Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal (2013)

EDDIE: THE SLEEPWALKING CANNIBAL pretty mush says it all; you gets what you pays for. While it's beautifully crafted from beginning to end, EDDIE ultimately lacks that little something extra that distinguishes good movies from Great ones. If SHAUN OF THE DEAD or JUAN OF THE DEAD didn't milk the notion of zombies for all it was worth, then they certainly set the bar a bit high for anyone who followed in their footsteps. Sure, technically speaking, EDDIE isn't so much a zombie movie as a movie about a sleepwalking cannibal, but that's just six of one, half a dozen of the other, right? Midway through, EDDIE begins to get rather predictable and one can see the end coming, but the performances (especially by Lindstadt and Braunstein) are outstanding and the aforementioned craftsmanship is undeniable. Worth a look.

This is a quirky and very black comedy with some excellent performances. Anybody who isn't curious to see what a sleep-walking cannibal gets up to must be very dull.Such is the brilliance of the script and acting that we actually learn it is not the cannibal who is the real monster here, but a Danish artist lacking inspiration. Artists in dark places is not an entirely original idea but brilliantly done here.There are some hilarious scenes that will live with me - such as the sight greeting the postman of a man with a mutilated rabbit on the end of his fishing line. Those artists are a funny bunch eh? Unless you're seriously squeamish then this is a must-watch. Great script, great acting and directing, and all set in the quirky world of Canadia. Love it!

When I glanced at the subject line in my email for this particular screener, thinks got a little...judgmental. I couldn't help but immediately cull the idea of sitting through a Tromaesque splat fest with dick and fart jokes thrown in for good measure. In actuality, I was almost dreading the 1 hour and 22 minute viewing. I've never been one to jump aboard much of Troma's library post 1989. Sure there were a few that stood above the rest (Def By Temptation, Terror Firmer, Citizen Toxie), yet for every 2 or 3 decent Troma films, a plethora of garbage lay in wait. Troma's shortcomings aside, "Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal" (NOT affiliated with Troma by the way) is nothing short of brilliant.Lars Olafssen (played by the always profound Thure Lindhardt) is a famous painter on the downward spiral from his once illustrious career. Once a world-class name in the art scene, Lars has never recovered from a traumatic accident that happened over a decade ago, causing his art and his validity to suffer tremendously. With his next painting endeavor in an unforeseen limbo, Lars' art dealer, Ronny (Stephen McHattie of Pontypool fame) arranges for him to teach at an art school in a small, Canadian town named Koda Lake, in hopes of sparking that famous creativity. It is here that Lars meets Lesley (Georgina Reilly) who, although standoffish and unimpressed at first, can't help but become starstruck and charmed by Lars' presence. Lars is also introduced to Eddie (the impressive Dylan Scott Smith) who is an enigma at first glance. Eddie's aunt (now deceased) was a very important contributor to the art school's continuing existence and would continue to contribute (post death) if Eddie was properly taken care of. Lars, although somewhat reluctant at first, agrees to house Eddie. What Lars is unaware of is Eddie's obscure sleepwalking disorder which transforms him from shy, introvert art student into ravenous. unstoppable flesh-eater."Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal" ('Eddie') is one of those rare, iconoclastic horror films that intellectually blends competent black humor with strong, emotionally endearing characters in the vein of "Shaun of the Dead". There are many laugh out loud moments that do not over-insert themselves amid the natural comedic progression and drama. The comedy is smart and used in very precise increments to pad out the film's bleak overtones. It's very easy to find oneself simultaneously laughing and covering widening grins in disgust. "Eddie" is a film rich in humor and emotional parody yet its true strengths lie in its ability to create polarizing views of both Eddie and Lars at very crucial moments of the film.Eddie is very likable and breadth for empathy; more akin to Frankenstein's Monster. His true nature is affable, protective, and curious. It is because of his good-nature and dour, puppy dog eyes that the viewer is easy to invest emotionally into his character. It is very hard to "not like" Eddie as he clutches his cereal box to his chest in comfort, as it is when he is ripping someone's head off and devouring their blood. To see Eddie smile melts the heart with joviality; to see Eddie devour human flesh ushers in sentiments of pity and sorrow. It helps to know that Eddie's cannibalistic tendencies are very controllable (after a certain time) and are used in somewhat of a defense mechanism to trauma. A happy Eddie is a not-so-hungry Eddie.When it comes to Lars, you cannot help but be charmed. Although somewhat defeated and looking for that creative spark, he still holds passion in his eyes. His humanitarianism isn't lost within his steadily declining fame also. He yearns to become accepted at the school and as his relationship with Eddie solidifies (albeit in a very bloody way), his desire to create art coincides with his desire to help the school financially. Lars is yet another great example of a polarizing character that tends to inebriate the viewer with strong, empathetic emotions with traces of hope and renewal. His relationship with Eddie before, during, and after the cannibalistic endeavors is treated with kid gloves at points but comes to a header when Lars realizes that Eddie is very happy with him which, in turn, causes the cannibalism and creative juices from flowing. The method Lars uses to coax the cannibal back out of Eddie is very heart wrenching, yet the sympathy for Lars never falters."Eddie" is a film derived from the very essence of the artistic expression. Filmmakers, artists, musicians, and the like all can take a piece of this films quintessence and envelope themselves into a whirlwind of collective emotions. Boris Rodriguez is a very competent filmmaker who has a very strong eye for the beautiful and the mystic. He uses the camera to shrewdly hide some of the more extreme gore so as to not promote it in importance but to merely use it in collaboration with his protagonists struggle of morality. It is this struggle alone that links us and binds us to the fabric of the film...our own artistic voices are on display for us to dissect and (if applicable) absolve.

