Polymorph (1996)

As I've grown older, I've noticed that I have less patience for crappy direct to video movies. With the proliferation of inexpensive video cameras and editing software, plenty of people have turned to the direct to video market to make a few quick bucks. Now even larger companies like Dimension Films are releasing low budget "So bad it's good" trash on their Dimension EXTREME video line. The problem is most of these films are just "so bad" without being "good" in any way, shape, or form (I'm talking to you Automaton Transfusion). Many companies of this ilk will have a minor hit, take for instance The Bare Wench Project. From what I understand, the movie made loads of money on video and cable. So, what did the film makers do? They flooded the market with more sexy spoofs till there was no market left to be had. This happens all the time. I guarantee that within a year and a half Dimension Extreme will disappear, they'll have made their money from the gullible looking to see something new and move on. This happened with Brain Damage Films, Full Moon, The Asylum, Troma, and the producers of Polymorph, Suburban Tempe films. The reason I bring this up is because Polymorph is actually an entertaining flick, and one of Tempe's better movies. Most people rave about the Dead Next Door, or Ozone, but this movie is the best of the whole lot. Sure it's bad, but it's bad in the same way The Evil Dead is bad, or Bad Taste is bad. It brings new ideas to the table and keeps the action moving forward. I recommend this movie to anyone who misses the good old days of watching bad cinema, and instead of being disappointed, having a good time. So, get a six pack order a pizza, invite some friends over and enjoy.

The acting is amateurish, the special effects are sub-par, and the editing is inconsistent, but (surprisingly) the overall movie is actually watchable. This is one of the few Bookwalter movies that has a genuine story and plot. Plus, it has a couple plot twists that you don't see coming.I'm not saying that you want to run out and rent this movie, but it is definitely superior to Galaxy of the Dinosaurs, The Dead Next Door, The Sandman, and Humanoids From Atlantis. In fact, if you feel somehow compelled to watch a Bookwalter film (for example, you lose a bar bet) then this is the one to watch.And it's true...Ted does look like "a young Grandpa Munster with long black hair." Two extra stars were awarded to this movie simply for having a semi-interesting plot.

Talk about a movie without much content... I was so bored with it. There's is nothing to compare with the precedent efforts of the director, like the Dead Next Door. No gore, cheesy acting, dialog & cinematography, ugly special FX... I did bought the special edition DVD (it was like 30 bucks! bad choice), and there is not much there in term of extra to help the movie. I know it was a low budget way before I bought it and there is a lot of good low budget films, but this isn't the case here. We've got also an ugly cover art and a title who's far better than the film itself. To bad the director didn't explore more with that kind of title. My recommendation: don't watch it.

I don't know what the reviewer above was thinking with "solid performances", the acting for the most part is garbage, the cinematography isn't great (but not terrible), music is sort of crap most of the time, but it's obvious there was barely a budget for this movie so you can't blame them for that.Now that being said, this is actually an entertaining movie, as stated previously, not much is done well mostly I'm sure due to lack of budget. So if you are used to these types of movies, grab this movie and give it one view, you most likely will not be disappointed if you're used to the low/no budget films.I really hope this doesn't violate spoiler policy 'cause I want everyone to read this that is interested in this movie and I don't consider this a spoiler, but this movie unlike many may suspect doesn't end all happy and is pulled off well I think, very effective. It's really nice to have a change of pace now and then without this happy ending crap.