Hanger (2009)

Posted by anythinghorror on 2009-12-20 · 1 Comment 

Wow. That’s the first word that comes to mind. Before I dive into this flick let me say that I used to have mixed feelings about director Ryan Nicholson. I wasn’t crazy about his 2006 flick, LIVE FEED; it was an amateurish attempt to cash in on the HOSTEL movie that offered nothing new. The first time I saw GUTTERBALLS I didn’t like that one either due mainly for its strong misogynistic view of women. His view of women in GUTTERBALLS was indefensible. He showed all women as slutty, stupid, drunk whores who would do anything to “please a man,” no matter how scuzzy he is (and lets not forget about the 15 minute brutal rape scene). But then on a second viewing I ended appreciating the horror aspect of GUTTERBALLS as well as its unique spirit, over-the-top gore, and explicit sex.

And now we have HANGER. I can say that I love this flick, no doubts at all. The entire feel of the movie reminds me of the good old exploitation/grindhouse flick from the 70s & 80s. It’s a depraved movie, have no doubt, but it’s also a lot of fun. The story is about a baby who survives a botched coat hanger abortion performed by a brutal pimp (in a very graphic scene) & grows up deformed & mentally depraved. His dad, who knocked up the hooker, takes care of Hanger but also instills a blood lust in him. The dad is an interesting character: he deeply cares for Hanger but does nothing to instill any sense of morality in him. This flick is FULL of odd characters and I couldn’t help but feel I was watching a Troma movie (it didn’t help that a bunch of whores are watching CLASS OF NUKE’EM HIGH in their hotel room and that Lloyd Kaufman has a cameo as a drag-queen hooker). The character of Hanger is an interesting one as well. You think he’s gonna be a new kinda TOXIC AVENGER-like hero who kills pimps and other scum but what we get is just a crazy SOB who kills whenever the urge arises (and DON’T say “baby” around him … if ya do he’ll rip into your stomach as he yells, “give me baby”). And if you’re wondering, yes we get what is becoming Nicholson’s trademark: Scenes of graphic sex that might even bring a blush to your cheeks. I really love this movie and have re-thought my opinion about Nicholson. Each of his movies gets better and better. He’s a ballsy director who makes the kind of movie he wants to make and gives a big “fuck you” to Hollywood. I can’t wait to see what he is planning next!

Definitely check this one out.

My Summary:

Director:  Ryan Nicholson

Plot:  4 out of 5 stars

Gore: 8 out of 10 skulls

Zombie Mayhem: 0 out of 5 brains

Reviewed by Scott Shoyer

Stay Bloody!!!

Filed under Exploitation Flicks, Independent Horror Scene, Movie Reviews, New Posting · Tagged with Dan Ellis, Hanger, Ryan Nicholson