John Carpenter is one of my favorite horror directors, so when I heard he was going to make a film for the series, I imminently became interested in what he had to offer. Cigarette Burns is his entry into the Masters of Horror series. A cigarette burn is a small dot or circle that appears in the corner or center of the screen that lets the projectionist know that a reel change is coming. It is explained in the film that the projectionist who showed the film explained in this movie had a hard time changing the reel.
The film is about: well another film. A rare film, that is said to make people go crazy and kill one another, themselves or become some kind of monster. Kirby Sweeman is a man who’s in dept. His almost future father-in-law, (after his fiancée commits suicide.) loans him money to save his struggling movie theater. Now years later her father is threatening Kirby’s life if he does not get the money to him soon. Kirby however picks up a job by a rare film collector whom is dying. His last wish is to view a controversial film, that no one knows if a print exists or not. Mr. Bellinger (Udo Kier) will pay any price to see this film and makes a deal with Kirby, that if he find it. He will not only give him two hundred thousand dollars, but will let him show it in his theater for two weeks. The film is titled: Le Fin Absolue du Monde,”. It is said that during a screening of the film people went mad and killed one another, thus the film was hidden from the world, and most of the prints destroyed. However there is one print that is rumored to remain and Kirby must find it, in order to gain his financial freedom back. However this film may not be worth the price that Kirby is looking to get for it. It may just cost him his life.
Carpenter has and always will be a king of his craft. Cigarette Burns is a film that’s almost like a screw you to Hollywood type films as it’s a horror film that defies all the rules and rather than just being the same old slash em up horror film. The movie actually has a good story and some smart meaning. Much like Argento’s film Carpenter gives us more than just blood and guts. We get some great artistic shots and dark environments that help set the mood and tone of the film. There is a lot of dark and eerie scenes that plague the film and make you as an audience member not only feel scared but uncomfortable from scene to scene.
The acting in the film is pretty good, I won’t goes as far as to say that it was out of this world, but each actor played their character very well, and seemed to be really into making this project as scary as and uncomfortable as possible for the audience that dares to view it. In terms of special effects we’re treated to a great array of gore and unsightly make-up effects. There plenty to keep even the gore hounds satisfied. However the gore is not over the top, but rather is kept in a way as to make the viewer feel like their in a more dangerous environment that feel real, rather than your normal commercial horror film where your mind tells you it’s all fake. This film does the opposite as it dwells within you psyche.
Overall, Cigarette Burns is so far the strongest episode of the Masters of Horror Series. I was really creeped out by this film and its a genuinely scary treat to someone like myself who watches horror films all the time. My hats off to Carpenter for making yet again another masterpiece of horror for everyone to enjoy.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
