CORPORATE LINE: Funny Man is a riotous rollercoaster of gore, bad taste, profanity and comedy that has gained legendary cult status with UK horror fans. Record producer Max Taylor (Benny Young) is ecstatic when he wins Callum Chance’s (Christopher Lee) ancestral mansion in a poker game. Soon after moving in, Max’s wife (Ingrid Lacey) and two kids are brutally dispatched by a resident demonic jester (Tim James), who possesses an imaginative repertoire of homicidal techniques and an irreverent sense of humor. Meanwhile, Max’s brother is en route to the mansion with a bizarre bunch of hitchhikers who will be lucky to survive their final destination…
THE REVIEW: With the inclusion of one of the all-time great horror actors Christopher Lee, I had high hopes for this film, and for the most part it doesn’t disappoint, even though Lee’s screen time is pretty scarce. And it’s also quite a departure from his other work, like the Hammer horror films and Lord of the Rings. In actuality, Funny Man is really like nothing I’ve ever seen before; it’s pretty damn insane!
This low-budget, indie film—originally released in 1994—is equal parts slapstick comedy and horror, with dashes of surrealism thrown in to really mess things up. For a realistic comparison, think the sheer lunacy of Evil Dead 2 mixed with the uncanny imagery of A Clockwork Orange and you’re still not really close. But either way, Funny Man is quite entertaining in its own right, for the originality of the story and its hilarious main character, the impish evil jester played to the hilt by Tim James.
THE EXTRAS:
This DVD features a commentary track with writer/director Simon Sprackling and the funny man himself, Tim James. There is also a nice making-of featurette called “Sorting Funny Man” that illustrates the true DIY spirit of this flick, plus an insightful interview with the great Christopher Lee.
Also included is the original short-film version of Funny Man that was the impetus of the feature-length version. Plus, there are trailers and a pop-style promo video that is very funny. To top it off, an 8-page color booklet featuring the director’s production diary is also included.
FRANKLY: Funny Man is amusing in its clever, over-the-top approach. And it was obviously a labor of love for all involved as evidenced by all the extra stuff in this package. If you’re a fan of horror, the macabre or black comedies, I’d say, “It’s a gas!”
+ Jim Kaz
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