Terrible, I'm sorry to say. I found out about this film via a mention somewhere on the net that Dee Snider was supposed to be playing a creepy killer. Then I learned that Linda Cardellini plays a part in it, so I had to try it.After a boring introduction with a song that sounded like an inferior rip-off from Tool's 'Sober', we see Cardellini in an awful role chatting with a friend, straight away hooking up with the killer. I suppose in 1998 that was a novelty - oh no, 'The Net' (1995) was already out. The girls disappear that same night and the next minute they're tied up in Dee's basement (or at least one of them, with her mouth sewn shut). What follows is cliché drivel with boring characters, boring music and boring developments. I didn't manage to see more than about fifteen to twenty minutes; at that point I was done with it and now I want to forget about this crap forever.No vote, because it wouldn't be fair when I've only seen a small part of it, but I couldn't pass up letting the cosmos know why I couldn't finish this. I didn't even get to see Dee Snider in action (except for a few seconds in extreme close up)...

Hard rock legend Dee Snider of Twisted Sister fame is mastermind of this tale of a creep who thinks he's doing various victims a favour with his methods of torture, which he prefers to think of as bringing them to a new state of heightened awareness. His name is Captain Howdy, and Dee Snider is a sight to behold in the role - piercings, tattoos, hairstyle, and everything. He kidnaps Genevieve Gage (Linda Cardellini), prompting her detective father Mike (Kevin Gage) to launch an intensive search for his daughter and her freak job abductor. Surprisingly, he's caught sooner than one would think, and that's NOT the end of the story. The movie isn't bad; it's better than reviews here would indicate, even if it does borrow from earlier films and is predictable at times. And there are messages here about the dangers of the Internet, this of course being still relevant today, and the dangers of the mob mentality. The movie moves steadily towards what has to amount to a standard type of ending, managing to generate some seedy atmosphere and allowing Snider to create a fairly effective antagonist. A fine soundtrack and a good supporting cast are assets. Gage, a guy who's played some heavies himself (as in "Heat", for example), does reasonably well as the hero, with Elizabeth Pena not getting to do much as his distraught wife, the lovely Cardellini appealing as the none too bright girl, and the always welcome Robert Englund as an impulsive vigilante. (There is a twist here in that, for once, somebody ELSE is torturing 'Freddy Krueger'!) Competent if not distinguished, "Strangeland" at least doesn't overstay its welcome, getting to the good stuff fairly quickly and with little filler. Now, granted, it won't be for some horror fans as it's not dark enough (those hoping for more of a "body count" type of affair will be sorely disappointed), but overall it's pretty entertaining. Seven out of 10.

Strangeland seems to have a love/hate relationship with many of its viewers. I personally loved the movie, and everything about it.The acting in some places could be improved upon, but the filming adds to the atmosphere where the acting can't. In some areas, the dialogue is a bit cheesy and over dramatic, but really, what do you expect from the late 90s? Over all, Dee did an amazing job in writing what I believe to be one of the most terrifying thrillers I've ever seen. It plays on the fears of many age groups--adult, parents, and children. Every parent fears that their children will get too involved with chat rooms and will meet strangers from the internet. And it *does* happen in the real world. And every child and adult fears being kidnapped and tortured against their will; that happens too in the real world. Which is what makes this movie such a sensitive subject for many.My only warning is if you *know* you are sensitive to things such as strong violence, visible torture, and gore, then you do *not* want to see this movie. If you are unsure about if this movie will entertain you, then read as many reviews as you can, ask people you know who have seen this movie, and be prepared to turn the movie off at any time should you become disturbed.

The sadistic Captain Howdy (Dee Snider) lures kids to his lair of torture and bondage via the Internet. After being caught (by the police father of one of the victims) and released, will the reformed Howdy be accepted into society? Will he accept the society? Is he reformed? I call this a 1990s horror film because unlike any other horror film that I can think of, this one really drove home the 90s underground scene: piercing, tattoos, leather, industrial music, bondage. These things existed in the 1980s and the 2000s, but as someone who grew up in the 90s, I can tell you that they were by far the most prominent from 1994 until 1999. My friend Jason even goes so far as to say this film is more of an advertisement for a lifestyle than it is a horror film. He may be right.Another great thing about this as a 90s film is the use of the Internet. It may not be the first horror film to utilize the Internet, but it stands out for me as one of the earliest to really make it a central theme. Later films would use the Internet and computers as killers or as tools for killers ("Stay Alive", "Pulse", "Watch Me", and even "Memory" with Billy Zane). But the late 90s were the days of the Internet boom, and this really shows the danger of online chatting before even MySpace existed. (Coincidentally, 1998 was also the year I would meet most of my online acquaintances.) The film draws on a history of horror with its use of the "Captain Howdy" name (the ghost from "The Exorcist") and the inclusion of Robert Englund, as well as some subtle (or not-so-subtle) "Nightmare on Elm Street" references. The movie knows it really isn't covering any new ground, and pays proper tribute to its ancestors.I don't think this one should be dismissed as just a period piece. Sure, it can be described that way, but look at what it set up. There's the computer aspect I already mentioned, but also look at the bondage and torture. Today, torture in films is big business ("Hostel", "Saw") and this film beat them to the punch. Again, it's likely not the one that started the torture subgenre, but I think it may have been one of the biggest films of its time.I recommend this film. If you grew up in the 1990s, you might have a better appreciation for it, but overall it's a good exploration of horror and Gothic themes. Dee Snider knows his stuff, and he has earned his place as the DJ for Fangoria Radio. I only wish he would make another film, if he has it in him to match or improve upon what he laid down here.