Slaxx (2021)

Streaming Services: Shudder
Movie Name/Year: Slaxx (2021)
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Length: 77 minutes
Rating: TV-MA
Production/Distribution: EMA Films, Entertainment Squad, The Horror Collective, Filmoption International
Director: Elza Kephart
Writer: Elza Kephart, Patricia Gomez
Actors: Romane Denis, Brett Donahue, Sehar Bhojani, Kenny Wong, Tianna Nori, Jessica B. Hill, Erica Anderson, Hanneke Talbot, Stephen Bogaert, Jonathan Emond, Elizabeth Neale, Aris Tyros, Pritha Mazumdar
 
Blurb from IMDb: When a possessed pair of jeans begins to kill the staff of a trendy clothing store, it is up to Libby, an idealistic young salesclerk, to stop its bloody rampage.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
I have been looking forward to Slaxx since the moment I heard it was coming out. As soon as we had access to the screener, I snapped it right up.
 
A film like this will always be unique. Whether it turns out to have a weird-as-hell (almost surreal) story, like in Rubber (2010); a terrifying classic source, like in Christine (1983); or a plot so awful it’s laughable, like in Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977) – there’s never a reason to feel like watching was time wasted.
 
Killer inanimate objects are just put out so infrequently that the tropes utilized are less known and they wind up feeling less overdone.
 
Movies about creepy dolls can technically be included in the whole ‘inanimate object’ sub-genre, but I don’t like to compare the two. Creepy dolls are their own thing.
 
One thing most deadly object films have in common is that they’re ridiculous. Every single one of them requires a huge suspension of disbelief. In fact, most of them don’t take the serious route at all, even if they have something to say.
 
So, that’s what I figured Slaxx would be.
 
In the beginning, it seemed to meet my expectations. It was silly, bloody, and completely bonkers. What immediately caught me off guard, though, was the production quality. I wasn’t expecting the quality to be as high as it was, and I remember thinking it was strange for something from this sub-genre.
 

Three quarters of the way through, I found out why.
 
It turned into a real movie, with something to say, and I was not prepared.
 
Whatever goofiness was attached to the idea of killer pants melted away into a scathing review of retail and corrupt business practices. It got seriously bleak… and the ending was no where near what I thought it would be.
 
Slaxx was good. Not just for its sub-genre, but for a horror film in general. As much as I was looking forward to seeing it, that’s not how I thought it would go.
 
It was brilliant.
 
See it for yourself on Shudder March 18.
 
If you don’t have a subscription, now’s the time to get one. Slaxx is a must-see.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
I have to giggle when I say out loud that I have watched a movie about killer pants – the murderous variety rather than red hot fashion. The entire premise for this horror movie is hilarious. Dare you to say it with a straight face. “These jeans are to die for.” (I’m not sorry.)
 
Corny humor aside, I went into this movie with an open mind, as I mentioned in this month’s Top 20 article. I expected a ludicrous premise and campy horror tropes everywhere. I anticipated a ‘so bad it’s good’ sort of experience.
 
What I got was something unexpectedly different.
 
Slaxx gives its audience a peek into retail store hell. I think anyone that’s worked in clothing retail will appreciate this film on a whole other level. I haven’t, personally, worked in a store like the one in the movie but I have had enough friends vent to me about their experiences that I felt I could relate.
 

I really enjoyed the build-up here. There’s some blood and gore, but it’s not gratuitous and the film draws you in and immerses you in the story before things go haywire. This is something I thought I’d never say about possessed pants going psycho.
 
There’s an actual story here and a meaning behind it. It didn’t feel contrived or hokey, either. I mean… what?
 
Further, the production value was actually pretty good. The store set was amazing and the ‘behind closed doors’ warren of halls in the back felt really authentic. Nothing felt super cheesy or shoestring budget. Even the effects for the pants were well done – I mean… for animated pants.
 
I wasn’t expecting the ending. I thought it was quite fitting, however. (Pun intended.)
 
Kudos once more to Shudder for this gem. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think Slaxx has made it onto my list of favorite horror comedies. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone that enjoys the genre.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 100%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None
Metascore – None
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 5.0/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5
 
P.S. Some scenes during the credits, and one after-credits.
 
Movie Trailer: