up there with the first SAW as coolest torture core movie. I refuse porn, porn is like something you jerk off to. Anywhos this movie had a pretty sick plot, yeah so what if it is cliche they brought something new to the table. And the collector is such a bad ass. I love how they took another dude too and was down and about and was pretty bad himself but wasn’t nothing compare to the collector. ANd the gore is really sick too, so are the death scenes. This movie was just amazing. And I hope we get more. I love these dudes. Melton and dustan. Kick ass horror writers.
great refreshing horror..the ending stands out.
This film was entertaining and had some cool kills, but thats about all. The charcters had less personality than card board cut outs. and the Collector was kind of lame as a killer, not good enough to be a franchise.
My true rating is a 5.5
Really good for what it is
It’s a very well done movie
Not a terrible film, but I was never particularly interested. The premise intrigued me, but the execution was what let the film down. I found it difficult to suspend disbelief about a couple of key issues, as well. It was more bland and disappointing than it was bad.
I really cant see why some people speak highly of this film. Proxy you must have never seen a slasher before because even though its your personal opinion(and i respect it) I just cant see anyone thinking “its one of the best slasher flicks ever”(except for the fact that it bombed in theaters). Im going to go watch a true slasher Happy Birthday To ME.
Dudes!!! This is one amazing movie. It is a really fresh, new idea that mixs Hostel and Saw with a good-ol’ slasher movie. This movie is truly one of the best of 2009. The characters are all really well developed, especialy Arkin the main character. It’s a movie with a really good story and a helloflot of gore!
K.A.R.
COMPLETE PIECE OF SHIT. Anyone who thinks this movie is good is a fucking moron. Fuck all of you assholes who gave this a good review and helped me waste my time watching it. Also, the official reviewer probably didn’t watch this movie because the synopsis is way off. Fucking idiot.
not a bad movie,but I was expecting more,a better twist.
Firstly, you’re going to have to suspend all belief to get into this picture. It’s not one to over-analyze(and we should rarely break down elements within a cheap-shock horror film). The basic aim in this film is tension, and it builds that well. I was on pins and needles during a few scenes. The feeling is all love and hate : ) The ending leaves one asking for more. There is bound to be a sequel. See this if you enjoyed: Martyrs, Saw, Hostel. 6 for the entertainment value. Nothing too new.
WoW. i realy enjoy this movie . see it Now.
bsolutely fantastic and breathtaking birth of a new horror icon. The story may be nothing special but everything else is: a bunch of great actors, lots of suspense and tension, a beautiful setting, an amazing killer, many brilliantly violent and disgusting kills, a great score, a top notch soundtrack (Depeche Mode, Bauhaus, Korn…), excellent atmosphere, excellent cinematography and excellent colours (a bit reminiscent of Dario Argento).
Well, a masterpiece!
This movie has some great suspence, great gore, just really good. It has been said saw and hostel mix and that is a really good description. The collector was a very evil, smart slasher that got me excited to see what was next. The ending left you thinking part two or will we be left to wonder. Anyway I really enjoyed this movie.
Great movie. Don’t remember seeing anything about so I just decided 2 give it a shot and I’m glad I did! Awesome new horror character. This is a tight little flick and I am so curious about the collectors background- What makes him tick?? I’m totally ready for more!
Amazing movie!! This is the first horror movie i have seen in a while that gets right to the point and doesnt have some cheesy bs story line. I hate horror movies that have comedy in them and it seems to be happening more and more, but not with this. The collector is suspenseful, gory and horrifying all the way through and leaves you wanting more..
I loved this movie it was the first date i took my gf on. Dispite the plot holes ie how did he set it all up IT IS AMAZING!!!!!!! Just watch it remimber the cat and goldfish
The movie was awesome. Great plot. Great acting. Great mask. I really wish they would make a sequel so we could find out The Collector’s background!
Loved it! Sick, brutal, and gets right to the point. This film was made for horror fans and delivers right up to the last frame. The killer is extremely memorable and just plain cool. The look of the film perfectly sets the tone and the score rocks too.
excellent film. very surprised at this one, and i cannot wait for the sequel. sure it isn’t original by any means, but it blows all the saw films out of the water.
