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Overall Rating : 7.5/10
Directed By : Nick Phillips
Pricilla Alden (Death Nurse)
Michael Flood(Death Nurse)
Jane Lambert
Supplied By : Retro-Shock-O-Rama Cinema
Film Reviewed By : Rick Blalock
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| PLOT Tipping the scales at 300 pounds, Ethel Janowski – “Crazy Fat Ethel” – has just been released from a mental institution. Ethel is full of repressed rage, but she can’t get full no matter how much she eats. When her grandmother locks away the food, Ethel kills the old woman for the keys to the pantry and soon becomes a bloodthirsty, mass-murdering monster that will slaughter anyone who gets in the way of her appetite. But what will Ethel do with the corpses that are piling up in the attic? |
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| THE REVIEW I have heard tons about CRIMINALLY INSANE over the years, and knew that it had a distinct cult following. Thank's to EI Independents new Nick Philips trilogy collection dvd, I can finally say that now I know why it has that following and that I totally agree with it's followers! Being a huge fan of the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE from '74, CRIMINALLY INSANE was right at home with me. Priscilla Alden is wonderful as Ethel in the film. Ethel get's released from a mental institution and the doctors have strict orders about her diet upon her release. I thought it was both funny at great that back at her Grandma's house where Priscilla was set to live, Grandma decides that the best way in controlling "Fat Ethel's diet was to lock the food away. Of Course an enraged Ethel, determined to unlock it, kills the only one to have to key, her Grandma! After killer her Grandma, the killing spree from Ethel is not Done, including a very funny scene in which Ethel orders up some food, when the grocery delivery boy says it will cost Ethel $80, she just simple tells the boy she has no money and kills him. After this Ethel much avoid others that come her way including her sister, boyfriend and a few others. The closer a person would come to finding out Ethel's secret the closer to death they will become! Of course this film's gore is close to nothing in reality, and does not look real at all but CRIMINALLY INSANE, is one entertaining little piece of 70's gold! The relationship between Ethel and her Grandma is just a funny relationship to see unfold, the film's plot never gets dull, as you see a nearly 300 lbs woman eat pound after pound of food and love it, she is certainly not the mascot for Weight Watchers! |
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| GORE
METER 4/10 the gore of the film looks really really fake, but if you were to job sit back and enjoy it's really fun, also it's all they really had in the 70's(although TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, looked more authentic) |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 2/10 The soundtrack is really nothing special, and really was not needed as the environment really added to the film. |
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| SPECIAL
FEATURES RATING 6/10 Again EI Independent Cinema offers up some great bonus material. It includes this film's sequel CRIMINALLY INSANE 2, which I reviewed from this same DVD collection. Also is an interview with director Nick Millard, who used one of his stage names on this project, the interview shows that he is both intelligent and insightful. And last in an interview between Millard and the star of the film Priscilla Alden, it really is good to see her doing well! |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM What can I say, I loved this film! I encourage people whom have never saw it to definitely see it. The trilogy collection from EI Independent Cinema is Fantastic to have! |
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