Masters of Horror Deer Woman DVD with Brian Benben, Anthony Griffith, Cinthia Moura (Unrated) +Movie Reviews

A Native American Deerwoman In Seattle

Stanley Runk | Camp North Pines | 07/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have always loved John Landis. His contributions to the horror genre have been minimal, but just from those few films(American Werewolf specifically, though Innocent Blood was very cool and very underrated), Landis definitely earns the "Master Of Horror" title. Hell, he's pretty much a household name for horror fans based on the strength of Werewolf alone. It makes you wish he had made more horror films. Well, the Masters Of Horror series wisely chose him for one of their episodes, and we finally get another Landis horror offering. While most of the series' episodes tone down humor and go for the throat, Landis lightens things up a bit, and who could expect anything else from him? As for story, it's another human/beast theme, but this time digging into Native American mythology for it's monster. This is an odd, yet very cool concept. Basically it's a ghostlike woman from Native American folklore that's drop dead gorgeous, half deer, seductive and deadly. This mythical figure is put into the modern and logical thinking world where, realistically, her killings are investigated by police and forensic science. Landis has comedy is his veins, so the film is full of clever quips and oddball characters. It also manages some moments of suspense and has a bit of graphic gore thrown in to remind us that this is indeed a horror series. The featurettes are a real treat. Landis has always been an entertaining interviewee. Very energetic, funny, truthful and not afraid to swear. He seems like a helluva fun guy to hang out with. He's serious about what he does, yet never takes himself too seriously. His philosophy on horror and comedy and the mixing of the two is dead on. He truly knows how to make a ridiculous concept(he admits himself that the Deer Woman thing is downright silly) work by being serious when it's called for and schlocking it up when necessary. He also makes a very valid point about how supernatural themes don't always need an explanation for why they're happening-that when dealing with fantastic ideas, there isn't a need to do so much explaining(I wish Hollywood directors would take note of that). This applies in Deer Woman, coz she just is what she is, and never once do we figure out why she kills guys. And anyway, who cares why? We may never see another full length horror film from Landis, but this short film is a real treat for those of us who want a little taste again of what it was like the first time you saw American Werewolf and became a John Landis fan. Great stuff."

One of the best in the series

N. Durham | Philadelphia, PA | 12/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Leave it to John Landis to help craft one of the best episodes in Showtime's Masters of Horror series. Landis, better known more for his comedies Animal House and Blues Brothers, as well as his horror classic An American Werewolf in London (and featuring a great in-joke as well), co-writes and directs this campy and gorey tale of a burned out detective (Dream On's Brian Benben) discovering a series of mutilated bodies that all expired during arousal and were apparently trampled to death. Soon enough, he and a patrolman (Anthony Griffith) are on the trail of a super sexy Native American woman (frequently topless newcomer Cinthia Moura) who is half deer. Featuring plenty of great humor and some grisly effects, Deer Woman is undoubtadly one of the most fun entries in the otherwise grim Masters of Horror. Keeping it's tongue firmly in cheek, Deer Woman illustrates much of what Landis has always done best: mixing thrills and laughs to a wonderful effect. All in all, if you're looking for a more light hearted, but nonetheless thrilling, entry in the Masters of Horror series, look no further."

Best Masters of Horror I've seen so far...

Albert C. Iovinelli | 06/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After being disappointed by the "Masters of Horror" DVD's I have seen so far (I don't get Showtime), I was hoping that the episode by John Landis would deliver something a bit different. This movie was hysterical. Just the perfect length for a schlock horrow/comedy, solid acting all around and, incredibly, Landis is able to make you believe what you are seeing no matter how absurd, something which the other "masters" have not been able to make me do so far. It takes true skill to treat the ridiculous and absurd with straight forward seriousness and, like in his "American Werewolf in London", Landis pulls it off perfectly.

If you got to see one Masters of Horror episode, get this one. This is a real treat, especially for those who are fans of cheesy schlock horror, John Landis or anyone with just a good sense of humor."

Sexy - Scary - Funny

M. Williamson | Burbank, CA United States | 05/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This newest DVD from the Masters of Horror delivers! Not only is the movie excellent (and Cinthia Moura BEAUTIFUL), but the extras are terrific. I especially enjoyed the "Animal Hooves" life and career retrospective of director John Landis. Also the "Working With A Master" featurette has very funny and interesting interviews with Don Rickles (hysterical), Rick Baker, Forrest J. Ackeman, Jenny Agutter, Dan Aykroyd, Robert Loggia,Brian Benben, Max Landis and others. I highly reccomend this DVD to all horror and comedy fans."

John Landis injects "The Masters of Horror" with a shot of c

A. Sandoc | San Pablo, California United States | 07/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is hard to categorize John Landis' contribution to the Showtime horror anthology series, "The Masters of Horror". Landis made a name for himself in the horror genre as the director of the classic early 80's werewolf film, An American Werewolf In London, and the clut classic vampire-noir film, Innocent Blood. With his "Deer Woman" episode, John Landis reaches back to his past work and comes up with an episode that mixes horror, absurd situations and a healthy dose of black comedy.

"Deer Woman" has something in common with An American Werewolf In London in that this episode deals with a creature born out of folklore and myth. This time around its a creature from Native American folklore. The creature in question is the Deer Woman. A legendary creature who takes the form of a beautiful woman from the waist up and that of a deer from the waist down. The Deer Woman will then go on a spree of seducing random men then trampling them to mincemeat. In this respect she has abit of the mythical succubus mixed in with the shapeshifting. It is during the aftermath of one of her killings that we're introduced to the main player in this horrifically absurd little tale. Detective Faraday (masterfully played with a dry wit and comedic timing by Brian Benben) gets called in to the scene thinking it is an animal attack, but the crime scene leaves him confused, perplexed and a tad more than intrigued by the case after it's unceremoniously taken away from him. We learn through the lenght of the hour-long episode that Faraday is a disgraced cop due to an incident in the past that's made him a pariah in his own department. Faraday's sidekick in his hunt to solving the murders and thus finding the Deer Woman is a beat cop played by Anthony Griffin. Former Brazilian, and still smoking hot and stunning, Cinthia Moura does duty as the abovementioned Deer Woman. She goes through the entire episode without uttering one line. Her eyes, expressions and body language conveying whatever motivations and thoughts may be in her head. She did pretty well and it didn't hurt she looked very natural baring it all on the screen.

The dialogue in the episode is where the absurdity of the moments in the story shone through to give "Deer Woman" its black-comedy. The characters in the film react to murders and the clues leading to what might be their only suspect with incredulity, denial and dismissal. Yet, no matter how much the characters of Faraday and his partner try to deny what they know in their mind is the real killer, they inevitably see the truth of the matter dangerously up close and personal. The teleplay for the episode was primarily written by Max Landis (the director's son) with some brief rewrites and treatments by John himself. They both run with a very absurd situation and run with it fult-tilt and non-stop. They both know how silly the story sounds and its that silliness that makes this episode memorable. In fact, if I really had to categorize this episode I would call it a comedy with small bits of horror slipped in (horror and gore effectively done --- once again --- by the master effects people from KNB EFX.

Despite "Deer Woman" being closer to a comedy-horror than a straight-up horror tale, I found the episode to be very entertaining and worth the viewing. John Landis stuck to his guns in crafting an absurd tale and making it believable to his audience. With shades and hints of An American Werewolf In London, Landis' contribution to "The Masters of Horror" marks a bright spot in the an uneven series, so far. Landis' has once again shown that horror and comedy are more intertwined than most people would think. Here's to hoping he's invited to direct once again for Season Two."

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