Awesome.
I thought it was entertaining enough, just can’t figure out the bug thing…? Hopefully a second film will help develope the Collector and solve the bug stuff…wtf?
a moment of suspense, a pretty cool ending, and so disgusting you stop caring how disgusting it is. a cheap movie for losers who like ‘saw’
to format916… you’re on thin ice calling saw fans losers on this site. This movie was decent. nothing fantastic but nothing really wrong with it either. i hope for a sequel
I didn’t like where the poor cat was stuck melting
in that awful shit, luckily the guy thru the poor
thing out the window. It was still very disturbing
and I hate movies like that where animals are being tortured and/or put into situations like such that they are being handled wrongly, so all in all because of this short,fucked up and most
disturbing scene I’m giving it what this film most deserves…0/10.
Beautifully done.. Can’t wait to stick it up on the shelve!
This movie is absolutely my favorite, solid score, good intro, great gore and kills even though the digital blood is sometimes noticeable, and that the tools Arkin used to break in are upside down. The plot holes are only there for those who don’t pay attention at all or are bothered by scens of violence or, people who put specific scenes as deciding factors of how good the overall movie was like salene who apparently is a cat hugging hippie and that’s because I judge her like she judged the movie on only one aspect. time line is well done, I personally think what plot holes that have been brought up are quickly put down but I agree this isn’t the best made or beautifully done film with the best imagery or point, and the spider imagery was overused; But if you don’t understand this movie then why the hell grade it and comment until you understand what happened. I don’t rate movies until i’ve seen them twice or three times. NOT PERFECT BUT INTENSE FUN AND MY FAVORITE MOVIE EVER DESPITE ITS FLAWS WHICH IT HAS MANY.
Dude, this was pretty good! I’m actually presently surprised. Although not perfect, this movie goes to show you that producers can actually give us well rounded gore and kills with an R rating. The plot is a little simple but leaves room for sequel hopefully in the near future. Pick this one up folks.
This was cool. It’s an exciting fil with plenty of twisted action. The Collector is probably one of the most sinister villains I have seen in a long time. Not for the easily disturbed.
Way better than Saw to me… Great movie….
Bitchin’ boobie trap fun!
This was better than I expected. My one major gripe is that the movie gives you a reason the dude is gonna break into the house; to get his wife or ex-wife out of trouble with a loan shark and to keep her from running away with their kid. Yet once he succeeds in escaping the house, and then “collected” by the killer, that leaves his kid at the mercy of the loan shark because he wasn’t able to get the jewel back to save her. That to me is a bigger kick in the balls then the fact that he was “collected”. Thought the filmmakers could have had a better resolution to that then what they ended up with. Other than that thought this was pretty good. Traps were decent, but nothing that stood out for me. Figured it would leave an open ending, so wasn’t too surprised by that. Want to waste about 90 minutes give this one a shot. I have seen worse.
This movie sucked…check out my review…
http://b-stank.blogspot.com/2009/08/movie-review-collector.html
THIS MOVIE FUCKIN ROCKED MY BLACK SOCKS OFF
Arkin needs money quick to help out his wife and little girl from some loan shark, so he breaks into a house he knows that has a jewel inside that is worth alot of money and when he gets in the house, he realizes he isnt alone. the collector is also in the house and a kinda boring game of cat and mouse ensues…The Collector is an OK way to waist an hour and a half. i really dont get all of the glowing reviews this movie is getting. i thought the collector himself was kinda “blah” for the most part and the traps were ehhhhh not bad. nothing about this movie stuck out to me when it was over and i definately understand where this was meant to be a saw prequel. in my opinion, it is too close to Saw in concept and i think nowhere as good as Saw is and thats what hurts the movie the most. the acting wasnt too bad and the gore was pretty good. the traps were alright with a couple sticking out (the gluey acid trap was really good) but none of them being really memorable. the ending was so-so, you kind of see it coming but i liked it none the less. i will give it props for not revealing really anything about the collector which adds to his mystery and i will check out a sequel just to see how the story continues and what happens so all in all its not too bad, but not worth all the praise it has been recieving.
