Ed Gein: the butcher of plainfield

Never in my life did I think I would enjoy a film based on the story of a scrawny, semi-elderly man, played by a muscular, 6 foot something giant. In the case of this film, I have to admit, I did enjoy the viewing. In the past, many have played a character based on this man, in many different films such as; Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Deranged, Ed Gein and the Buffalo Bill Character from The Silence of the Lambs. Each one of these films has been a remarkable achievement in their own right. I would not say that this 2007 release is remarkable but definitely something that could be enjoyed by a fan of Gein’s story and his heinous crimes. Despite many flaws, Director and writer Michael Feifer has taken his own twist on this mans story and created a film that most would shun, but I tell you now… Don’t judge a book by its cover. From Barnholtz Entertainment comes this latest LIONSGATE release.

ED GEIN
THE BUTCHER OF PLAINFIELD

For starters, I saw this film advertised in a magazine and my first reaction was laughter and disgust. When I sat and read the title of the film, which is the exact name and place of the real deviant and his crimes, and then noticed the man to play Ed was the giant Kane Hodder (of Friday the 13th 7-10) I was completely turned off by what I felt was the most ridiculous thing I had ever read. After purchasing the film (yes I did), I found myself pleasantly surprised, but still had a few disappointments.

Taking place in 1957, in the town of Plainfield, W.I. the film opens up with a young woman hanging from the ceiling by a pair of meat hooks. From first glance I thought “oh fuck, another Texas Chainsaw flick”, but I was happily mistaken.

Bobby Mason, a young deputy, and his mother Vera Mason (Priscilla Barnes of The Devils rejects), live together in a farm house closer to town. Bobby and the rest of the sheriffs department have been looking into some recent murders that have the small town in a bit of a scare. Unknown to them, the strange quiet man who lives on the outskirts of town in his mommas old farmhouse has been a very naughty boy.

Gein, according to this film, is a killer in the true sense of the word, killing everyone that gets in his way, be it men or women. Jack (Michael Berryman) is Ed’s friend and partner in grave robbing. When Jack realizes and approaches Ed about what they have been doing, he tells Ed that doing what they have been doing is a crime and a sin, but Ed pays him cash for his assistance, so he really doesn’t want to stop working. Ed takes what Jack has to tell him into deep consideration. Come on people this is Gein we are talking about here. He had no henchman in truth, therefore making this one of the things that would have made the film better had it not been a film about the real butcher of Plainfield.

The mention of Gein’s mothers death was inevitable, but what took me completely by surprise was the mention of his brother. In the film it was mentioned that his mother and brother died the same year, but this is not of much importance. His name, nor his mothers name are ever mentioned. In the True story, Henry Gein had died of asphyxiation due to a fire in a field, but bruises on is head were found and never really put to thought, though many people thought Ed had probably killed his brother. This can be seen in the 2000 film ‘Ed Gein’ starring Steve Railsback. I don’t know why I have even brought this up to you, in this film it is completely insignificant. What is significant is that in only 2 scenes of the film does Ed hear his mothers voice or see her vision within another woman, something the real Ed Gein supposedly often had problems with. One case in the film of visioning his mother is that of a young bartender whom he strangles in broad daylight during business hours and people standing outside the bar. This Character was obviously based on the real life Mary Hogan, a victim that Gein had admitted to killing, but no evidence of this crime was ever recovered. By not using the name of the bartender and the way she had died in the film was a huge plus in my eyes.

I mention and will continue to mention the true story as apposed to the fictional aspects used in this film to prove a few points I have to secrete when I get to the review part of this movie. Moving on, Bobby’s mother Vera is based on the real character of Bernice Worden, the only kill that Ed Gein was ever actually convicted of (10 years after the fact), due to the police finding her gutted, headless carcass hanging in his barn. Upon an afternoon drive with his girlfriend Erica, Bobby receives a phone call saying that his mother had disappeared. Vera was last seen at the hardware store in which she worked (this character in life had owned the store, also not mentioned in the film). Bobby and Erica proceed to drive at high speeds in a panic that his mother may have been the next victim to the unknown killer stalking their quiet country town. At this point things take a turn for the worse. In Bobby’s high speed panic he manages to crash his car, throwing Erica several feet from the crash sight. In desperate need of medical help Erica is cut up and her leg broken. Bobby leaves her at the spot and runs to the nearest road to seek help, in order to get her to the hospital. While on his hunt for help, Erica is seen and picked up by Gein, which was an obvious coming, when you watch you will see what I mean. He finds the help of a middle aged black couple and go back with them to the scene of the accident just to discover his beloved is missing. Erica also happens to be the Sheriffs daughter by the way.

