The Greasy Strangler ** (2016, Michael St Michaels, Sky Elobar, Elizabeth De Razzo) – Movie Review

Michael St Michaels stars as Big Ronnie, a total old slob who lives with his equally dysfunctional middle-aged son, Big Brayden (Sky Elobar). Their sad and pathetic existence is punctuated with Brayden cooking ever more greasy food for Ronnie, the duo running a Seventies disco walking tour in purple hot pants, and Ronnie’s career stalking the streets at night as the oily The Greasy Strangler.

Accessing the early, uber-grubby movies of John Waters, this horrible, disgusting and appalling movie raises at least some of its laughs, but, make no mistake, it’s desperately grungy and disreputable. That is its raison d’être.

Elizabeth De Razzo also stars as Janet, an apparently sexy woman who takes the tour and eagerly embroils herself in a competition between father and son for her love. She thinks she’s the queen bee and in control, but she has another think coming.

Co-writer/director Jim Hosking’s comedy horror movie is his first feature. He doesn’t lack expertise and confidence, just good taste. With its great title, weird situations and the sporadic laughs, it could be a guilty pleasure for those who share Hosking’s bad taste humour.

After a raft of nearly 10 four-star or maybe even five-star movies at The Sundance London Film Festival, this brought me back to reality with a horrible jolt. At the start, I couldn’t bear even the sight of Ron and Bray, let alone them naked, but somehow they do grow on you, like warts.

And I’m very happy they are together, like the serial killer Steptoe and Son, though I’m morally obliged to say I think they should clean up their act – I mean just make it that bit funnier. Gross isn’t necessarily funny, Jim Hosking.

But, hey ho, The Greasy Strangler 2 must be a certainty! Start writing the good gags now, Jim!

© Derek Winnert 2016 Movie Review

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com