Sloppy the Psychotic, comes from the deranged and twisted creative mind of director Mike O’Mahony (A Dark Place Inside [2014]) who also stars as Sloppy as well as providing the writing for the screenplay and many of job titles for this independent film. While I had received the DVD to view the film, a special invite to the Bizarre AC 2013, in Atlantic City, on Friday the 13th, had this flick playing to a frenzied group of gore-hounds, who was definitely for them, not a cookie cutter production for the PG-13 crowd, aside from the language and brief nudity, the over-the-top violence corrupts most minds. The perfect film to kick-off that event, and from the diabolical hands of Chemical Burn Entertainment – a hardy thanks to them for providing blood-lusting and thirsty film to the horror fans. Many critics have panned Mike’s film, and others acclaim it for the incredible must do mentality in the indie market, however my perception is Mike gives what many horror fans and aspiring filmmakers want a solid outing that contains a bit of pacing errors and shallow back story of the character the scant 75-minute production, nevertheless I’m going to avoid many spoilers and deliver some treats.
Mike enjoys his clown character Sloppy who, is not in the clown-names database, however Sloppy does his name justice, although his parents, especially his father highly disapproves of the choice of career he chose, parents must deal with reality of his choices. The pacing mentioned above goes from too slow to too quick never an even keel in the film, especially in the beginning though perhaps the director tried the technique of Mary Harron’s American Psycho. Wherein, if one recalls Patrick Bateman’s character shows all his self-indulgence of pampering and his own self-worth that adds layers to that character while providing back-story for the audience. Therein lies Mike’s second issue, his character lacks background, the majority of the film contains killing individuals for various reasons, a few granted has the audience understanding as for others, the reason too vague. If one ventures to the homicidal icons of the horror genre, Jason, Michael and Freddy each of these character’s various storyline have a direct path as to why they murder. Sloppy sadly presents no reasons to the viewers.
The film deals with Mike (Sloppy) who appears as a recovering alcoholic with both messages of clean and sober on the walls and listens to daily religious devotionals. However, after a minor misunderstanding with a mother and daughter, a rush to judgment and panic his world crashes around him. As Mike returns home the hard slap of reality confronts returning him to the bottle, hidden deep the darkness of closet, with his likely demons too, fired from his job, the voices of the day plague his mind, each swig another shot of pain, added to rage and a blackout. The greatest element that which takes the audience for the ride becomes Mike’s speedy descent into drinking binges to psychotic rages, and many had a hard time adjusting to the quick decline for him to devolve. Nevertheless, Mike as the director, conveys a stark reality into his film, in a society today where individuals live paycheck to paycheck this becomes an ugly reality as people find themselves frazzled, obese, bored and disillusion to their plights in life. Mike perhaps even takes in elements rip from headlines of family alienators to caregivers ignoring patients for their own desires of drugs. For those the point to too quick for a character to turn into a spree killer, a man living a doldrums of life to a murderous psychotic adding in comical humor to social classes and even the homeless. The classic film, Falling Down (1993) with Michael Douglas, contains the plot of a man who loses his job, confused with life’s social norms mixing in a dash of humor, and becomes a spree killer, it never takes much for some to snap and go on a rampage, Sloppy does it very well.
Soon enough Mike’s maniacal nature, Sloppy, applies a clown face eerily similar to Pogo the clown (John Wayne Gacy) and takes over providing a trip through insanity, leading a vindictive yet creative streak of murders finishing off victims intense nature and content. A film filled with blood, gore practical effects that while not perfect and containing cracks and flaws. This director never lets up, even with an ultra-low budget, bucks the tired modern trends, advancing a bleak comedy, that includes killing intellectual disable people, children and severing genitals, beheadings and simulating sexual acts, all in all, not a film for everyone, don’t forget a barf bag.
While not wanting to expose too much of the cruel twists of fate, the film brings elements of realism from supporting cast members actions, thereby adding hidden depths, as with independent films the acting becomes suspect quickly. This film features a throwback to classic gory psycho killer horror films even more so than the recently released Murder Lover Killers Too (2009) or even Mon Ami (2012), that it contains creeps to laughs and brutal scenes, similar to like Cannibal Campout (1988) and Splatter Farm (1988). The soundtrack features death metal for many to enjoy along with two new sounding renditions of “Pop Goes the Weasel”.
Aside from the wonderment of twisted levels of entertainment for a selected audience, with cravings for blood, guts and gore, Mike measures in attempts at humor, and yet realizes his limitations. The limits in horror genre of which a few exists, such as harming innocent children, that reserves itself with warning signs, but not to Mike or Sloppy. This film perhaps does not attempt to go as far as Jason Stoddard’s The Afflicted (2011) that starred Leslie Easterbrook and Kane Hodder, which presents graphic psychological and sexual torture of children, rather Mike’s showcases gourmet cooking and children at a BBQ.
Mike’s imagination made this film fun to watch, will it be remembered in the annals of horror history, likely no, but if all one seeks is a movie to accompany the theme of “Send in the Clowns” (by Barbra Streisand) then Sloppy the Psychotic will assist your visions of glorious murderous delights.
This review was originally published in February 2014 on the now defunct Rogue Cinema website with a view count of 926.
IMDb Rating: 5.7/10
Baron’s Rating: 5.5/10
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2210985/