At the police station there is much concern and panic spreading. Not only is their deputy (Bobby) missing, but so is his mother and several others from town. It as at this point they receive a call from Bobby saying he’s ok but Erica was badly hurt and now missing as well. During the commotion a young gas station attendant is brought in by another officer to tell his story of much importance. During his work hours he had noticed a car drive by his station with a human foot sticking out of the trunk. Whose car you ask… Why Eddie Gein’s of course. Now the hunt is on, the ammunition for there suspicions is in, so off they go to the Gein farm on the edge of town.

Upon the arrival of the police to the Gein farm, they announce their arrival but get no reply. After entering the house they find their first grisly discovery. A lovely lady suit, skinned and cleaned from one of Ed’s victims or a body he had robbed, my guess is it’s the body of the young bartender, not too sure. Now we come to the scene we all know and love (if your fucked up like me), the hanging body of Vera Mason, gutted yet still having her head intact. Being that bobby is now present, the sheriff tells other officers to cut her down and cover her as he does not want her son seeing her in that way.

Coming to the end of the film, Bobby finds Gein in the woods while looking for his beloved Erica. When he finds him sitting by a tree Erica in hands, deputy Mason decides to take the law into his own hands. What will the young deputy do to this country boy monster, and what of his love? Watch it and find out!

Ratings:

Writing and directing is a rough one for a few reasons, so ill give my number after I explain. For originality in story as a film maybe not about Gein but based on him, I would say that this film would get a 7. The fact that Feifer attempted to use an original idea and mix actual facts is ok but it was supposedly the story of Gein, featuring his name and where the murder (or murders) took place. Historically and basing on accuracy I would give it a 1. Herein lies the problem! Well written, well directed, good story, bad accuracy, what am I to say? Well being I have to give an answer to this I will base my number on what I was given overall. I believe that this movie story and direction wise deserves a 7. Its difficult to try and make this film look like shit because of its name when it happened to have been a very fun film to watch!

When it comes to the cinematography I give an 8. Very well shot, delivering the intensity intended to be seen, this film definitely deserves this rating. It had the clean yet dusty look that would make a film about a killer in a farm town a bit more believable. This may not always be the case but with this one they pulled it off with excellence. I got to be honest I was expecting a very cheap looking, as well as cheap feeling film.

As for the acting I also give an 8. After years of seeing Hodder play silent characters, like Jason Voorhees, as well as some other small cameos he has done, it was extremely surprising to me to see him play a character you can see, hear, and witness the madness within his eyes. The roll of a tormented psycho may not always be the easiest to play but Hodder was excellent, and when it comes to speaking, the man can actually act! It was amazing to hear him acting finally. When it comes to the rest of the cast, including the presence of Priscilla Barnes and Michael Berryman, were all great, with the exception of the character Erica. Absolutely a pleasure to watch this cast and leaves you with no boredom. Acting can kill a film but not this one.

For the FX and Gore I give this film a 7. Though it had the potential to be one gory ass film and at first seemed as if it was going to be, it was brutal and vile in its own right. Some of the killings in this film, though not completely shown, were the kind that make you flinch in pain even though you don’t see the after effect. The gore that was shown was beautifully done, just not enough of it to spread around. And I got to mention, Hodder in his lady skin suit was just cool as hell. It was almost funny watching this giant man wearing a woman’s face and skin.

As for the background score I give a 7. Not much to say, just very suiting to the film and its time period and feel.

For the film as a whole I would give ED GEIN: THE BUTCHER OF PLAINFIELD an 8. In my High rating I had to take many, many things into consideration, so what I did was compare it to other films that have done the same things and used ideas the way this one did. One example would be Henry: Portrait of a serial killer. In Henry the only real truths were the names and the fact that Henry and Otis were vicious killers. But as for accuracy to the real Henry Lee Lucas and Otis Toole, the film had pretty much slim to no accuracy, yet still an absolutely brilliant film. My other example would be the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead. DOTD (04) Used the same title and location as the original film, yet was nothing like the original, Much like our movie we speak of now. Same name same place, some of the same facts, but little to know accuracy. When it comes to this film if it had a different title and maybe didn’t use the death of the hardware store woman, this would have been a completely original view on the character of Ed Gein, much like the films I mentioned at the very top. If only they had done this, I wouldn’t have hesitated on viewing it or even reading about it. It would have saved me the heartache and nausea I originally had endured. But I say now, good for them. I stress, do not pay attention to the title or some of the minimal facts and his name in the movie, of course. Just sit back and imagine a movie just based on the killer we all know and love, and believe me, you will probably enjoy it. Recommended for anyone who loves any film based on the psychotic, cannibalistic, grave robbing madman, Ed Gein.