Review

Man did I enjoy the shit out of this one! I mean how the hell can you not? It’s a horror movie about a fucking baboon murdering people while they’re LARPing!

For fuck’s sake’s people, this shit writes itself!

Released straight to video in 1990, “Shakma”  didn’t exactly set the horror world on fire. On the surface, it’s your run of the mill early 90’s B movie schlock, which is why it probably drifted into horror obscurity so quickly. However, if you go into this one with the right frame of mind (Drunk or high being the most recommended) you’ll have a good time.

The acting isn’t much to write home about, excepting the late great Roddy McDowall of course. I don’t know how the fuck he ended up in this flick. McDowall was an insanely talented actor who could really bring to life every character he got his hands on. He should be given way more respect than he gets. Unfortunately, the tail end of his career saw him doing a lot of B horror and sci-fi, something he is still closely associated with, rather than his brilliant earlier work such as his turn as Ceaser in “Cleopatra” (1963) or as Matthew the Apostle in “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (1965). At least us horror and Sci-fi lovers will always appreciate him for his work as Cornelius in “Plant of the Apes” (1968) and Peter Vincent in the original “Fright Night” (1985).

You can tell he phoned this one in. That really speaks to the man’s talent, as his phoned in performances are still damn good. Oh, how we miss thee, Roddy.

Amanda Wyss of NOES fame plays our leading lady and tries to deliver her lines with a straight face. It’s not her fault, the girl can act. You try coming off credible while saying and doing the shit she was forced to do. Who do you think she is, Roddy McDowall?!

Christopher Atkins is our leading man and like Wyss, gives it his best shot. Actually, I think he comes out looking better than the rest of the cast, besides McDowall. Not saying much though. How dude went from “The Blue Lagoon” (1980) to this shit is befuddling, to say the least. Least he lost that fro he sported. I was supposed to believe he knocked boots with Brooke Shields with hair like that? I think not!

Personally, my favorite character was Richard played by Greg Flowers. Dude had me swearing he was a young Rob Riggle. Dude was an asshole, sure, but he was a likable asshole. Flowers was no thespian but he did ok here. Shame this was his only film.

We can’t forget about Typhoon the baboon who played the title character. HE is the reason to watch this movie. I shit you not! The little fucker is hella entertaining. Watching this cute little baboon running around, stalking and offing peeps is something you really have to see to appreciate. I get baboons can be dangerous and can def kill a person, but the characters here react as though their being hunted by a fucking demon from hell. Watching them running down a hall as if they’re being chased by a pack of velociraptors only to see cute little Shakma come running around the corner on two legs is downright fucking hysterical.

Oh and watching Shakma fight doors, which he does a lot, is amusing. Little fucker really hates doors.

My pervs will have to look elsewhere if they want skin, everyone’s clothes stay on. Shakma is nude the entire flick though. Ya know, in case that’s your thing. I don’t judge.

Shakma’s attacks are fast and brutal (Those we see, more on that un momento.) and tend to leave a mess. Nothing mind-blowing, but the catsup is spread around. Little dude is really pissed.

I could list many of the film’s problems but that would be missing the point. This isn’t to be watched for quality. I will, however, point out a few things that irked me personally. Some scene’s drag on for no good reason other than padding. I don’t care if it shortens the film, trim that shit! I don’t need to see characters quietly sneaking through hallways for 5 minutes at a time. That’s not suspenseful, it’s fucking boring! Also, some of the attacks only consist of Shakma running and pouncing on a person before cutting away to another character. Yeah, we get the aftermath but that’s like watching a chick orgasm but not seeing her getting banged. Where’s the fun in that?

When all is said and done, this should be a terrible movie, and it is but in a good way. How often do you get to watch Baboons tear apart stupid teenagers? I love that they used a real baboon and not a prop. This is what makes the film. Watching little Typhoon run around slamming into doors and pulling people under tables is pure fucking gold! The scene between Wyss’s character and Shakma in the bathroom had me busting a gut with laughter.

Did the filmmakers mean for it to be funny? I really don’t know. Sometimes it seems intentionally silly, other times the film seems like it’s trying to play it straight. Who the fuck knows! Just go into it not expecting much and you’ll have a good time.

Nuff said!