VOD film review: VFW
Review Overview
Stephen Lang’s look
10Fred Williamson’s line delivery
8If Assault on Precinct 13 gave you anxiety
3Ian Loring | On 12, Mar 2020
Director: Joe Begos
Cast: Stephen Lang, William Sadler, Martin Kove, Fred Williamson
Certificate: 18
In the grand pantheon of great John Carpenter films, perhaps one of the least discussed is Assault on Precinct 13. An early film in his career, it set its stool for “who knows what the hell will happen?” with the shocking early killing of a young girl, going on to be a claustrophobic, stylish experience with a fantastic score. Rising low-budget horror cinema filmmaker Joe Begos obviously hasn’t forgotten it, however, with VFW offering a loving tribute that doesn’t hit the highs of Carpenter’s film, but does a damn good job to satisfy those looking for a bloody, good ride.
Casting is key here and thankfully – in both creative and indulgent ways – it works. Genre movie stars David Patrick Kelly, Fred Williamson, Martin Kove and William Sadler all do credible work and form genuinely warm chemistry together. George Wendt from Cheers turns up as a patron of the VFW bar and his casting sums up the fun vibe perfectly. Sierra McCormick and Tom Williamson are also decent enough as the younger heroes, although they’re upstaged. Indeed, the real smart idea is casting Stephen Lang in the lead. A man who can do the haunted-behind-the-eyes, fire-waiting-to-be-unleashed thing in his sleep, Lang’s turns between chill and outright ferocity in the action are a honest pleasure to watch; his care for those around him is matched by how physical he gets when things get real.
It is a shame, then, that while the heroes are such fun, the villains feel more like an afterthought. The opening does a concise job in setting up why master drug dealer Boz (Travis Hammer) is someone you’re rather OK with seeing hopefully defeated by the end, but the film doesn’t really give enough time to him or his minions; despite some fun costume and make-up design, they don’t really make much of an impression. It is fun to see Lang kick the crap out of them, however, and it’s easy to think Begos knows where his priorities lie, and its not with the bad guys.
On a technical level, the film is just a little too dark at times – perhaps a budgetary issue that requires hiding some of the effects. Nonetheless, the VFW bar is a fantastic setting, even though it doesn’t get shown off in all its glory.
If the idea of Lang, Sadler, Williamson and Kove beating the heck out of generic bad guys sounds like a good time, then you are going to have a ball.