The Collector is a tale of a man in a tough spot. Ex-con Arkin has a wife and a daughter. It quickly becomes apparent that his wife owes loan sharks a large amount of money, a sum that only Arkin can find. We find out that Arkin is working at helping remodel a remote home of a wealthy family.
In addition to remodeling the house, we discover that Arkin has been casing the house in an effort to locate a jewel safe. Realizing that the family is going out for the weekend, Arkin springs into action, breaking into the home and moving right for the safe. Thus begins our story.
The Collector is an amalgam of a few popular themes in horror films. The faceless masked killer, the crazy torture scenes, intricate traps, mixed with the Dean Koontz Intensity trapped with a killer theme. I say this not as a complaint, more a nod of approval as Marcus Dunstan has managed to blend these tropes and craft an original, interesting story with a new killer.
The Collector himself is actually not developed at all. You never see his face, nor do you hear him speak. The only motive given is that he collects people, but aside from that we know nothing about him. Despite being the antagonist, he plays second seat to Arkin, who provides our perspective of the film. I was actually fairly pleased with Josh Stewart’s performance, finding him to be fairly believable for the circumstances. Despite cringing at some of his choices, I found his character to be entirely consistent with his behavior and his decisions.
Despite folks trying to compare this movie to Saw, I feel it stands on its own. This is a movie about a true killer. His victims are innocent and his motives are not really more than a side note to the plot. This a solid film featuring a host of suspenseful moments, although I think the ending was entirely too convenient and somewhat unbelievable.
The Collector is worth adding to your collection and is a recommended film for any date night.
I really enjoyed this movie, and I don’t care for any of the SAW movies, pasted the second one. Just don’t try to think to hard about the probability that he could actually set-up the traps in the time he did in the film;
Small Spoiler: the dog twist was a big surprise!!
I was actually a little grossed out by the gore in this film.
I liked it, but I didn’t LOVE it.
Also, the premise is interesting, but I really didn’t feel all that violence was necessary.
Quite an entertainment show.
Often I though I would do as the main character does, I would lack the guts to…
Seemed to slow in the beggining, but then I noticed it was necessary to cause stress on the viewers…
Surprisingly good, spooky, weird, esquisite, shift-changing all the time, gr8 concept.
It was a good movie, but not a great one. As in a lot of horror movies the villain is basically unstoppable, which I always find frustrating, but at least the hero of the story is very likeable. Also, a lot of the traps were very entertaining, but it could have used less gore.
I wish I could have seen this in theaters, but it didn’t come to any around me. But I am so glad I bought the DVD. What a ride. I felt like I was grabbed by the throat the minute all hell started breaking loose, and it didn’t release its grasp until the end. Highly recommended to all horror and gorehounds. I found it very suspenseful, and hugely entertaining. I cannot wait to watch this again. One of the better horror movies of 2009.
He’s a Human spider. Got it. This was stupid. Hope the sequel is louder.
I thought this movie was Badass! I even liked it better then the first Saw and as to the whole time frame thing, it wouldn’t take that long to set up those traps (although the Bare traps were a little out there) My friends and I used to boobie trap the shit out of friends yards and it would only take about 2 hrs with 2 of us and the lead in the film was gone for at least 4 hrs. I don’t know, but good stuff and great movie!!!
This is one of the best modern horror films. It’s painful to watch (I actually covered my eyes for part) but what was great is that it focused more on the PAIN than on the GORE. It’s very well made and everything works well together from lighting, to music, to sweeping over-head shots.
I also really enjoyed the use of booby-traps and maybe that’s because I’m such a follower of Wes Craven. I feel that booby-traps are great in horror movies. They make everyday objects deadly and are symbols of human ingenuity; both a blessing and a curse.
I did NOT see him as a human spider. There’s this element where they make the killers eyes seem inhuman. However, everyone’s eyes look like that in the right light.
