Carpenter (1988)

From producer Jack Bravman, a man who worked on such films as "Snuff" and "Zombie Nightmare", comes this goofy but fun horror movie, pretty much the working definition of the word offbeat. Written by Doug Taylor and directed by David Wellington, "The Carpenter" tells the story of poor Alice (Lynne Adams), a woman with an uncaring and unfaithful husband, Martin (Pierre Lenoir), who has a nervous breakdown, and after getting out of the hospital, moves with hubby into a country estate being renovated. She finds that every night after every other worker has gone home, a mysterious carpenter (Wings Hauser) continues to toil away, because after all, a job's not done until it's done. Words to live by. Anyway, she finds herself enticed by this guy, to the point where she looks forward to seeing him all the time. "The Carpenter" is an amusing Canuck horror flick that this viewer wouldn't really consider a slasher, and would concede may not have enough action, gore, or kills for some tastes. And, truthfully, it's a little disappointing that there isn't more gore when The Carpenter is busy eliminating any unpleasant person on the premises using his assorted implements (nail gun, power drill, etc.). But, in the end, what I like about this is how crazy it is as it goes for a more psychological approach. What is The Carpenter to Alice - an angel or a devil? Some moments in this movie are so silly, and so hilarious, it's hard to believe Bravman and company didn't have their tongues in their cheeks, at least to some degree, and it's just too entertaining to see Hauser and Adams indulge in some fairly serious conversations, as Wings waxes poetic on the nature of masculinity and the problem that arises when men get too far removed from good, honest, hard physical labour. Men have to take PRIDE in what they do, damn it! Wings fans can note that he's in fine form, as he plays a somewhat familiar and somewhat unfamiliar character, as he's often stern, sadistic, creepy, likable, and charming all at the same time, as he imparts upon others his own sense of morality. Adams, Lenoir and the other actors are just okay at best; they certainly pale in comparison to the dynamic star of this thing. Ron Lea, however, is a hoot as the jovial local sheriff who provides exposition in a manner that's anything but boring. Filmed at various Quebec locations, "The Carpenter" may eventually end up with a rather conventional finish, but until then it's pretty engaging - and, I dare say, under-rated - stuff. Seven out of 10.

Here's your typical 1980's direct-to-video B-movie strictly for genre fans. A married couple move into a home that is under renovation not knowing that its haunted by the ghost of a maniacal carpenter (Wings Hauser). Unstable wife, Alice encounters the strong and confident Mr. Fix-it, and as soon as he starts murdering all of the antagonists in her life, including her cheating husband, she begins to fall in love with his devilish charm and demeanor. Its an average at best Canadian slasher story only worth seeing for one of Wings Hauser's intense and erratic performances. The murderous handyman constantly spews out dialog about old-fashioned "working man" values that make the plot seem disjointed and confused. Murders include: Arms amputated by circular saw, power drill to the chest, nail gun shots, head in a vice,...etc. Gore fans, don't get too excited. This is only slightly bloody unlike the "uncut" rating suggests, and the ending is silly and predicable.

When I finished watching this flick it appeared to me that it was made at the end of the eighties. I gave me a feeling of a seventies movie. And that's not so good. It came just after the slasher era and in a time when horror was not done by the majors. And it shows. It's a bit of supernatural thing of a carpenter coming back to his house after he got the electric chair. Sadly, it never becomes really bloody or messy. Even not when the carpenter kills the man of the women he loves. It is more a bit about affairs and how to compete with it. But things go from bad to worse and soon she, Alice, discovers that the man she falls in love with is a death person only to be hurt by destroying the house he build. Weird story, but so passé. Although the acting was okay, it fails nowadays in all ways. Still, up to today it is unavailable in all forms, it do pop up at flea markets on VHS and in the Benelux on DVD taken from a bad VHS rip.

* POSSIBLE SPOILERS*Not very bloody and better than I anticipated, this movie to me seems more psychological than your typical "slasher" flick. Wings Hauser gives another wacko performance as the ghost of a serial killer that helps a woman whose husband is cheating on her. But then he goes too far.........A big thumbs up!!