Dead on Appraisal (2014) Poster

User Reviews

Review this title
5 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
4/10
Didn't make much sense...
paul_haakonsen10 January 2016
"Dead on Appraisal" is a sleazy low budget movie. Yes, and when that is said you might think 'why watch it?' then. Well, if you like gory movies or splatterfests then you should check out this 2014 movie.

While the story made very Little sense in all its absurdity, then "Dead on Appraisal" was adequate entertainment for what it turned out to be. It is one of those types of movies that you watch simply to satisfy the inner gorehound. The storyline and acting is exactly what you would expect from a movie of this type, but it is all washed away in crimson gore and splatter effects.

However, there is absolutely no repeated viewing value to "Dead on Appraisal". You watch it once, then bag and tag it, never to watch it again.

As for the effects, then I will say that I was rather impressed with what the effects crew managed to put together. The creature designs were just hilarious and good for some laughs.

Take heed that "Dead on Appraisal" falls into a special genre and category of movie that might not appeal to just everybody. If you want a proper movie with a solid storyline, then this is not the movie for you. But if you want a blood-drenched, mindless gorefest, then this is right up your alley.
2 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Terror Tract did it better 14 years ago!!
samriklown8 August 2014
Oh my goodness, where to begin.

I saw this at the video store the other day and, after looking at the back of it thought it might be a good black comedy. There were some kooky looking characters that reminded me somewhat of characters from "Meet The Feebles" so I decided to take a chance. As so many will say when they are tearing something down, I am an avid horror fan. I've been reading horror for more than 40 years, and I grew up on horror films, and haunted houses. I've even written horror, and written, produced, and directed several horror shorts over the years. So, it's safe to say I do know my way around a chainsaw, machete, or graveyard.

That brings us to this film. I'm almost at a loss for words here. Yes it is an anthology style film, with another story running through the whole thing to hold it together. The back of the DVD cover looks pretty neat, and the title is kinda catchy. Here ends the nice comments.

This was a film that couldn't make up it's mind what it wanted to be. At times it took itself way to seriously, at other times it tried to throw itself headlong in to a dark comedy genre it just couldn't quite reach. "Tales From The Darkside:The Movie" was able to blend suspense, comedy, gore, and horror into one cohesive story with a good backing through line. "Terror Tract" starring the late great John Ritter, took the "hard to sell house because of tragedy" to a hilarious, and tension filled, level, succeeding in giving us multiple stories with a cohesive backing story. Dead on Appraisal", fails at all levels to attain anything even remotely close to these other films. At least one of the stories has a plot device that really challenges your ability to suspend belief, and leaves you with more questions than answers. The acting is wooden, the special effects, with a few exceptions, could have reached amazing heights, but they just fell short, and the demon, the less said the better. My 6 year old thought it was pretty awesome, but he loves excessive gore, and things that explode. This is a kid that normally can't sit through a horror film, and he loved it. Watch this film at your own risk, that's all I can say. I'm just glad I didn't pay more than $1.80 to rent it, and I might still ask for my money back.
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
JUST A FLESH WOUND
nogodnomasters20 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
John Dante (Mike Pfaff) is a real estate agent attempting to sell a cursed house in this Brain Damage "Creepshow" style production. The house provides a common element for 3 separate tales.The first tale involves an alien insect infecting humans during a home break-in. The second episode involves a PTSD victim. The third is about a death metal band who hallucinates goblins, or whatever they were.

The film utilizes colored filters for many of the monster/special effect scenes. The props consist of rubber masks and gallons of fake blood. The film attempts to go after the cheese, but had difficulty making simple puns. The dialogue and acting were both bad.

Not a good rental. Watch at your own risk.

Parental Guide: f-bombs (all episodes). No sex or nudity
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
My Review Of "Dead On Appraisal"
ASouthernHorrorFan5 June 2014
Warning: Spoilers
"Dead On Appraisal" is a fun indie horror anthology that brings together directors Sean Canfield (segments "Father Land", "Closing Costs"), Scott Dawson (segments "Freddie and the Goblins", "Closing Costs") and David Sherbrook (segments "The Morning After", "Closing Costs") for some cool, electric storytelling. The anthology stars Zack Fahey, Michael Pfaff, Anthony Thomas Berhle, Keith Lewis, Michael Brouillet, James Howell, R. Daniel Long, Luke Bishop, Adam Conn, Kris Elder, Laura Owen, Fidel Castro, Andrew Kramer, Scott Donko, Scott Dawson and Russell Maltz.

"Dead On Apraisal" takes the kitschy that only puppets and over-the-top gore effects can give and twists it with three dark, entertaining nightmares held together by a nice, piece that weaves the anthology together. Considering the whole film takes place in the same home, this anthology creates a nice angle to keep the film from seeming too cheap or hokey. It is kitschy, as I stated before but in a good way that somehow doesn't become boring.

"The Morning After" is a total tribute to the outrageously fun b-movies of old with some "Tales From The Crypt" flamboyance thrown in. The story takes a semi-surreal approach that is reminiscent of 80's melodrama but manages to create a very entertaining tale. Some moments seem a bit too random and offer very little reason to be part of the story but over-all it is a lighthearted, campy gem. The effects are just too celebratory and cool to knock (for me personally, anyways).

"Father Land" goes a little darker and turns the tone of the anthology to a more serious level. It focuses on PTSD and a returning Iraqi vet who is having a hard time coping. This short is a bit somber and sort of drags down the fun buzz from "The Morning After". Still it is cool to see some attention taken in addressing the very real issues vets now face, but in a way that only indie horror can approach. "Father Land" does have a moment of cool, gory effects at the end of the short, but even this moment is a bit too serious for the anthology.

"Freddy And The Goblins" manages to recapture the fun, upbeat tone of the "Dead On Appraisal" as a metalcore band moves in to become re- inspired for their music. The acting is so over-the-top and nearly nonsensical that moments fall flat in this piece. That being said, the story is clever, amped up and entertaining. The special effects and puppetry sell this short film and bring back that entertaining, fun atmosphere that really makes "Dead On Appraisal" work.

The wrap-around, and glue is to this anthology is "Closing Costs" which has an almost "Tales From The Darkside" feel. It is melodramatic, surreal and our guide through these twisted tales. The acting is passable, the story is strong enough to carry us from nightmare to nightmare. At times it is a bit weak but "Closing Costs" does what it needs to do. The ending is a mix of poor CGI and practical effect madness that really sends the film out on a bang. The selling point for this is the fun, outrageous gimmicks the special effects bring to the table. "Dead On Appraisal" won't satisfy the hardcore, serious horror fan but those looking for something that is an easy-to-watch, lighthearted flick filled with cheap, entertaining effects will dig this one. I did, and I didn't think I was gonna like it in the beginning.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Not the worst of movies
gregginal26 August 2014
I have been eyeing this movie for a very long time at my job, as I pass by it everyday putting movies on shelves. I had always wanted this movie because of the cover, and the premise that the summary on the back led me to believe. While I am happy to have this movie in my collection, I really cannot say I have any desire to rewatch it. The whole idea for this movie (In what drove me to buy it) in a way revolves around what the creepshow movies were, which I am a huge fan of, and the stories were not bad at all. The opening, and ending stories were actually pretty decent, and 2 middle stories I believe were lackluster, but had some somewhat decent acting in it, but I feel it lacked the charm that the creepshow movies had, but thats just my opinion. Like I said, I am happy to have it, I doubt I will rewatch it, but I am definitely not opposed to rewatching it.
0 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed