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Cry Havoc Review
Loading...Cry Havoc Review
Emily Sweet– Reporter
Robert Bronzi– Cop
Richard Tyson– The Voyeur
J.D. Angstadt– Havoc
Directed by Rene Perez
Screenplay by Rene Perez
Distributed by Midnight Releasing
Not Rated
Runtime– 85 minutes
Available via Video On Demand starting May 5th, 2020
Cry Havoc, written and directed by Rene Perez, is the fourth and newest movie in the ongoing Havoc sort of slasher movie series that started with, I believe, Playing With Dolls back in 2015. I haven’t seen any of the other movies in the series, so this review is going to be all about Cry Havoc as its own thing as opposed to something in an ongoing series. I will say, though, that I’m going to have to make an effort to see the other three movies in the series because, as a full on B-movie nerd, I am clearly missing out on something important. And, on top of that, it’s necessary for the B-movie loving world to support every B-movie series that exists, or at least try to. There aren’t enough of them.
Cry Havoc stars Emily Sweet as a TV news reporter from Iowa who has somehow managed to track down and score an interview with the elusive Voyeur (Richard Tyson), a rich guy that is on the FBI’s most wanted list for essentially making snuff films. Basically, the Voyeur and his minions convince people to show up at his compound out in the middle of nowhere to participate in what they believe to be a reality TV show. Instead of a reality show, the people are hunted down and murdered by Havoc (J.D. Angstadt) while the Voyeur films it all. Sweet’s reporter hopes to find out why, exactly, the Voyeur engages in this scheme. Sweet’s reporter also hopes that the exclusive interview will advance her career and make her a star journalist.
The interview with the Voyeur is incredibly weird. Sweet’s reporter is forced to relinquish all of her electronics and personal belongings before entering the compound, and then she must put on a formal gown in order to talk to the Voyeur. When she finally does interview the Voyeur, Sweet’s reporter finds out that the rich man is a very charismatic lunatic. The Voyeur is also a liar because Sweet’s reporter is really meant to be another victim of Havoc.
Now, while all of that is going on, a badass lone cop played by the great Robert Bronzi shows up at the compound looking for a woman that went missing in the area. When the compound’s guards and whatnot prove to be uncooperative, Bronzi’s cop attempts to persuade them with his revolver. Multiple shootouts ensue, as the Voyeur’ guards and minions try to keep Bronzi’s cop away.
And while all of that is going on, Havoc is loose, killing various people while the guards that aren’t shooting at Bronzi’s cop are trying to keep Havoc on the property. Havoc apparently enjoys escaping every so often. It’s bad enough that Havoc is killing people in a somewhat controlled environment on the Voyeur’s compound, but if he gets loose into the general public?
The rest of the movie is basically Sweet’s reporter avoiding Havoc, Havoc killing people, and Bronzi’s cop avoiding getting shot, and the Voyeur watching all of it. Sweet’s reporter and Bronzi’s cop do eventually meet up and go after Havoc together. Will anyone survive?
Cry Havoc is a pretty good “nasty” slasher flick. This isn’t a fun, jokey romp where the characters comment on what’s happening to them as it’s happening to them. Cry Havoc is a movie that takes itself seriously and wants you to be scared and grossed out because the whole thing is grim as fuck. It’s grim as fuck in a good horror movie way, but I can’t stress enough that Cry Havoc isn’t going to make you smile because the whole thing is ridiculous. You do not want to run into the Havoc character because it isn’t going to be pleasant. At all. For anyone.
Now, the presence of Robert Bronzi in the movie adds a sort of unique element to the plot and makes Cry Havoc not just another low budget slasher movie. More often than not the hero/protagonist of a slasher movie has to rise to the occasion and beat the monster at the last second because that protagonist has no other choice. It’s either kill or be killed. With Bronzi in the picture, you know that Bronzi is already a major threat to the monster and he can probably beat the monster at any moment because he’s goddamn Robert Bronzi. As a result, there’s a second level of suspense in the movie. We know Havoc is going to be stalking and slashing his victims, and we know that it’s only a matter of time before Robert Bronzi goes all Robert Bronzi on Havoc’s ass. And it has to happen because, otherwise, there’s no point in having a guy like Robert Bronzi in the movie.
Richard Tyson adds a layer of sleaze to the movie as the Voyeur that, in a less charismatic actor’s hands, would just be unbearable to experience. But because Richard Tyson knows how to pile on the charm while also being the worst person in the world you can’t take your eyes off of him. I mean, without knowing anything about his character at all, as soon as you see him you just know that the Voyeur is bad news, that he can’t be trusted, and that he’s just awful. You’ll listen to him talk, though, and he manages to sell the Voyeur’s twisted worldview so you, as the audience, kind of buy into it for a few seconds. That’s amazing.