This is a very good movie and while I don’t have a lot of faith in the sequels, I will look for this writers and this directors work.
Not a classic in ny sense bt wuz worth a watch……..culd hav been better…correction…much better…..nt much depth in d story or ny characters bt d gore quotient wuz gud……..
I think the very best thing about this film is the way it was filmed. The atmosphere, lighting, and the beautiful cinematography made this film an absolute joy. I couldn’t stop watching just because of how it was filmed, the use of angles, closeups, etc.
Plot wise, yes, it didn’t delve into any reason behind anything. The movie just kind of started and then after a climactic ending, ends. I wasok with this because even though I am a huge motive kind of guy when it comes to killing people, the story was so well crafted and suspensful that even if I wanted to stop and worry about some details, I couldn’t break away from the film. It was captivating, and luckily, the writers say that the sequel will delve into the story behind the killer, so I can’t wait for that!
It was very gory, but like someone says below, it focuses more on the pain, terror, and struggle of the victims rather than just watching smeone scream and then die a gruesome unrealistic death. I did cringe and have to cover my ears and eyes, because there is an animal death. You hear everything and see some things and I was not a fan, my only complaint for the movie…
Overall, a beautifully crafted and filmed story. It became an instant favorite of mine. It may not become a classic in the sense of Freddy or Jason, but who knows?! I’d love to see this movie get even more popular and become a classic.
A lot of people seemed to hate this movie because there was never a real reason given behind the killer’s actions, but for me that is part of what I loved about the film. Just about every “slasher” type film that comes out involves some sort of back story that explains why the killer has to kill, that is all well and good, but what about telling a more realistic story in which the killer kills for no other reason than to indulge in his own sick games? This movie provides us with a killer we do not understand but that we know there is something more to, and I really love that approach.
The Killer in this movie has animal like reflective eyes, and this is also a big reason why I liked the movie as once again it shows that there is something more to this character than what the movie explores. I am really interested in what a sequel might bring us. I loved the way the movie was filmed, yes it looked very much like a saw film (for anyone who does not know the link between this movie and the Saw films I am not going to explain it) but I have always enjoyed the gritty look of the saw films and thought that it fit perfectly here as well.
This movie was brutal and also carried an awesome soundtrack as well (something I always pay attention to) and I really thought it was an awesome departure from the whole, kill a group of teens recipe that 98% of slasher flicks seem to follow. The set up was really unique for today’s horror.
The acting was constantly believable, I had no issues with the characters at all.
All in all I really enjoyed this flick and thought it was one of the better horror films to come out the past couple of years.
I enjoyed this movie but the boobie traps were kinda corny. I didn’t like how he was hell bent on torturing the mom but was then a horn dog when he saw the daughter and her boyfriend. Kinda made him look weak in character. After watching it a second time it seemed very long.
“SAW” meets Charles Manson meets Robin Hood..yup thats it in a nutshell…Awesome MUST SEE!! Crazy movie about a man forced into robbing a family and then forced to try and save their lives. Lots and lots of HOLY CRAP-N-NUTTER… hands on the eyes …can’t look …must rewind and look… Yes lots of good gore and suspense!!! great flick to watch with friends . Will be the success of any movie night !!! Would have given it 10 skulls but the killer was never really explained and felt they could have had more to the ending …hopefully they left off for a part 2..keeping my fingers crossed!!!
liked it
Good, suspensefull movie!! I loved the killer but the ending felt kind of blah!
Some okay traps and mishaps (here kitty kitty lol), but the torture elements are a bit Hostel-style redoux blah. Didn’t think the “Collector” himself was anything special or overly memorable, but served his purpose as a mean enough baddie. An ok rental.
I don’t know. Maybe it’s the following in Saw’s footsteps, but wasn’t too into this movie. It’s worth a rental if there’s nothing else to watch.
Very good in my opinion, everything you would want in a horror movie
Best movie.
i thought it was badass.
This was a pretty entertaining movie. The violence and blood is cranked into overdriver. The kills were bloody awesome. The boobie traps were cool and disturbing. This film is not for pet lovers. The Collector is worth checking out.
