Nutbag

"Nutbag" may have had peanuts for a budget, but it still manages to deliver an interestingly off-kilter underground video movie from Vegas for those of us who like such things. Separated from cheap death-fetish videos by its intensity of action, script and feeling, it bears repeated viewing for anyone who likes odd acting, a droning 80s style soundtrack and homemade slasher gore that isn't always convincing, but is usually strangely disturbing anyway. This movie is full of weird scenes that some, with their viewpoint programmed by Hollywood to expect only certain looks and movements in a film, would call a showcase for bad acting and directing. But I call them a forum for acting and directing from a whole different, less "perfect" perspective, leading to results sometimes insightful and sometimes amusing. Talking to his pet spider and only friend in his desultory room, the killer asks how everything's going. "Yeah, I guess not much is happening anyway" he slowly answers his own question. You'll know just by reading this if you're weird enough to like this movie as I do. Sort of like Ron Atkins' "Schizophreniac" series but not nearly as manic, "Nutbag's" camcorder trolls the Vegas streets along with its narrating, knife-wielding psycho, who goes on at length about his hatred of other races, but not nearly as much as he goes on about his hatred of women and especially prostitutes. There is no clear indication of a sexual motive as he murders one of them after another and moves on to non-hooker women as well. It's just pure hate and rage in keeping with the movie's goal of being deliberately offensive, and anyone unprepared for this should watch the latest PG-13 rated and CGI- infected "horror" instead. Aside from its silly title ("Loner", the name of one of its music tracks, would have been better), I have little criticism for a film so no-budget yet so determined, one which provides a forum for viewing do-it-yourself filmmaking in action. I might be alone in liking this better than "Murder Set Pieces," director Palumbo's bigger-budget serial killer feature with a similar plot. Given upgraded special effects and a "better"-looking platform for its extreme brutaliy, gore and offensiveness, "Set Pieces" was condemned by liberal critics when I saw it here in New York upon its limited theatrical release, and so it did us the service of bothering just the right people. But I didn't find it as interesting as the shot-on-plain-video "Nutbag," which brings the little-known pleasures of underground cinema to life more effectively in my view. Side note: actor Mack Hail directed a Nevada serial killer feature of his own called "Switch Killer," and played another psycho in a VERY little-seen "Ice Cream Man"-style serial killer SOV movie (the name of which I can't recall!) as well.

When I purchased "Nutbag" I wasnt sure what to expect. Needless to say I wasnt let down what so ever, The fast pace action and graphic killings kept my attention more than any "horror" movie I have ever seen as of late. The girls were very beautiful making it very visually appealing when there wasnt blood all over the place *L* The special effects were F-ing MAD! I am glad I picked up a copy and I definitley look forward to anything Fright Flix productions puts out, great job!

B horror. Not the greatest but if you like b horror wasnt totally bad.

I love the move & the genre. Just be aware that the MASSACRE VIDEO dvd release is cut with a run time of 1:15:30

Including Robbie's comment, I have seen three different run times for this movie - 69 mins, 80 mins, and Robbie's comment of 75 mins. Does anyone know what the true, uncut, running time is? I don't like edited ANYTHING, so want the uncut/complete version.

This was one of the most plotless b movies I've ever seen. Terrible effects but lots of hot nude chicks. I gave them two stars

This movie was horrible. I read reviews saying this film was comparible to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and they were all wrong. It was like watching a poorly done home movie. The main actor has the acting ability of his pet tarantula. He looks like a KKK member minus the tattoos. The effects were lousy, but I'm guessing a home movie budget. Blood looked like a little child's paint that comes in those tiny containers. Effects such as a throat slit looked like she spilled ketchup on her throat. Pointless killings. I understand the "star" was psychotic but even psychos have some reasoning. Why did he have those stupid rubber masks? The flashback to when he was a child and saw something that "shaped his life" had the effect of that surprised squirrel who turns around to suspenseful music. The last few reviews all said this was a good movie, but if you scroll down a bit more you see a realistic review that also gave 1 star. Believe us, not those other nutbags who liked this movie.

If you like independant films that don't hold back on the gore, then this is a must see. This is one of Nick Palumbo's first films and he truely unleashes his fury and lets the blood splatter. Not for the faint of heart, so beware. A very good B-movie gore flik!

I found this little gem about 3 years ago in my local pound shop and immediately picked up a copy. I will be honest when i say i really wasnt expecting an awful lot from it. But being only a pound who would? I was thrilled and sucked in by the story and found myself nearly moved to tears when he was telling his story of how he became the way he was. Another point is that the gore was average but that could be to do with the bbfc. I have tried since to get hold of it but read on a forum that hardgore dvds are oop which is a shame as i enjoyed their titles. Good film just dont go into it closed minded.