Botched – DVD Review

You ever pick up those DVDs that you are more then ninety percent sure are going to suck, but you’re willing to give them a chance anyway? Perhaps you picked it up and checked out the description and pictures on the back to see what it could offer, and things didn’t look that bad. The film seems really low budget, but for some reason you are just drawn to it and can’t help but purchase the DVD. Most of the time you’ll get home and realize your instinct was correct and you had just wasted a little bit of cash. But what a pleasant surprise it is when your negativity and instincts are wrong.

Botched is one of those films that you just wouldn’t expect to like by the looks of it, and then the first twenty or so minutes proves that point immensely. Then all of a sudden things begin looking up, and you can’t help but enjoy yourself.

Ritchie is a high class criminal that is in debt to a crime boss and needs to work off what he owes. What appears to be the final heist ends up being the botch of all botches and it royally pisses the crime boss off. But considering he knew Ritchie’s family, he is willing to give him another chance to make it up. Ritchie is sent to Moscow and ordered to steal a precious golden cross that has been around for centuries. He is to meet up with two Russians that will work with him on this easy in and our job.

Upon arriving at his destination, Ritchie does the easy job and before he knows it the cross is in his possession. But on the way out, the elevator they are in with some strangers stops mysteriously on the unannounced thirteenth floor and they are stuck in the middle of nowhere. Thinking it is a ploy by the cops to get them to give themselves up, Ritchie and the other two bandits hold everyone hostage and decide to wait it out. Little did they know that the elevator stopping had nothing to do with the cops, and something much more dangerous and terrible is coming their way.

Believe me when I say that the first twenty minutes literally had me dozing off and just trying to stay awake. It takes so incredibly long for things to get moving that my eyelids just wouldn’t stay open. Not to say that those twenty minutes aren’t necessary because they give valuable background information on the characters; but it’s just damn boring. Then all of a sudden things begin to pick up and in a big way. It isn’t like it is an action-packed thrill ride or even a horrifying creepshow, but there is just something about the film that made me enjoy it incredibly.

There is a lot of blood so just be prepared if you have a weak stomach. You’re going to see blood, intestines, organs, decapitations, and a lot more so just make sure to hold onto your lunch. Don’t expect a lot of scares either because this isn’t meant to be frightening in any way, but more disturbing. And even then the disturbing elements are broken up by some of the funniest moments I’ve seen in any film in a long time. Watching and listening to the security guard, Boris, try to talk with a numb face had me cracking up. Who would have ever thought that subtitles would take into account a person’s speech impediment?

The film is shown in 1.77:1 Widescreen format and it looks very good for a direct to DVD release. All the blood is shown very bright and looks really awesome. There aren’t many pure darkness scenes so there’s no need to worry about things being too shadowy.

The film is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and it also comes through sounding great. Botched makes good use of the surround sound as to things happening off screen and the sound of the kills as people are sliced up.

Trailers – Fear House, Otis, Appleseed Ex Machina, Lost Boys: The Tribe, and The King Of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters

Botched is going to bore you for a little bit and then make you think that your choice of DVDs was a bad one, but don’t give up there. You simply must continue watching because there is everything to like about this film. It has gore, humor, intriguing and lovable characters, background, and even confusion. The cover art for the DVD says that it won two awards at the 2007 New York City Horror Film Festival, and that somewhat surprises me. Not the awards mind you, but the fact that they came from a horror film fest. I wouldn’t really consider Botched a horror film. I honestly don’t know what it can be considered, but it is a lot of fun to watch. Sadly there are no real special features to speak of, and that sucks. After checking out the film, some interviews or even commentary would have really made my night complete. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be and I still ended up watching something that surprised me and had me wanting to check it out again right away. Starting at around the twenty minute mark, of course.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Warner Home Video presents Botched. Directed by: Kit Ryan. Starring: Stephen Dorff, Jamie Foreman, Geoff Bell, Jaime Murray, Bronagh Gallagher, Sean Pertwee, Edward Baker Duly, Hugh O’Conor. Written by: Raymond Friel, Eamon Friel, & Derek Boyle. Running time: 94 minutes. Rating: Unrated. Released on DVD: May 19, 2008. Available at Amazon.com