Movie Reviews

‘Derelicts’ Review – Where Family Dysfunction meets Pure Chaos

Synopsis:

A strained suburban family’s Thanksgiving is disrupted by a gang of vicious vagrants.

When you’re a kid, the holidays are a joyous time. On Thanksgiving, you get to stuff yourself with food until you can no longer move, play with your siblings and cousins, then listen to adults bicker until someone starts a fight. Unfortunately, all those good times turn into stress as an adult. On one hand, we still get to glutton ourselves but that fight we use to watch, we’re potentially part of it now. It usually culminates in a few different ways, some relatives that don’t like each other exchanging slick comments, family secrets spilling out, and politics. In 2020, politics are definitely going to be the showstopper. If someone were able to harvest, package, and sell the polarizing energy of this year, you could ruin the best of any occasion.

The home invasion slasher film, Derelicts harnesses all of the dysfunctional energy it can and serves up an intensely chaotic meal of murder and degradation. With its unruly group of blood-thirsty vagrants, each with their own repugnant personality traits, the film resembles that of The Devil’s Rejects. This film is nonstop eye-popping insanity but it’s not for everyone. However, there is a subtle point the film makes about who are the real monsters in this situation. It’s delivered in a way that only makes sense in this film, covered in torturous blood. Derelicts is for those who love gore and may have a plot that seems familiar but is terrifying nonetheless. Also, practical effects are always appreciated. Overall, with all its craziness, creative kills, and an unforgettable teddy bear mask, this film is an outrageous but worth it experience. Its rewatchability is high. A link for the movie is below.

Plot & Pace

As a family full of secrets prepares for their Thanksgiving dinner, they are visited by so very unwelcomed guests. As the day progresses, all their hidden secrets come to light as they are bullied, assaulted, and sexually defiled by the sadistic strangers. With no way to escape in sight, the family must find a way to survive the night or fight back.

The film moves at a swift pace. There’s no time to relax as your senses are jolted by some unexpected bed shaking as the film begins.

Characters & Chemistry

While there are no sympathetic characters, there are two performances that stick out to me in this cast of crazy personalities. Black Forrest (Sam Pleasant) and Turk (Andre Evrenos) steal the show. Forrest’s aggressive personality coupled with his astute observation of his life as it is makes him a favorite. Plus, he sounds like Samuel L. Jackson’s character from Black Snake Moan. Turk easily stands out because of his mask but also how animalistic he is. He adds a level of crazy to the group of derelicts.

Derelicts is currently available to view here until December 24th then will be available on multiple streaming services. Enjoy and stay safe.