Terror Firmer (1999)

This is probably my first full watch of a Troma movie, and I thought the movie was pretty stupid. I understand they have a cult following, but so does the Insane Clown Possee. You either love it or leave it. From a entertainment-standpoint, though, I wasn't impressed, and I stopped and started the movie multiple times because it would get so stupid and boring. The music was ridiculously bad and obviously donated to the film. I like watching all the strange personalities that run around with the Troma people, but they wouldn't make me watch another Troma movie the same way John Waters had his "Dreamlanders."Overall, it's a very low-scoring film with me, probably around 3 stars since you do get a comedy sketch at the end with Matt Stone and Trey Parker in it.

I really don't know what to say about Terror Firmer. It is nothing like anything I have seen. Terror Firmer keeps the comedy, grit, and gore of other Troma films and then takes it new heights. I started watching this thinking it would just be another typical Troma movie. Which by the way means it would be pretty freaking awesome! Terror Firmer absolutely BLEW my mind. From the comically bloody opening scene to the comically bloody end it was amazing. Not for the faint of heart for sure. I don't get easily grossed out, after all I am a Troma fan, but I had to turn away a couple times. So how would one describe Terror Firmer. Hilarious, disgusting, immoral, vile,crude, obscene, and lewd. So in other words this is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, film ever made.

As a long time Troma fan I have enjoyed the Renaissance that the company has enjoyed in the wake of Tromeo & Juliet. After the success of Toxic Avenger (and video success of Class of Nuke em' high) troma had fallen off the chart. Several dismal Toxie sequels and the long wait for Sgt. Kubuki Man NYPD created the impression that Troma had lost their way but Tromeo & Juliet reminded everyone why they had fell in love with the company to begin with. Tromeo raised the bar once again for what you could expect from a Troma offering and with high expectations I watched Terror Firmer and thankfully this movie delivered.Someone is killing people on the set of a Troma film. As the body count rises the crew must rally together to get their blind directors vision to the screen (or at least to the video shelves). From that absurd premise we launch into what I truly believe is the best in house Troma production ever (2nd only to pick up film Cannibal the musical over all) and this movie works as a valentine to the beloved company.Indie-film god, and troma co-founder, Lloyd Kaufman finally responds to the worlds demands and returns to leading man status as Larry Benjamin, director of the newest Toxic Avenger film. Larry tries to get the best out of his inexperienced, though largely enthusiastic crew. Tromeo himself, Will Keenan plays the Spielberg loving crew member who competes for the affections of the pretty Alyce LaTourelle with Trent Haaga. Haaga plays Jerry, a guy who seems to be living out his dream (as well as the dream of most fans) working on a Troma film. With a very likable cast this film can, and often does, takes many detours. From a Seinfeld parody to a odd public service announcement, the story often wanders off in odd directions only to be corralled back by another killing.As you can tell by some of the other reviews, this film is clearly not intended for the mainstream. It was specifically designed to appeal to the faithful, not to win over any new fans. From the lead performance by Lloyd Kaufamn to the tons of cameos by Troma veterans like Lemmy, Joe Fleishaker, Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Lisa Gaye this movie seems to be like Troma doing a victory lap to celebrate the fact that in a industry where independents get chewed up constantly, They are still standing. And their fans are grateful for that.

Larry Benjamin (a thinly veiled Lloyd Kaufman, playing more or less himself) is in the midst of shooting a movie, while all around him ghastly murders are being committed to people associated with the film. All of the "plot" is just a flimsy device to have more blood, guts, bad-taste, vulgarity, and general depravity then even other Troma films never had as much of before, or since thus far. But more doesn't equal better at all, quite the opposite, because while I love other Troma films such as the "Toxic Avenger" films (well accept for the abysmal third one), the first "Class of Nuke 'em high", "Tromeo and Juliet" and others/ This film (the unrated version at least) is so extreme, so artless, so offensive that it gave even me pause to wonder what the hell the point of it all was. Note to Lloyd: I NEVER thought I'd say this in my life. But tone it down a notch or two, bro.My Grade:D DVD Extras: Disc 1) intro by Llyod; Lloyd's Commentary; Editor's commentary; actor's commentary; 19 deleted scenes; 21 alternate takes; comic to film escalator scene comparison; audition footage; blooper reel; Teaser and theatrical trailers Disc 2) the 99 minute "Farts of Dakness: the Making of Terror Firmer" documentary; 3 music videos (Say what you mean by Lunachicks, Freak of the Week by DJ Polo *with nudity AND Ron Jeremy*, and Seeing Red by Entombed); soundtrack spot; promos for All you need to know about Filmaking, and Tromadance film festival; Gyno-talk with Alyce Latorelle wherein she talks of how disgusted she was; a mini interview with Lloyd Kaufman's daughter, Charlotte; the Radiation March (the horrid PSA that's on every Troma disk it seems), and Trailers for "Citizen Toxie", "Unspeakable", "Cannibal the Musical", & "Parts of the Family" DVD-Rom content: Terror Firmer the game (I can't get past the "Toddster level, the nails go by to fast) Easter Eggs: On disc 1, let the credits under the filmmakers menu play through for a re-creation of a phone call; highlight the face in the main menu 3 times for a 6 minute censored version of the film. Highlight the Terror Firmer logo in the extras menu for 10 seconds of color bars followed by 10 seconds of a gross appendage; (their's another egg, but the link it gives you doesn't work anymore) Now onto the second disk,highlight the face for footage of "the Naked Cowboy" (who I've seen at Mardi Gras in New Orleans multiple times)