The Burrowers DVD Review
The Burrowers DVD Review
Still moseyin' along.
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I wanted to love The Burrowers. I really, really did. For one thing, people I know and like are in the movie or/and behind the camera. Always a slippery slope for me, but the honesty of the review has to come first. I was hoping that maybe The Burrowers would have grown on me and I could revise my opinion a bit, but no such luck: it had the exact same impression on me as it did on the big screen.
As this Old West horror monster mash unfolds, cowboys, Indians and local soldiers converge, conflict, and learn about "the burrowers". These are wicked creatures of the night who steal people away from their homes and, using a paralytic venom, bury them until they're ripe, soft, and ready for easy chewing. Many beasts — from the red fox, to the thread-waisted wasp, to the human being — actually use this method to produce mouth-watering meals, which makes the whole premise that earth is a restaurant for aliens, and we're on the menu, so much the creepier. [See Horror.com's theatrical release review here.]
Unfortunately, The Burrowers is a slow-roast that doesn't get any better with age. I still liked the same parts I enjoyed originally, and was still as bored as ever during the less-brisk moments. In trying to analyze the reason why The Burrowers can't engage, my only guess is directing and editing. There is a definite lack of focus and practically no sense of urgency whatsoever. Everything just kind of happens. The acting, characters, writing, cinematography and locations are all top-notch, so it's a mixed bag. I recommend it, but only by a hair.
When it comes to the additional release material, there are a couple of good things (at least, there is something! With Lionsgate, it's rare). There's an informative, humorous and chatty yak-track with writer/director JT Petty and lead actor Carl Geary just winging it. They talk about actor Doug Hutchison's insistence on his character's look (a dandy, in the vein of George Custer), and Clancy Brown's height ("He's, like, 8 feet tall!"), among other things, such as the stunted shooting schedule, DP Phil Parmet's obvious talent, and what it was like to work with all those horses.
There's a short and to-the-point making-of featurette that's lightweight but entertaining enough, and a behind-the-scenes look at how the creatures were created by Almost Human. That's about it, except — if you're anal — watch out for Lionsgate's laxness when it comes to proper running time information and a few misspellings.
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson