bill bodkin looks at the backwoods horror comedy …
Release Date: Limited release Oct. 2, 2011
First Saw It: Netflix in February
What Drew Me To See It: As a fan of horror comedies like Shaun Of The Dead and Zombieland, this looked right up my alley. The trailer perfectly portrayed what I thought this film was — a smart inversion of the killer hillbilly horror genre.

Starring: Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden, Jesse Moss, Brandon Jay McLaren
Hey Isn’t That?: Yes, this cast has a slew of people you’ve seen before. Tyler Labine was the star of the short-lived FOX series Sons Of Tuscon. Alan Tudyk, better known as Pirate Steve from Dodgeball, is also known for his roles in Knocked Up, Firefly and Suburgatory. Katrina Bowden is a Cerie on 30 Rock and Bradon Jay McLaren was Bennett Ahmed on AMC’s The Killing.
Director: Eli Craig
The Best Performance: Tyler Labine is terrific as the beer-gutted, hopeless romantic Dale. He’s a gentle, beer-soaked giant. Labine’s comedic timing both verbal and physical are spot-on, and when Dale is finally provoked to unleash his inner psycho hillbilly, the transition is more than believable.
The Supporting Scene Stealer: Not surprisingly, Alan Tudyk steal the shows. He did it in Knocked Up, Firefly, Serenity, Dodgeball and weekly on Suburgatory. He gives the PBR-loving Tucker a quit wit, and his chemistry with Labine’s Dale is perfect. In fact, it’s so good that I’d love to see a sequel.
The Moment To Remember: The siege of Tucker and Dale’s ‘summer home’ by the college kids in an attempt to ‘rescue’ their friend Allison. Instead, they of a rescue mission it become a hilarious suicide mission, including this accident with a wood chipper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqFG7pHYPnU
The Memorable Quote:
Dale: You thought I looked like some kind of freak?
Allison: We misjudged you, Dale. I’m … I’m really sorry.
Dale: Don’t be sorry, it’s my fault. I should have known if a guy like me talked to a girl like you, somebody would end up dead.
The Groan Moment: Honestly … there’s no real groans here. The script takes the cliche horror moments and plays them for all their cliche value, which makes this horror comedy fresh and original.
Why I Can’t Stop Watching It: This movie really takes you by surprise at just how smart it is. The whole ‘mistaken identity’ comedic conceit is usually tired and executed poorly. Here, it’s completely turns a tired horror subgenre on its head and makes for great comedy. The comedic moments are wonderful site gags, set up very subtly with grand and usually bloody results.