Reaper (film)
Reaper is a 2014 American horror/crime film directed by Philip Shih and written by James Jurdi and Mark James. The film stars Danny Trejo, Shayla Beesley, Vinnie Jones, Jake Busey, James Jurdi, and Christopher Judge. It was released in the United States on June 9, 2015 by Entertainment One.
| Reaper | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Philip Shih |
| Produced by | Alejandro Salomon Frederic Cipoletti James Jurdi |
| Screenplay by | James Jurdi/Mark James |
| Starring | Danny Trejo Vinnie Jones Jake Busey Shayla Beesley James Jurdi Linda Mendez Christopher Judge |
| Music by | Sean Murray |
| Edited by | Nic Hill |
| Distributed by | Entertainment One |
Release date |
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Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
In a news bulletin, it is revealed that a former cult leader escaped the electric chair and has now returned as a supernatural serial killer named Reaper, wreaking havoc on a small county and targeting those he believes to be sinners.
Meanwhile Natalie, an attractive hitchhiker, (Shayla Beesley) tries to catch a ride on a dry, desolate road. She gets picked up by alcoholic salesman named Bill (Jake Busey), but his car breaks down and they wind up at a motel. Bill and Natalie check in as newlyweds, with a creepy, religious motel owner (Justin Henry) in the midst.
Bill starts to get intimate with Natalie after she begins to flirt with him. She spikes his cup of Jack Daniels with a sleeping pill. She plays pseudo-bondage games with him, ties him up, and takes his wallet as well as his car keys. She leaves and locks the door behind her. The creepy owner walks down the hall, then the Reaper attacks and kills Bill with a scythe, while the owner begins to say a prayer. Natalie calls her mother, finds out that her mother needs money for her surgery, or else the bank will cancel her hospice. Natalie says to her that she will get the money and pay for the operation.
She stops in at a diner to get something to eat. Rob, a mean mob boss (Vinnie Jones), realizes that his slick, young protege, Brad (James Jurdi), has been botching his tasks. After threatening him with a large knife, Rob gives Brad a final chance and throws him some money to finish up a pending deal. After witnessing Brad flirt with a waitress and tip her handsomely, Natalie sets her sights on him, first tampering with his wheels, then running him over. Feigning concern, she runs out of the car, makes small talk with a smile, then offers him a ride. Some sexual foreplay ensues, but she convinces him to get her a drink from a liquor mart, then zooms off with his money and gun and leaves him in the dust.
Later on, the tables turn when Natalie finds out that Brad is a drug mule, and his associate, humble truck driver Jack (Danny Trejo), his dealer, are at the same motel she was taken to by the latter (which is also where she started off with Bill). Two hit men then enter the motel, where they get killed by the Reaper. The motel owner tries to rape her when she tries to call the police. The Reaper arrives and kills him. Jack and Brad decide to help Natalie, but a policeman named Officer Banks (Christopher Judge) arrives to question them about what has happened.
Officer Banks takes them into custody, but the Reaper arrives, luring Banks to follow him with a shotgun. Rob, fed up with Brad's inability to close the deal, decides to go after him. Banks starts to taunt the killer out of hiding, entering room after room. Natalie and the others are locked in the supply closet for their safety. After searching the motel, Banks gets killed by the Reaper. The trio escape from the supply closet, and decide to work together to fight the Reaper.
They try to escape by using Jack's truck, but she tells them that she removed the distributor cap from the vehicle. Brad and Natalie decide to put their differences aside and locate the money and the drugs. Meanwhile, Rob arrives at the motel, while Jack decides to confront the Reaper. Brad is cornered by Rob and is about to meet his doom, but Natalie saves his life by dropping a fire extinguisher on Rob's head. Rob survives, slaps Natalie around, and is about to off her when Brad kills him with his own knife. Just when it looks like they have made it out safe and Jack pulls up in the truck, Brad shoots Jack and makes clear that he wants all the money and the drugs for himself and is going to strand Natalie behind as payback for robbing him earlier. Moments later, he is killed by the Reaper.
