Coffin Baby Review

Movie: Coffin Baby
By: Maniac E
Date: April 26, 2013

If you can't be something great...do something terrible.

Coffin Baby is the follow up of Tobe Hooper's Toolbox Murders from 2004, I must say I was pleased to hear that they would continue with the whole movie. But did Coffin Baby turn out the right way?

Hollywood, California is turned upside down by a series of strange and horrific murders creating chaos and turmoil in tinsel town. One particular victim is kidnapped, held captive and subjected to witness the torture and murder of numerous other victims. It is by her will, strength, and faith that she must survive the ordeal. Her escape seems hopeless and only worsens when outside supernatural forces become more difficult to contend with than her captor...

It all sounds and feels like things that already have been done. And yes, that is exactly what it is. Where the Toolbox Murders had an excellent story to tell this one doesn't and follows very strict lines on what a horror/torture movie needs to contain. The story and characters are forgettable to say the least, nowhere when watching the movie I had the idea that this was a very think through movie. Of course it has Bruce Dern in it which is a plus since the guy would give any person the creeps. This translates very well into his character. But still the movie has problems keeping you tied to it.

There are some nice shocking moments which I won't spoil for you, but there is enough gore to go with this flick! Gorehounds will be happy. The special effects are a real gem in this one. Every piece that is cut of looks realistic and the body count is quickly rising throughout the whole movie. What Samantha needs to go through can be for the less experienced viewers be a painful sit through. In the end this is a torture bloody gory movie and if you can't stand that well move on.

Coffin Baby has a bit of identity crisis going on, you can feel that the script has been rewritten multiple times and it just shows when they go a certain way and then flip it all around. Motives are nowhere to be found, sometimes this is a good thing but when you lock someone up with piles of human bodies there should at least be some sort of a backstory. Again gore hounds will be happy, lots of blood, lots of gore and lots of dismemberments for you to enjoy.

Like I said earlier the movie uses all the guidelines of a torture movie but in the end could have been a lot better. It actually collapses because of the seen that, done that before effect. What also shows is the fact that it had a very unstable production crew, you feel that things had been rewritten. The gore is good, the acting is okay but the story and production value just lack it all and in the end it isn't a very good experience.

DVD REVIEW

Image quality

A solid dvd transfer 1.85:1 pictureframe. I must say this is one of the nicer transfers I've seen on dvd so far. The gritty atmosphere transfers great into the picture.

Sound

Good dolby digital 5,1 soundtrack which helps with all the chain sounds echoing throughout the halls in the movie.

Extras

Overall

All in all the movie isn't worth the time but if you want to see some good special effects go for it. For me this was the only reason to give it 2 stars in the end. The dvd has a great transfer and the sound is pretty good as well. Only recommanded for the real gorehounds.

E1 Entertainment