Dead Birds (2004)

shift · 02-26-2005, 04:55 AM

I saw a trailer on this movie called "DEAD BIRDS"

It looks really good. It's release date is 3-15-05

Plot: group of bank robbers find refuge inside an abandoned mansion. As the night wears on and a thunderstorm grows outside, each member of the group begins to have visions of the atrocities that occurred within the house.

--------IMDB Review------
I just watched the film at the Toronto international film festival (during the midnight madness screening), and I didn't know what to think going into the film.

So the plot goes like this. A bunch of civil war renegade/criminals rob some confederates for gold, and then venture to a hideout place (huge abandoned mansion) that was recommended by someone. But something is wrong with this place... something very wrong.

The movie is similar to the lines of an Evil Dead style horror film. People go into a house, something is wrong with the house. Many conventional elements happen within the film as well, and some interesting ideas come as well. There were some jumps, but unfortunately there could have been more, and it could have been more suspenseful with a bigger payoff.

The problem that I found with the film, was the character development. there was some substance with each character, but they didn't expand on much of it. They didn't expand too much of about the monster / villain the film either. It was kind of a let down. Defiently compared to another low budget horror film, that I just saw at the festival (Creep).

With such a low budget, the special effects were great. The film has a decent look to it and the music was fantastic. Overall, I had a good time, but if it was in a normal theater, it would be a huge let down

shift · 02-26-2005, 04:57 AM

Trailer can be seen here: http://videodetective.com/home.asp?PublishedID=761725

02-26-2005, 06:55 AM

I will be checking this one out.

Katatonia · 02-26-2005, 08:20 AM

A thunderstorm and an abandoned mansion, hmm...sounds really good fi it was made with a decent budget. I'll probably rent it when it comes out.

shift · 02-26-2005, 08:25 PM

I saw this trailer on another dvd movie I got called "Into the Sun" and this movie loooks damn good.

Katatonia · 03-16-2005, 02:34 PM

I rented this one last night, and I must say that I enjoyed it a lot. Henry Thomas (E.T.) has the lead, and I really didn't even recognize him at first with a beard.

This movie actually had a budget, was shot on film, has good actors, professional cinematography, superb production design, an effectively ambiguous music score, and most importantly...an interesting plot.

I enjoyed the fact that the entire movie takes place in the 1860's, and has that period atmosphere and mood to it. The deserted plantation mansion they use for much of the film really looked quite authentic. There is also a surprising amount of gore in the film, and some things in the plot are just way out there and never quite make too much sense. There's also quite a few genuine scares throughout the film. I'm still trying to figure out just what the end of the movie was all about...

shift · 03-16-2005, 02:36 PM

I just got done watching this gem last night.

If you are looking for some gore and want a couple of jumps then this Spook fest flick is what you need to watch.

I really did enjoy this one.

It's basically about 5 bandits in the 1800's that kills a crowd of soviet soldiers that are trying to deposit money in/at the bank. The bandits kill and rob them @ the bank. There was some great gore fest in the bank.

While the bandits head off w/ the gold they run into a old prarie home. Its filled with chills, frights and pure evil. This movie does not start off slow or end slow. Movie seems to have a great direction of story line and character build up. I really did enjoy it.

Sony released this GEM!

I rate it 4.5 out of 5.

I wish the ending could of been a little better.

eric_angelus · 03-16-2005, 04:37 PM

I really enjoyed it...I found it to be alot like Scarecrows, with a dash of Ju-on and Dog Soldiers...the ending kept it from being great, but overall I am glad that I bought it (blindly)...which I can't say about most recent straight to DVD titles.

x666x · 03-16-2005, 05:21 PM

Cool flick!

Jamm · 03-16-2005, 05:46 PM

I'm still not sure what the title has to do with the movie. From what I remember

Spoiler:

the only dead bird was the one the guy stepped on when they first got to the house

Overall though, it was good, though it took two viewings for some of the things to "make sense". Could be that by the time I'm usually watching a movie, it's so close to bed time that I'm too tired to pay as much attention as I should.

shift · 03-16-2005, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamm

I'm still not sure what the title has to do with the movie. From what I remember

Spoiler:

the only dead bird was the one the guy stepped on when they first got to the house

Overall though, it was good, though it took two viewings for some of the things to "make sense". Could be that by the time I'm usually watching a movie, it's so close to bed time that I'm too tired to pay as much attention as I should.

Yea the title we have to argue about, but the movie is a different story. There is also a very good written review at dvdtalk.com

fceurich39 · 03-18-2005, 02:00 AM

will pass on this movie

Katatonia · 03-18-2005, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fceurich39

will pass on this movie

Oh well, your loss!

fceurich39 · 03-19-2005, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katatonia

Oh well, your loss!

well i gave in and picked this up after reading alot of reviews i like it was an interesting movie glad i bought this although i still like toolbox murders way better

Spitfire · 03-18-2005, 02:51 PM

The title "Dead Birds" is used in "the saying", you're a "dead bird," something you say before getting killed, (birds) being the characters . . . not that the movie is about birds that are dead. Just a thought.

