Homages to slasher films of a bygone era are, once again, on the rise. We just can’t get enough of the old school thrills, kills, and spills. It’s the unapologetic brutality as dumbass college students go up against an unknown killer, while flaunting their bodies in spite of the danger they are in that we can’t get enough of. Sex and violence, you know?
And when it works, the results are quite enjoyable, which is why they continue to roll out from time to time.
Unfortunately, Butchers Bluff - while quite amusing - is a bit too excessive when it comes to its ramblings and tangents to be as fully appreciated as it ought to be. Clocking in at 2-hours, it’s also about 35-minutes too long for what it is. That’s a shame, too, because there’s a lot of solid kill sequences and over-the-top moments which should be dog-earred by Horror Hounds as college students set out to uncover the truth behind a disturbing urban legend.
Directed by William Instone and Matt Rifley, this throwback horror film pits a group of college film students against the dark and twisted urban legend of the Hogman in a reclusive Texas town where 28 people have mysteriously vanished for over two decades. The obvious parallels to Texas Chainsaw Massacre are to be expected as this ambitious academic endeavor turns into a bloodbath relatively quickly.
But the truth behind the Hogman legend is far more terrifying. One peak at the opening credits (which operates as a montage of kill sequences) and you get a whole lot of promise. If only those scenes were in the movie!
Starring Michael Fischer, Paige Steakley, Johnny Huang, Paul T. Taylor, and a fun cameo from Bill Oberst Jr. as Jed, Butchers Bluff has a strong cast and the movie gives audiences plenty of practical gore effects, as well as a fun masked killer, but it doesn’t have the character development to get audiences over its own doldrums as there are plenty of moments which simply lag. What it does do well is capitalize on its small town setting as it was filmed in Texas locations like San Marcos, New Braunfels, and Bastrop, giving audiences a solid feel for the correct environment for the slasher to bleed out from.
With a wild performance from William Instone as The Hogman, Butchers Bluff ought to be a fun watch for the typical slasher fun . . . but the film gets in its own way all too often and delivers many moments where its influences are far too obvious. There’s little fun in some of its initial announcements as this overly long slasher is far too jammed with characters, only to have them knocked off by the deranged killer on the loose. Some serious edits could sharpen the film’s intentions when it comes to its slasher intentions.
Breaking Glass Pictures is excited to announce the release of Butchers Bluff, a blood-soaked homage to 1980s slasher films, on March 11, 2025. Bloody yet bloated, this offering has plenty to die for.
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 120 mins
Director: William Instone; Matt Rifley
Writer: William Instone; Renfield Rasputin
Cast: Jeremy London; Bill Oberst Jr.; Paul T. Taylor
Genre: Horror
Tagline: You Won't find him, He'll find you!
Memorable Movie Quote:
Distributor: Breaking Glass Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: March 11, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: A Modern Slasher in the style of the 1980's.
