Sweatshop (2009)

Director:

Stacy Davidson

Writers:

Stacy Davidson (writer)
Ted Geoghegan (writer)

Release Date:

2009 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

One Hammer. No Prisoners.

Plot:

A group of friends break into an abandoned factory in order to throw a impromptu party; unaware that it is not as empty as they originally believed.

Plot Keywords:

Party | Warehouse | Castration | Nude Woman Murdered | Trapped

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ashley Kay	...	Charlie
Peyton Wetzel	...	Scottyboy
Brent Himes	...	Wade (as Brent D. Himes)
Melanie Donihoo	...	Jade
Naika Malveaux	...	Enyx
Julin	...	Miko
Krystal Freeman	...	Lolli
Danielle Jones	...	Kim
Vincent Guerrero	...	Kenny
Jeremy Sumrall	...	The Beast
ViVi Sterling	...	Brandi
Michael Gingold	...	Officer Mike
Fernando Phagabeefy	...	Ghost
Miko Marie	...	Ghoul Girl
Gerald Harris	...	Raver

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Houston, Texas, USA

Company:

Bloodline Entertainment

Trivia:

The concept for The Beast was inspired by Italian gymnast Yuri Chechi's performance during the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics, in which the masked performer repeatedly swung an oversized foundry hammer.

Movie Connections:

References 100 Tears (2007)

Soundtrack:

F.U.T.

Brutal Horror at it's finest

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

SWEATSHOP is the story of a group of entrepreneurs, headed up by Charlie – portrayed beautifully by Ashley Kay, who crash an old abandoned warehouse to set up a rave to make a few quick bucks. They quickly find that the warehouse is not abandoned and is home to something that enjoys murdering intruders with a large and very brutal hammer made from sewer pipe and an anvil.

Joining Ashley Kay in this endeavor are Melanie Donihoo, Peyton Wetzel, Brent Himes, Naika Malveaux, Julin, Danielle Jones, Krystal Freeman, Vincent Guerrero. The film featured a cameo appearance by Fangoria's Michael Gingold too. And living every horror fan's dream – Jeremy Sumrall stalks, smashes, and brutalizes the characters as the Beast.

The special effects crew of Kristi Bouls, Marcus Koch, and Mike Oliver were challenged by director and co-writer Stacy Davidson to create some of the most brutal but realistic kills you'll find anywhere in low- budget indie horror and they rose to the challenge. This film features more smashed heads than any film I've ever seen. The Beast wields a mighty hammer as his signature weapon but is found improvising with barbed wire, needle nose pliers, garden shears, machetes, and other nasty little implements he keeps around for odd jobs. The Beast even creates a new ball gag that is disturbing enough to make the average horror fan sick.

The technical merits of this low-budget "smasher" flick are incredible. Stacy Davidson not only co-wrote and directed but also shot and edited the film. The film is paced beautifully. Everything from location to lighting to score to effects to makeup pull together to create a visual and auditory stunning cinematic experience. I do not know the budget on this film but it looks like it cost a million or more pretty easy.

There really was very little I found to dislike about Sweatshop. The story works. There's no backstory to explain why The Beast is there and why he kills all who enter his domain and it's just not needed. This film is about the here and now. Charlie and her friends are hoping to make a small fortune but they picked the wrong place and they pay with their lives. The acting works – each of the cast delivers a performance that complements the story, their character, and each other's performance.