Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Trapped Ashes (2006)
Director: Joe Dante, Ken Russell, Monte Hellman, John Gaeta, Sean S. Cunningham
Movie review
From Time Out Chicago
Omnibus projects are always hit-and-miss, but few are as consistently skunky as this low-rent horror anthology, which exudes a decidedly tomblike air. The framing story, by the usually dependable Dante, finds seven tourists trapped in a haunted film set. Informed by their gnomic guide (Gibson) that telling scary stories is their ticket out, they start gabbing—at which point trapped becomes a sensation viewers are likely to share.
First up is Russell’s evocatively titled “The Girl with Golden Breasts,” in which an aspiring starlet (Veltri) jump-starts her career by getting a pair of vampiric implants. (Better to have called it “The Tits that Suckle You.”) But softcore erotica, even as badly acted as this, is usually more effective when not complemented with nauseating displays of lacerated flesh. The same mix also yucks up Cunningham’s “Jibaku,” centered on a woman (Harris) who has sex with a monk’s decaying corpse. Unspooling last, “My Twin, the Worm” (by F/X artist Gaeta) suggests that tapeworms and obstetrics are a combo best left to David Cronenberg.
The lone semisalvageable leg is by long-MIA director Hellman (Two-Lane Blacktop). His “Stanley’s Girlfriend” is an enjoyable compendium of cinephilic in-jokes, about a director—clearly modeled on Stanley Kubrick—and his unfaithful screenwriter friend (Penikett). But like the other episodes (all were written by unknown Dennis Bartok), “Girlfriend” falls victim to the fallacy that scary equals parasites. At least it doesn’t include a cameo by Russell, wearing a pair of fake breasts.
Author: Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out Chicago Issue 131: August 30–September 5, 2007
Cast & crew
Director: Joe Dante, Ken Russell, Monte Hellman, John Gaeta, Sean S. Cunningham
Cast: Henry Gibson, Rachel Veltri, Lara Harris, Tahmoh Penikett, Amelia Cooke full cast
Duration: 105 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations












What do you think?
Post your review now