Indie
[SXSW Review] ‘Mayhem’ Takes Killing to the Top Level
Lots of people die in the bloody new film from Joe Lynch.
Lynch, who directed fan favorite Wrong Turn 2, Knights of Badassdom, and the Salma Hayek actioneer Everly, is back with his most violent film yet.
Mayhem, which had its world premiere at the ongoing SXSW Film Festival, stars “The Walking Dead’s” Steven Yeun as an attorney framed by a co-worker and wrongfully fired. Ironically, a mysterious virus is unleashed on his company that forces the entire building under quarantine for an entire workday. This virus is unique, though, affecting people’s primal inhibitions, which cause all employees to erupt into a tirade of vulgarities, sex, and violence. Furthermore, because said virus causes the host to act in a way that’s abnormal, they’re cleared of all murder over the period of infection. In turn, Derek Cho (Yeun) will work his way to the top of the building and make the partners pay for what they did to him.
Mayhem interestingly echoes Orion’s The Belko Experiment (also an homage to Battle Royale), while also mixing in elements from both The Raid and Dredd. What you get is an independent rager that’s pretty fucking hardcore.
[SXSW 2017] Keep up with all of the news and reviews here!
And even though “The Walking Dead” fans will tune in to see Yeun in the middle of more bloodshed, Samara Weaving absolutely steals the show, delivering a wicked performance that will remind many of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. The duo work their way up to the top, literally, by slaying everyone who stands in the way. Lynch has a lot of fun with Mayhem, using hammers and nailguns, while mostly avoiding typical gun play. There’s a lot of playful dialogue mixed with metal references, which hit peak awesome when Cho and his female counterpart kick some ass to Faith No More’s “Motherfucker”.
But I digress, Mayhem is a bit overly ambitious, which is the crux of the film’s problems; there’s a handful of bad extras and some of the set dressing isn’t up to par with bigger films, ultimately hurting it a bit. Still, Lynch grandiose approach is applauded; what the audience still gets is plenty of head-bang for their buck.
Mayhem is a popcorn munching riot that was made with good vibes and positive energy. You and your friends will have a blast watching two people kick the man’s ass in more way than one…
The Wayans are out to cancel the Cancel Culture with Scary Movie, and the cast assures it will do just that.
“They sort of have an across-the-board style,” Anna Faris tells EW. “It’s always been a part of the Wayans Brothers, their electricity. ‘Can we offend you? Will you still love us? Come on, you still love us, don’t you?'”
Regina Hall concurs, promising the “boundary-pushing” sixth installment in the horror parody franchise will “offend everyone.”
EW has shared a batch of behind-the-scenes images from Scary Movie, which hits theaters June 5 via Paramount.
Faris and Hall are joined by fellow franchise favorites Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Dave Sheridan, Lochlyn Munro, Cheri Oteri, Chris Elliott, and Jon Abrahams in the legacy sequel.
The ensemble includes Damon Wayans Jr., Gregg Wayans, Kim Wayans, Benny Zielke, Cameron Scott Roberts, Heidi Gardner, Olivia Rose Keegan, Ruby Snowber, Savannah Lee Nassif, Sydney Park, Kenan Thompson, and Felissa Rose.
Michael Tiddes (A Haunted House) directs from a script by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, original Scary Movie director Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans (Scary Movie 2), and Rick Alvarez (A Haunted House).
The film will slash through reboots, remakes, requels, prequels, sequels, spin-offs, elevated horror, origin stories, anything with the word legacy in it, and every “final chapter” that absolutely isn’t final.
Scary Movie launched in 2000, followed by Scary Movie 2 in 2001. The Wayans’ involvement ended there, but the series continued with 2003’s Scary Movie 3, 2006’s Scary Movie 4, and 2013’s Scary Movie 5.
Regina Hall & Marlon Wayans on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Anna Faris on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Marlon Wayans & Regina Hall on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Michael Tiddes & Anna Faris on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Marlon Wayans on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Regina Hall & Anna Faris on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
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