Stump The Band (2006)

Simply A Masterpiece

Absolutely Fantastic

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Don't let the title fool you: This is not a VH1 game show starring teams of washed-up musicians. Don't expect any Flock of Seagulls or Hootie and the Blowfish in this one. Instead, we meet a group of up-and-coming musicians, an all-girl punk band that's touring cross-country and preparing to record their first album, with hopes of a label release. After an 'animal' drives them off the road in the middle of nowhere, the band (along with their manager and a member's boyfriend) are stranded without any means of reaching help. Things take a turn for the worst when the members of the group start to disappear, one by one, at the hands of an insane axe-murderer. Will help find them? Or is it already too late? Stump the Band is a film of 'almost's. It's almost funny, but some of the jokes fall flat at the punchline. It's almost horrific, but the brutality is pulled back too fast. The actors are almost talented, but their lack of consistency is a bit distracting. The writing/direction/cinematography: almost good. . . but, the dialogue gets a bit annoying, the direction is a bit off, and the cinematography gives the film a very cheap look. However, the girls are cute and they do include the obligatory all-nude skinny dipping scene. Actually, they include a whole lot of 'obligatory' things: the creepy crowd at a drive-by diner, the shady gas station attendants, the 'animal in the road,' the car problems, the abusive/controlling/douche bag boyfriend with the too-sweet girlfriend who refuses to leave him, etc. However, as a film that is paying homage to the 80s-style slashers that it holds its similarities to, using more than a few clichés isn't entirely unacceptable. And, unlike a film like Hatchet, Stump the Band manages to pay homage without stealing directly from the films of the past. Mostly. Looking past the flaws and accepting some of the mediocrity, I actually very much enjoyed it. It's nothing new, but somehow it is (if that makes sense). It maintains a good level of quirkiness and entertainment value, and should be very much liked by fans of the Friday the 13th-style slashers, with a twist of comedy.Final verdict: 6/10.

Thank goodness these film makers live in a time when they have film as an outlet for their very unusual minds! Throughout the film I was afraid to watch but more afraid not to, for fear I would miss a laugh. And there are laughs and gore galore in this story of an all-girl band and their trials and tribulations of life (and death) on the road. Lessons to be learned by future girl bands are...try to get along with everyone, beware of the locals, even if you like dogs and if your car breaks down, always resist the urge to go skinny-dipping.I hope the film makers make a sequel. If nothing else it will keep them off the streets!

This movie had me rocking and rolling to the music and at the edge of my seat waiting for someone to die. I found it very funny, very clever, I thought it had some great original music - some hot girls, and yes, it was frigging scary. I had my hands over my eyes, several times.It had the feel of a Texas ChainSaw Massacre yet better quality film and better characters. All I can say is, I wish I didn't turn it down. Ha ha - I am now waiting for the sequel so I can say to the director "Yes Bill, I want to be in your movie!!" The film was shot well - very interesting angles - lighting - and the characters were all so developed that you felt you knew each one. Go see it - you will enjoy it.

Had a great time just sitting back and pounding popcorn. Watching the silliness of grim/gore and chick/flick combined was fantastic. The homage to the Pythons was the best moment. Go and have fun...bring a friend who can cling to you at all the appropriate spots. The level of acting was on a par with what the market will bear - the advantage here is that the script is actually clever without completely coping to the requirements of the 15 year old male, repeat-visit patron. My group had a party of three - (Male/51, Female/54 and Female/23). Universal response to the humor a plus 10 along with the gore factor coming in loaded with laughs.