This movie is the Indiana Jones of torture porn. A totally thrilling and exhilirating horror film.
Very nice movie, pretty dumb though
Toe curlingly tense, brutal and uncompromising. The Collector delivered and then some. Heart pounding tension, fast paced and kept your interest throughout. Grips you by the throat and slowly squeezes until the very last frame. Excellent make up and special effects effects. Filmed in a grainy raw kind of way which adds to the whole atmosphere, original for the slasher genre with a truly creepy villain. A relatively unknown cast but did not have a negative effect. Highly recommended watching this on ur own with the lights off and some headphones for maximum effect. Scary as hell in places…
*Spoiler*
Its obvious the Collector has some kind of military background, what with the traps an all. He prays on the rich and watches them before making his move. I think he tests his subjects similar to Jigsaw, before collecting his would be adversary as his prize. Anyone he thinks as insignificant he disposes of in brutal and twisted manner. As for the end of the movie I thought it was cool and obviously left room for a potential sequel but would also stand alone as a one off movie. Hence what I just wrote above. He has no motif and does not take anything apart from one surviving victim which he boxes up, grotesquely tortured but still alive. He then takes this to his next location, when someone opens the box, the fun begins. You’ll get what I mean when and if you watch it, but will obviously come to ur own conclusion….Enjoy
Fr
Fuck the SAW movies! This movie was a 100 times better then any of those fucking piles of shit!fucking twisted! Loved it!
I agree that this movie was better than SAW. Way more gory and more creative, especially since it’s all set in a normal all-American house instead of some abandoned factory. I’m not a big torture-terror fan, so this movie was just a little too much for me. I’m a fan of the classic 80′s slasher films, which this was not. This movie is an emotional roller coaster where you keep rooting for the hero to win…and, as is popular nowadays, your wish goes unfulfilled.
My only complaint: lets leave the animal killings out of movies already! Geezy….poor cat.
Liked it alot more than I thought I would! Jumped several times and cheered for Arkin even more. Ended wrong, I’m thinking about writing an angry letter.
This movie was amazing. made me scream at the screen and stand up. So exciting. Just the right amount of suspense and gore to keep someone like me happy! The plot made sense, if someone like me likes this movie then anyone will ! I would seriously love if they made a second one !! ♥
The perfect crossover of thriller and horror. A very entertaining flick.
good effects, but i didnt really get into it,worth a watch or two.
A pleasant surprise!Great gore,cool but farfetched plot,good acting,And a great ending.Worth a rent for sure.
Reminiscent of some of the grislier 70′s horror flicks and 70′s/80′sGalio’s, The Collector totally blew my expectations away! The Collector is a razor sharp, unrelenting and surprisingly well made film with highly likable protagonist and a genuinely scary killer.
Just the best , scariest horror movie I have scene in years. Well acted. Inexpensively made. I loved it
This was a quite decent horror movie!
To be honest, it wasn’t something extremely fresh or mindblowing, but it WAS definitely a greatly stylized slasher film with a premise that is more interesting than the typical shit. The lead actor was pretty good and the visual effects and gore of the movie was top notch. The ending was a bit forseeable and formulaic, but fits nontheless, setting up what is sure to be The Collector 2 or The Collection.
The Collector
* May Contain Peanuts & Spoilers*
When the guys behind the most recent “Saw” movies had some extra time in their busy schedules they made a small independent horror film called “The Collector”. Since the “Saw” movies they were apart of were nothing but pure crap, I was a little hesitant about watching this movie, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at how effective and entertaining it was. This is a real sleeper hit in the cluttered world of horror.
Released into a few theatres in 2009 and now on DVD, this movie really delivers the goods. High suspense, brutal violence and gore and characters you actually like for a change. Our hero is Arkin is a small time crook trying to turn his life around, he has a young daughter that lives with his ex-wife. His ex is in deep with some loan sharks and needs money by the end of the night. He has been working a construction job at this rich families home and decides the only way to get the money he needs in a hurry is to rob the place. Things start out well until he runs into the Collector. Kind of like showing up at a party wearing the same dress. These two are on quite the collision course.
