SkiWolf

Ski Wolf (2008)

What happens when an independent filmmaker decides to combine two great movies from the 80s into a low budget project? Well you get Ski Wolf the heartwarming story of a young man named Scott Bateman who is eviscerated by a werewolf just in time to save his family’s mountain from the clutches of the ultimate douche bag Ralston Zabka the 14th. See Scott lives and is able to turn into a werewolf, which gives him the mad skills with the ladies and on the slopes. To save the mountain all he needs to do is beat Zabka in a race, which Scott could never do but the wolf can do. What could be easier for a werewolf?

If you guys have never seen a movie from LBP (Low Budget Pictures) and director Chris Seaver you are really missing out. These movies are pure low budget cheese filled with tasteless humor and a manic energy that is a blast to watch. Ski Wolf goes from poking fun at the formula 80s movies right to bathroom humor (laxative “bomb”) and tosses in the funniest orgy scene you’ll likely every see in a movie. The movie is only 70 minutes long and makes sure that there is always something entertaining on screen and other than a party scene with a band doing some bad lip synching the movie keeps thing moving and interesting the whole time. The cast is made up of mostly Seaver regulars and is actually pretty good. I’m not sure if it is from practice or if Seaver creates the roles based on what sort of character they can play. Not only do they deliver their lines, but they have some chemistry and comedic timing as well.

Ski Wolf is clearly a low budget movie shot on a shoestring budget. The makeup effects are very basic, and the action scenes are hilariously bad. Especially silly is the “dramatic” race down the mountain. But the genius here is that these scenes aren’t played straight, so what should be deficiencies actually work in the movie’s favor. I would rather have a director work with what he has at his disposal then try and make a movie beyond his means. My experience has been the first makes a much better movie than the second.

If you are looking for a serious horror movie then Ski Wolf isn’t for you. On the other hand if you are looking for a good time then give this one a chance. For more information about Ski Wolf check out the SRS cinema website.

3 out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer