Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    HORRORSCREAMS VIDEOVAULT – SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT HORROR
    • Home
    • Film Reviews
      • Films Beginning With Numbers or Symbols
      • A – C
      • D – F
      • G – I
      • J – L
      • M – O
      • P – R
      • S – U
      • V – X
      • Y – Z
    • Book Reviews
    • Franchise Corner
    • Competitions
    • Horror Screams Podcast
    • Contact Us
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    HORRORSCREAMS VIDEOVAULT – SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT HORROR

    Film Review: EMULATOR (2019)

    Peter 'Witchfinder' HopkinsBy Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins4th May 2020No Comments2 Mins Read

    EMULATOR * USA 2019 Dir: Michael Jason Allen. 90 mins

    It’s 2003, and reformed serial killer Charlie (Kip Rosser) is recruited by Detective Brent Lowe (Rhett Crosby) to help catch his own copycat. And I’ll give it away here because it happens in the first ten minutes, but the copycat is an expertly-styled, early-2000s, nü-metal dude named Jason (writer/director Michael Jason Allen). Inspired by Charlie’s celebrity, he starts killing people to put his name, and his gothy band, on the map.

    EMULATOR wants to be a suspenseful, twisty game of cat and mouse—but it fails because there aren’t high enough stakes. Charlie feels too good to be true from the get-go, from his finding religion to becoming a respected doctor and author while still behind bars. It also seems the rules of the world Allen has created exist strictly to give his character Jason every possible advantage. He sprays his victims with chloroform to knock them out—which feels unbelievable. His first kill is a young woman who is left alone by her friend in a dark parking lot—which would never happen. The dialogue is written as if Allen has never spoken to another human being, and the red herrings are confusing more than they are misleading.

    The only real bright spot in this flick is Crosby’s performance. He straps in to his role as the bullheaded Detective Lowe who’s willing to do anything to get his man and he commits. We’re barely able to keep up as he races through the city grabbing collars, throwing punches, and chewing scenery.

    And as for the final act, there’s some satisfaction in the twist—but unfortunately, it’s not enough to save EMULATOR from itself.

    Review by Julia Lynch

     

    Facebook0Like0Share0Tweet0Pin0
    Emulator Michael Jason Allen Reel Nightmare Films Serial Killer Thriller

    Related Posts

    Film Review: CLOWNFACE (2019)

    19th June 202202 Mins Read
    Read More

    Film Review: DADDY’S GIRL (2018)

    9th June 202203 Mins Read
    Read More

    Chaos Consumes a Small Town in the First Trailer for Mary Russell’s THE OTHERKIND

    28th May 202202 Mins Read
    Read More

    Film Review: ENDANGERED SPECIES (2021)

    16th May 202203 Mins Read
    Read More

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Search The Website
    Recent Posts
    • SRS June Blu-rays – Pre-sales begin now on a new Amityville Movie, a Horror Musical and a Grindhouse Homage.
    • Peaches Christ’s Lost Cult Film ALL ABOUT EVIL Starring Natasha Lyonne Resurrected This Summer on Blu-ray & Shudder
    • Film Review: THE ACCURSED (a.k.a Severed Silence) (2021)
    • Spend the Summer at CAMP ARROW with ARROW’s July SVOD Lineup
    • Official Trailer: BENEATH US ALL – Stars of Wes Craven’s THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS reunite for new horror!
    Archives
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.