Sweet is excellent as the reporter because she always exudes innocence. At no point in the movie do you hate her or want to see her get killed because what she’s going through is completely awful. So what if she went to a compound out in the middle of nowhere in order to interview a notorious criminal that makes snuff films. That’s no reason for her to die horribly at the hands of a monster like Havoc. You also like Sweet because she fights back. Physically, she’s absolutely no match for Havoc but that isn’t going to stop her from picking up a boat oar or a rock or whatever and taking the fight right to the monster. You have to admire that.
Bronzi is a bit mysterious and subdued here as the cop, mostly because you’re not quite sure why the picture of the woman he shows everyone is so important. Once you find out what’s really going on with him the character makes total sense. Bronzi knows how to fight, how to wield a .44 magnum, and how to beat the fuck out of a gigantic man monster out in the woods. You’ll enjoy Bronzi’s performance and presence here, especially if you’re already a Bronzi fan.
There are a few things that I wish were different in Cry Havoc. Some of Havoc’s kills are repetitive (you can only see a person get their intestines pulled out of their body so many times before it loses a good chunk of its shock value). Bronzi’s gun battles could be tightened up a bit. And Bronzi’s gun should be louder and more distinct than the other guns in the movie. Those are just minor quibbles, though. Cry Havoc looks amazing, has a real deal scary monster in it, and has a top notch cast. It’s also a slasher movie that wants to scare the crap out of you. You just don’t see enough of that kind of thing in the B-movie, heck, the just plain old movie world.
Cry Havoc is definitely something you should seek out when it hits Video On Demand on May 5th and or when it hits home video. And be sure to check out the other movies in the Havoc series. That’s what I plan to do in the future.
See Cry Havoc. See it, see it, see it.
So what do we have here?
Dead bodies: At least 10.
Explosions: None.
Nudity?: Yes, and it isn’t very appealing considering the circumstances.
Doobage: A woman on the ground, a long chain, dart hooey, a barbwire mask, surveillance camera hooey, possible sexual dysfunction, bloody jaw removal, pipe smoking, biker assholes, electronic device collecting, attempted sledgehammer attack, sledgehammer to the face, a gun battle in the woods, a philosophical discussion, bloody arm removal, a terrifying explanation of what life is all about, bloody toe removal, tree bondage, intestine removal, an exposed leg bone, chainsaw to the testicles, top of the head removal, knife to the gut, more intestine removal, knockout gas hooey, more tree bondage, head patting, hand drill to the side of the neck, using a cup to capture blood, blood drinking, nipple covering, death via axe, motorcycle hooey, attempted car sabotage, bunny mask hooey, hiding a woman in an abandoned car, bullet to the face, drainage tube hooey, bullet to the neck, machine pistol hooey, slow motion running, body dragging, exploding head, meat cleaver to the gut, knife throwing, a big fucking fist fight, a wicked jumping punch to the top of the head, attempted tree branch to the face, rock to the knee, rock to the back of the head, a full on body tackle, and a machete to the top of the head.
Kim Richards?: None.
Gratuitous: Richard Tyson, Richard Tyson watching people die, Robert Bronzi, Robert Bronzi smoking a pipe, a woman in a bar ordering a diet soda, Robert Bronzi wearing bell bottoms, Robert Bronzi driving a kick ass muscle car, talk of Iowa, talk of happiness, Richard Tyson sucking on an unlit cigar, flashbacks to the other movies in the Havoc series (I assume), a bunny mask and a gross apron, Robert Bronzi wielding a machine pistol, Robert Bronzi taking his leather coat off, and a big fucking brawl.
Best lines: “Pain is the only real truth in this world,” “Echo Leader you’re breaking up. I can barely hear you,” “Ambitious girl,” “Haven’t we had enough weirdness already today?,” “What is this place?,” “I’m not famous,” “What do you want out of life?,” “Truth is cold,” “Greed and price are deadly sins,” “Tell me about your father,” “So you admit to these things?,” “I used to be afraid of death, but now, with Havoc, I control death. I am its master,” “Does Havoc star in your snuff films?,” “Havoc kills anything in its path,” “I should warn you. A storm is coming,” “Oh my God! Oh my God you’re a cop!,” “Can you drive a motorcycle? No. Come with me,” “You know how to drive a car, right?,” “Shit. I should have known,” “Run and don’t stop!,” and “Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!”
