Released to video in 2010 and directed by Charles Stewart Jr., "Butchered" details events on the coast of North Carolina when a group of high school grads take one last camping trip to their favorite party island. Unfortunately, a mad butcher is on the loose.While this is a micro-budget slasher flick with the typical problems therein (e.g. sound) it's competently made and delivers the goods for what it is. Some thought was actually put into the script as the likable main characters are effectively fleshed-out. The acting ain't bad either, at least for obscure no-names. There are a few fetching nubile females and you can't beat the North Carolina coastal cinematography. If you like the Friday the 13th flicks and can handle no-budget independent productions "Butchered" is worth checking out.The film runs 71 minutes and was shot in Wilmington, North Carolina, and nearby Carolina Beach State Park. The script was written by Shaun O'Rourke, Sheila Brothers & Roxanne Marchand.GRADE: B-

"Butchered" is a neatly packed, burst of low-budget slasher horror directed by Charles Stewart Jr. with co-directors Sheila Brothers and Shaun O'Rourke. Honestly I hope those are more honorary co-directing credits, because I don't see why a film that falls just over an hour really needs multiple directors, but whateve. That is no issue really. "Butchered"stars the standard cast of characters played by Timothy Woodward Jr., Nikki Beall, Cory Broadwater, Robert Covington, Kit Johnson, D.J. Naylor, Jaime Moffett, plus a few other actors in a story that follows a group of friends, who take off on vacay to a small secluded island, off the coast of the Carolinas. The story is a nice, classic nightmare of slasher fanfare that places the young up against the force of a homicidal psycho, butcher. The set- up is thought out, leading us through a nice, "all fall down" scenario that, considering the budget and talent, manages to create an easy, story arc. The dialog is a bit underwhelming, and melodramatic, but it gets you there fundamentally. Personally I think the writing is too "over-thought" with the material seeming cliché and unauthentic. However this is only a slight hindrance and nothing that effects the ability to watch the film. Some characters are more driven to emote the stories intentions while a couple stagger through the lines and scenes systematically. Still this is a "slice-n-dice" flick so all they need to do is be there and die for the camera. This they definitely do. The acting is the quality you would expect in a low-budget flick like this, like I stated before some actors give a better performance than others. The actual dialog and character development is sort of weak, often creating disconnected and unconvincing performances. Still there are moments when the acting and dramatic character interactions pick-up and deliver, giving us some suspense and enough connection to move the story along. The actual story is a pretty nice "birth of a slasher" narrative with recognizable 80 slasher influence. As for the special effects and sound effects in "Butchered" I am split on both. The music and instrumental created the desired effect that Stewart was aiming for, my issue is I felt it was hokey, white-washed and too damn sugary. Plus the timing for these elements coming in to the scenes, guiding the feeling of the story, often seemed "over produced" and a bit too clichéd. It created an unintended cheese factor that came off more Disney than horror. The special effects on the other hand worked for most of the kill scenes, with nice camera angles, little editing tricks that leave the gore implied, like the vintage horror films used, give credibility to the scenes.The blood and visceral elements are practical effects. They are limited with most deaths and brutality implied, but enough shows to create a nice effect. The killer is a menacing monster guy with the stoic brutality of any antagonist in slasher horror. I know it sounds like I didn't like the film but I did, actually. It isn't anything special but for a cut-down film that is only a few minutes over an hour, "Butchered" gives a comparable, quick, slasher nightmare.

Being an Avid Fan of Horror movies, I had high hopes of this film - Sadly, those hopes were dashed. Quickly. I was expecting this horror/thriller film that was worthy of being a big part of my library, and now I know it will never be. I'm expecting a Horror Film that actually scares you. Instead, I got bad acting and a weak storyline. This is NOT what makes a great horror movie. Granted, Most horror movies do have cheesy dialog at times, but the good ones don't have the cheesy dialog all the way through. Another issue I have is with the horror scenes - There is nothing wrong with a little gore in some death scenes, let alone a special effect or two. *POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT* And I'm pretty sure there is a TON of voice-over work in the latter part of the film, more then usual. If there is only one thing to take from this movie, it's the fact that this movie serves as a baseline as to what you don't do when you are making a horror film. This movie is NOT worth the time.

Available in the Midnight Horror Collection from Echo Bridge called Backwoods Butchers, Butchered was decent viewing.Although obviously shot on an extremely low budget,there are a few decent moments to be found here. The opening scene, culminating in an homage (or steal) of a scene found in Exorcist III, built up fair tension and the montage/opening credits looked pretty professional. But the wooden acting from most of the young cast and the lack of originality in the killings brings the movie down big time in my opinion. Practically everyone was dispatched with an axe to the chest, it got repetitive.I wanted to be kind to this independent horror film, but it just has too many faults. I do respect the fact that the makers are obviously inspired by stronger horror film, but it's a shame that this one didn't turn out too strong.