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Stevo (Sebastian Betancur) isn't an actual criminal mastermind, he's just a young man strapped for cash but full of ideas. Nor are his friends Michelle (Kate Noel), Jada (Skyylar Perdomo), Jen (Sarah Siverson) and Adam (Jaiden Stith) anything resembling thieves, just youngsters recently cut off their parents' support and always up for adventure. So when they hear that a spooky house in a gated community is to be emtpied after the death of its owner, they figure to raid it for whatever treasures they might find. After all this is a victimless crime, right. And it could bring them internet fame as the house's also supposed to be haunted. However, Stevo is no criminal mastermind in more ways than one, he's not only no typical leader with questionable moral standings, he's also no good at planning or researching, so it comes to a shock to the gang that the house is actually inhabited, plus standing outside the house they have no idea how to get in. And after futile attempt after futile attempt to enter the place, Stevo resorts to just knocking on the door pretending to need help, upon which the homeowner Lucas (Breck Cuddy) is quick to grab him, pull him in then torture and kill him using his mighty mallet, which Stevo's friends are forced to helplessly witness from outside. Then of course, Lucas goes after them as well. You see, what they didn't know is that as a kid (and played by Nathan Cuevas) has wintessed his father (Spencer Frankeberger) murder his mother (Liz Cuevas) before Lucas hit him over the head repeatedly with a mallet. His grandmother (Tanya Champoux) then hid Lucas so he could escape the law while making up a story about him being kidnapped, and she raisexd him in her own bible-thumping ways - which turned Lucas into a serialkiller murdering who he perceives as sinners using his mallet. And it seems our heroes are next on his list ...

Now I won't for a minute say Mauler is the most thought-provoking, most multi-layered or most artistic of movies, silmpy because it was never made to be - and in all frankness, it isn't a genre masterpiece either. Ínstead it's just an entertaining blend of slasher and survival horror with a good deal of comedy thrown in as well. And what really makes this movie besides its brisk flow and its rather violent finale is its fleshed-out characters and their chemistry, only helped by a very solid performance. So in all, a really fun genre ride.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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