Natalie tries to escape but is captured by the Reaper, then taken to a church where he brings his victims. He starts to torment her, planning to send her to hell. At the last minute, Jack (who survived his gunshot wound) returns and drowns the Reaper in a bucket of water, saving Natalie's life. Jack dies but not before telling Natalie to start her life all over again. She calls her mother to let her know she's on her way to see her. Natalie takes off in Jack's truck, then picks up a female hitchhiker who asks about Natalie's story. She smiles, asking how much time she's got and then drives off into the sunset.
After some credits, it is revealed that the Reaper survived and rises to his feet, presumably on his way to continue reaping.
Reception
Critical responses
The film was hyped for its pairing of "indie film icons Danny Trejo and Vinnie Jones," said David McNary of Variety Magazine.[1]
Steve Barton of Dread Central wrote "Danny Trejo and Vinnie Jones. If ever there were a magic pairing of violence and machismo in cinema, this is it. Putting these two together is a no-brainer, and now thanks to this new film, appropriately titled Reaper, that’s just what we’re getting!".[2]
Ryan Miller of JoBlo.com wrote: " We can't possibly ignore the fact that two of cinemas most badass mother will be sharing the screen together, now can we!"[3]
Matt Wavish of Horror Cult Films wrote: "Now here is a damn fine paring up of movie hardmen if ever there was one!"[4]
Upon its release, the film was met with favorable reviews from critics. Ben Gummery of Battle Royale With Cheese wrote: "the film features a strong cast..." then added that "I found the characters in this film really well developed; especially for a genre where there is usually more attention paid to killing off characters than giving them believable stories. Trejo plays a character he has played many times before and easily masters; the toughened criminal with morals. He even brandishes a Machete in tribute to his best known role. Beesley is a revelation as Natalie and we see her character jump off the screen and delve to new depths as the story develops. Busey; despite only making a brief appearance is electric as Bill and really helps to kick start the film; following his success in the From Dusk till Dawn: The Series. I also really enjoyed Jurdi’s performance as self-interested criminal Brad." Gummery ended his review by writing "as a stand-alone movie it is enjoyable and a must see for fans of this horror sub-genre".[5]
Horror Cult Films wrote "it’s crime narrative and the performances from Busey, Beesley, Jurdi and Trejo make it an entertaining watch of sorts" also adding that "The Last Chance hotel is also one of the stars of the film in its own little way. The hotel, much like Psycho’s The Bates Motel, is home to a creepy receptionist named Caine Justin Henry, who’s religious talk and peak cap eblazoned with the word ‘Repent’ should have been enough for the characters to think twice... The hotel acts as a prison for the film’s survival scenes to take place and in that respect it does a decent enough job."[6]
A review on Realm of Horror wrote that "I was pleased to find it actually exceeded my expectations... Its quite different in that no one in the film can actually be classed as a “good guy”. Everyone has a dark side.., overall, I found the film to be thoroughly entertaining.[7]
Cast
- Danny Trejo as Jack
- Vinnie Jones as Rob
- Jake Busey as Bill
- Shayla Beesley as Natalie
- James Jurdi as Brad
- Linda Mendez as Natalie's mother
- Christopher Judge as Officer Banks
- Justin Henry as Caine
- Ian Fisher as Vagabond
Production
Much of the film was shot at the Tudor-style getaway "The Glen Tavern Inn" in Santa Paula, California.
References
- McNary, Dave (22 July 2013). "Danny Trejo, Vinnie Jones Starring In 'Reaper' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- Barton, Steve (26 July 2013). "Danny Trejo and Vinnie Jones Don't Fear the Reaper". Dread Central. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- Miller, Ryan (26 July 2013). "Danny Trejo and Vinnie Jones battle the Reaper". joblo.com. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- Wavish, Matt (27 July 2013). "Danny Trejo and Vinnie Jones to battle the 'Reaper' in new horror film". HorrorCultFilms.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- Gummery, Ben (22 October 2014). "Reaper (2014)". battleroyalewithcheese.com. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- HCF Reviews, Bat (24 October 2014). "REAPER (2014)". horrorcultfilms.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- Angel, Dark (25 September 2014). ""Reaper" - UK DVD review". realmofhorror-blog.blogspot.com. Awesome Inc. Retrieved 22 August 2019.