02-26-2005, 04:55 AM	#1
shift Ring who? Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: - TeXaS - Posts: 3,434	Dead Birds (2004) I saw a trailer on this movie called "DEAD BIRDS" It looks really good. It's release date is 3-15-05 Plot: group of bank robbers find refuge inside an abandoned mansion. As the night wears on and a thunderstorm grows outside, each member of the group begins to have visions of the atrocities that occurred within the house. --------IMDB Review------ I just watched the film at the Toronto international film festival (during the midnight madness screening), and I didn't know what to think going into the film. So the plot goes like this. A bunch of civil war renegade/criminals rob some confederates for gold, and then venture to a hideout place (huge abandoned mansion) that was recommended by someone. But something is wrong with this place... something very wrong. The movie is similar to the lines of an Evil Dead style horror film. People go into a house, something is wrong with the house. Many conventional elements happen within the film as well, and some interesting ideas come as well. There were some jumps, but unfortunately there could have been more, and it could have been more suspenseful with a bigger payoff. The problem that I found with the film, was the character development. there was some substance with each character, but they didn't expand on much of it. They didn't expand too much of about the monster / villain the film either. It was kind of a let down. Defiently compared to another low budget horror film, that I just saw at the festival (Creep). With such a low budget, the special effects were great. The film has a decent look to it and the music was fantastic. Overall, I had a good time, but if it was in a normal theater, it would be a huge let down __________________ “I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure”

02-26-2005, 04:57 AM	#2
shift Ring who? Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: - TeXaS - Posts: 3,434	Trailer can be seen here: http://videodetective.com/home.asp?PublishedID=761725 __________________ “I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure”

02-26-2005, 08:20 AM	#4
Katatonia Hellbound Heart Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Missouri Posts: 15,883	A thunderstorm and an abandoned mansion, hmm...sounds really good fi it was made with a decent budget. I'll probably rent it when it comes out. __________________ "The machines are faster and the bombs are worse, as we're all sucked into this unholy curse." - Saint Vitus - War Is Our Destiny DVD Profiler Collection

02-26-2005, 08:25 PM	#5
shift Ring who? Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: - TeXaS - Posts: 3,434	I saw this trailer on another dvd movie I got called "Into the Sun" and this movie loooks damn good. __________________ “I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure”

03-16-2005, 02:34 PM	#6
Katatonia Hellbound Heart Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Missouri Posts: 15,883	I rented this one last night, and I must say that I enjoyed it a lot. Henry Thomas (E.T.) has the lead, and I really didn't even recognize him at first with a beard. This movie actually had a budget, was shot on film, has good actors, professional cinematography, superb production design, an effectively ambiguous music score, and most importantly...an interesting plot. I enjoyed the fact that the entire movie takes place in the 1860's, and has that period atmosphere and mood to it. The deserted plantation mansion they use for much of the film really looked quite authentic. There is also a surprising amount of gore in the film, and some things in the plot are just way out there and never quite make too much sense. There's also quite a few genuine scares throughout the film. I'm still trying to figure out just what the end of the movie was all about... __________________ "The machines are faster and the bombs are worse, as we're all sucked into this unholy curse." - Saint Vitus - War Is Our Destiny DVD Profiler Collection

02-26-2005, 06:55 AM	#3
VideoViolence Guest Posts: n/a	I will be checking this one out.

03-16-2005, 02:36 PM	#7
shift Ring who? Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: - TeXaS - Posts: 3,434	I just got done watching this gem last night. If you are looking for some gore and want a couple of jumps then this Spook fest flick is what you need to watch. I really did enjoy this one. It's basically about 5 bandits in the 1800's that kills a crowd of soviet soldiers that are trying to deposit money in/at the bank. The bandits kill and rob them @ the bank. There was some great gore fest in the bank. While the bandits head off w/ the gold they run into a old prarie home. Its filled with chills, frights and pure evil. This movie does not start off slow or end slow. Movie seems to have a great direction of story line and character build up. I really did enjoy it. Sony released this GEM! I rate it 4.5 out of 5. I wish the ending could of been a little better. __________________ “I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure” Last edited by shift; 03-16-2005 at 02:40 PM.

03-16-2005, 04:37 PM	#8
eric_angelus Testacular Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Framingham, MA Posts: 1,906	I really enjoyed it...I found it to be alot like Scarecrows, with a dash of Ju-on and Dog Soldiers...the ending kept it from being great, but overall I am glad that I bought it (blindly)...which I can't say about most recent straight to DVD titles. __________________ "You gotta be quick...you gotta be quick with me...I'm from Erie, PA!" On Facebook The reason I'm in debt

03-16-2005, 05:21 PM	#9
x666x HackMaster Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 1,551	Cool flick!

03-18-2005, 02:00 AM	#12
fceurich39 HackMaster Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ira's Toys store Posts: 7,591	will pass on this movie

03-18-2005, 02:51 PM	#15
Spitfire Suspiria Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: last house on the right on the corner Posts: 773	The title "Dead Birds" is used in "the saying", you're a "dead bird," something you say before getting killed, (birds) being the characters . . . not that the movie is about birds that are dead. Just a thought.

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