With a title like that, how could I resist! This is the first feature film from director Boris Rodriguez who, on the strength of this movie, I predict great things from in the future. Mixing horror with comedy is a delicate balance. Here though, equilibrium is mostly achieved. Humour is genuinely funny whilst Eddie's kills are suitably gruesome. Lars Olafssen, (Thure Lindhart) an artist who's slipped from the limelight he once graced, takes a job at an art school in an isolated Canadian town called Koda Lake. He's been very unproductive recently, to the annoyance of his quote spewing agent (the wonderful Stephen McHattie). At his new home, Olafssen unwittingly finds himself taking in Eddie; a lovable mute with learning difficulties who's been left homeless after the death of his aunt; a major patron of the art school. Eddie is shy and good natured, apart from his habit of going on sleepwalking killing sprees when he's under emotional stress. Olafssen finds this bloodletting to be his muse, enabling him to start painting again. But will he keep encouraging Eddie's homicidal wanderings in order to keep up his own productivity? And how long will it be before sardonic Police Chief Verner (Paul Braunstein) catches up with the duo? Casting for this movie is near perfect. Rodriguez wanted a natural star for the role of Olafssen. Unable to find any in his native country, he looked abroad and found Lindhart; who manages to purvey his character so well that even when he's manipulating Eddie into ripping folk apart, the audience still roots for him. Eddie is played by Dylan Smith (also known as Dylan Scott Smith). He gives Eddie's two natures such distinctiveness that sometimes it's hard to equate the Eddie smeared in blood chasing victims with the Eddie who sits quietly and smiles bashfully when his paintings are praised. Smith and Lindhardt are an effective team. When Olfassen deliberately tries to upset Eddie (so that he goes out to kill) it is genuinely unpleasant as we can believe that Eddie loves him. Look out for Smith in the 2012 'Total Recall', where he has a small role. Another important character is Lesley (Georgina Reilly), who also teaches at the art school. She provides Olafssen's love interest, drawn to him by his former fame and how the paintings he's suddenly producing are financing the school's survival. There's nothing particularly noteworthy about Reilly's handling of the role, but importantly, she holds her own with the leads. Humour is jet black farce and surrealism, helped along with some snappy dialogue; especially from Chief Verner. Only once does the comedy fail – the voice-over during the beginning of the closing credits felt too silly and at odds with the rest of the movie. I also thought the end plot twist was unnecessary Interestingly, the original script had a writer getting inspiration from the killings of a werewolf he befriends. Rodriguez drew inspiration from David Lynch's high tone approach to horror and the performances in the Cohen Brother's 1996 release 'Fargo' whilst directing. If you are a fan of horror movies, or dark comedies you are almost guaranteed to enjoy this film. Rodriguez has been so taken with the reception horror lovers have given his work that he now plans to work in the genre again. Let's hope he does.