DECAMPITATED (1998) *

Decampitated is a terrible low budget horror spoof released by Troma that at least has the benefit of a great pre-title sequence.  It revolves around a sexy coed being chased by a killer in the woods.  During the pursuit, she keeps inadvertently keeps stepping into bear traps and must resort to drastic measures to free herself.  I really enjoyed this scene.  It’s a lot of fun and offers up a satisfying balance of humor and gore.  It was enough to make me think this was going to be a better-than-average no-budget Troma flick.  My hopes were almost immediately dashed after the credits rolled.  

A bunch of would-be campers accidentally crash their car in the woods.  They decide to walk the rest of the way and immediately get lost.  A demented killer in a beekeeper’s mask soon pops up to take out the campers one by one.

The opening sequence aside, the humor throughout the rest of the film is obnoxious and unfunny.  Most of the movie is just slight variations of characters running through the woods while being pursued by the killer.  The gore, including a beer tap plunged into a guy’s gut, a fishing hook landing in a girl’s cheek, and plenty of severed limbs, is okay.  Too bad the running gag of campers being brutally murdered only to turn up later with minor injuries later gets old quick.  The overuse of stock library music and “comedic” sound effects quickly get annoying too.  Maybe I would’ve felt differently if the actors had been anyone but annoying amateurs that screamed incessantly and pathetically mugged for the camera.  

So, if you want to laugh, check out the first five minutes of the flick.  If you want to experience the cinematic equivalent to nails on a chalkboard watch the rest of the movie.  In short, Decampitated is nothing to lose your head over.