Since this movie has so much going for it you tend to ignore the clichéd and ridiculous moments like a strip club scene, Arkin just wants his family back, and the killer that wears a mask not to mention several others. “The Collector” really shines in its building of suspense and the cat and mouse games played by Arkin and the killer. Most of the action takes place in this big opulent house, where they are fully aware of each others presence. The Killer also seemed to have the time and the resources to rig up meticulous traps in each room (this is the ridiculous part) to make Arkin’s life a bit more difficult. While Arkin just wants to rob the wall safe and leave. The Collector wants to torture and kill the owners and who ever comes by. The traps do seem to be obviously inspired by the famous “Saw” traps although with a sort of twist.
As the title advertises the killer collects one live victim and stashes them in a red trunk from each of his crimes. Will Arkin be added to his collection? The ending has its own little twists and turns that are pretty amusing. “The Collector” is definitely worth a viewing or two and a buy if under $10. Hopefully after “Saw” has run its course, these guys will use this gem to make even better films.
Pretty good horror film. I enjoyed the story, the acting, and the gore. Def worth a watch.
Very good, disturbing, brutal and terrifying!
I would watch this over “Saw” anytime..
This is my favorite movie ever, it justs great no matter were I look and I love the gore. Saw this at Walmart and picked it up knowing nothing about it and “in a sense” it was the greatest mistake I ever made. It just suprised me in a way no recent movie can. HIGHLY recomened to a slasher or gore fan, hell even someone who just wants to see a great movie.
Not a bad movie from the writers of the Saw sequels. Those movies heavily influence this in it’s use of traps and the way some scenes are shot and lit. The plot is pretty bare bones; it’s all about the violence. This film is jam packed with gore and gruesome scenes to satisfy most gorehounds, and for once there is no happy ending. Not a bad effort but because of the close similarities to the Saw sequels it’s kind of a case of seen it all before.
It was alright. It wasn’t a bad movie by any means, but when it was over, I left the theatre thinking to myself “um… alright. Sooo…. what was the point of that film?” Never got an answer… I’m guessing it’s because there wasn’t one.
This flick delivers with it’s very unique claustrophobic tale and shades of gore!
The movie wasn’t bad by any means, but it totally had the potential to be fantastic. The gore is really good and so was the acting. The movie delivers on the horror, tension and atmosphere. However, there are waaaay to many goofs! Some to the point to the point of utter stupidity. Here are some (some may include spoilers):
Arkin was able to get into the house by picking the lock, yet the Collector had to open a whole bunch of locks when Jill and her boyfriend arrived.
How come Jill and her boyfriend didn’t notice that the windows were boarded?
If Jill and her boyfriend were really stupid enough to notice the boarded windows, wouldn’t they have thought of a better place to have sex than a table? It feels almost like they knew that the house was rigged with booby traps.
Why didn’t the acid burn the wooden floor?
How was the Collector able to rig an entire house with traps within a matter of hours?
How was Larry accidentally electrocuted with the TV? Isn’t the power supposedly off in the house?
Arkin was able to move through a house of intricate traps as if it was easy, yet he can’t even flag down a cop car without getting hit by one.
The Collector supposedly “collects” and kills people in many different houses. If he works as an exterminator, how the hell does he have the money to afford all those traps?
Does the Collector ever sleep? He works as an exterminator in the day and as a serial killer at night.
Okay, a whole bunch of cop cars arrive at a horrific crime scene and the house just exploded. A serial killer was after Arkin and the little girl, yet there was no police escorting the ambulance that was taking Arkin to the hospital.
The Collector’s van had to be pretttty well hidden to get past a whole bunch of cop cars looking for him and crash into an ambulance that has already driven quite far.
The Collector’s van was able to crash into a big ambulance with enough force to flip it upside down multiple times, yet the front of the van was completely undamaged.
The Collector drives a white van that can easily be spotted.
