Review from Creature Corner :
DVD REVIEW: DEAD AND BREAKFAST by Dave Dreher
I love it when the yellow envelopes arrive in the mail. It always heralds good things. Today was even better then normal as when I opened the package I found it to contain one of the films I have been curious about, Dead and Breakfast.
First off, I love the packaging for this film. It comes in one of those slipover type cases and the front of the slip cover is one of those plastic images that when you move the plastic left and right, the picture changes. Simple but I love it, particularly the little dude in the bottom right hand corner who swings his axe and lets the blood fly every time you shift the box. Hours of fun for the whole family…
By the time I got past the packaging and actually got around to popping the disc in the player I was already jazzed for a fun viewing experience (who says packaging isn’t important) and I was not disappointed. Following your standard friends on the road who get lost and end up in trouble formula director Matthew Leutwyler has built an exceptionally enjoyable viewing experience. The film works on several different levels as it actually pulls off not only being a really well put together horror film, it also mocks the same genre of film. In one scene you find yourself laughing as they poke fun at some of the cliché’s of the genre we love and in the next scene you find yourself squirming in your seat as Matthew masterfully manipulates another of those same clichés. A tough thing to do but Leutwyler pulls it off and makes it look effortless in the process.
A perfect example of this is the scene where Erik Palladino awakens and decides to have a midnight snack, heads to the fridge for a slice of pie and things go horribly wrong. This scene alone is worth the price of the disc, disgusting and hilarious all at the same time.
The acting is very strong across the board. Of particular note however is Ever Carradine who is not only beautiful and tough but also a good comedic actress. Ever is daughter of legend David Carradine who also has a small role in the film. The cast is very well rounded and features many familiar faces. The fore-mentioned Erik Palladino along with Oz Perkins, Diedrich Bader and Portia de Rossi are just a few of the “hey I know them but not their names” moments. The rest of the cast is relative unknowns but that should change with the release of this film.
Anchor Bay has done its usual kick ass job of special features on the disc. We get 2 audio commentaries. I listened to the second one with the director and stars. It was very entertaining. I like when the commentary comes across as a bunch of friends (with you as the listener being one) sitting around discussing the film and this commentary is very much in that vein. I also enjoyed the bloopers reel as well as the deleted scenes. Good stuff all the way around.
Dead and Breakfast will be available on Sept. 6th for a mere $19.98 and is well worth every cent. The film is also available as UMD so you can play it on your PSP.
For a complete breakdown of what is on the disc or order it directly from Anchor Bay