In addition to that, the ending royally pissed me off. I thought Arkin actually made it until the Collector came out of nowhere, crashed the ambulance, killed the paramedic, and put Arkin in the special red box.There’s a sequel coming up called The Collection (SPOILERS) Arkin actually escapes from the Collector. I hope Arkin’s character lives through the whole movie, he’s earned it.
graphic, very graphic. Not bad at all, I like the premise. The execution of it could’ve been a little better, but still satisfying in some way.
The minute I saw the trailers for this I called up my friend and told her to plan on a trip to the movies. She’s gone with me to see several of the Saw movies, and quite a few others, so don’t judge her as simply too squeamish when I tell you that about halfway through this movie, my friend poked me in the arm and asked me for some money, saying she had to leave. This is a movie that pulls no punches, this movie is brutal and pulls no punches. Those with weak stomachs be warned, this is NOT a movie for the faint of heart. The ending does not disappoint, I found myself grinning like a loon as the credits rolled and glancing around just a bit more than normal as we walked to the car that night. All in all, a throughly satisfying horror movie, most definitely worth a watch for those who like their horror brutal, bloody, and intense.
Meh nothing new here.
I didn’t exactly know what I was going to get with “The Collector”, some people were saying it’s a complete gory mess with it being sick and twisted for the sake of it with no character development or plot. Whereas others were telling me it was fantastic gory mayhem, full on intensity and thrills. I didn’t know if I was getting a “Live Feed” or an “Inside”! It was neither. Thankfully it wasn’t as horrendously repugnant as “Live Feed” and it wasn’t as incredibly masterful as “Inside”, it’s your run-of-the-mill horror film that is just simply fun and thrilling to watch.
The first thing that surprised me was the directing! The film has this great grainy 80′s feel to it and gets into the action very quickly. “The Collector” grabs you by the throat and leaves you their until the credits roll up (and then briefly grabs you again, as there is a little bit extra after the credits). I have seen a lot of worse films than this one and I think it offers more than people are likely to believe. Just because it’s by some people who wrote “Saw” doesn’t mean that it’s going to be bad! And yes it does borrow some things from “Saw” but ultimately it is it’s own movie, and it’s a pretty intense one at that.
The fantastic camera angles and intense directing make this an edge-of-your-seat horrifying thrill ride. Yes it has many cliches, and yes it does indulge itself in mindless violence but I don’t think “The Collector” is trying to be a revolutionary horror film. The kills are imaginitive and memorable. The special effects are very good on the whole actually and their are plent of moments that will make you cringe.
It has a great claustraphobic atmosphere and their is this horrific feeling of not being able to get out and the booby traps are also quite clever and didn’t take over the film like I thought they would. In the end “The Collector” is a brilliantly fun horror film which delivers something we’ve all seen before but in a slightly different way. It’s an intense and thrilling ride with some excellent directing. These kids obviously know their stuff!
An ex-con, (Josh Stewart), must fight for his life after he gets more than anticipated during a seemingly routine burglary. Whilst working with a crew on home renovations for the Chase family, the skilled thief finds himself straight back into the crime business when his wife is in deep trouble with loan sharks. In order to protect his daughter he plans a break in, into the Chase family home, whilst they are away on holiday. However Arkin soon discovers that someone else has already broken in, and has hidden numerous death traps all around. The hunter is a collector of the macabre, a collector of people. Arkin is forced to try to figure out a way to save those he intended to rob and save himself. This is one of the most bone-chilling, tense, suspense building films I have seen all year! A unique and creative spin on the normal torture film, in the sense that the plot holds its own in a very competitive sub-genre of horror. Although the story was originally intended as a sequel to saw, it is nothing like the franchise. Despite the complexity and intensity of the plot, the film is simple and subtle in parts which make it all the more frightening, the scene which stood out for me was when the Collector first enters the house, and we see the cat and mouse chase between him and Arkin begin. The cinematography by Brandon Cox is thrilling and terrifying and the music throughout is haunting. Good acting and not at all the clichÃ
I love this movie! One of my favorite horror films. Its unique and clever and completely demented! It’s one of the most disturbing films I have seen in a long time. And it has an AWESOME horror ending! If you missed this one SEE IT!