Posted By Reverend Leviathan on Oct 12, 2018 | 1 comment

Director: Brian Dorton
Production Company: reel EPIC entertainment
Genre: Horror, Comedy
One Sentence Synopsis: Based on the cult film Criminally Insane
Series: Standalone
Release Date: 9-18-18
Running Time: 1 hr 21 min
Website: Click Here
Trailer: Click Here
Reviewed by: Reverend Leviathan
Final Score: 4.0 Moons (Out of 5)

Weighing in at about 300 lbs, Ethel Janoski won’t allow anyone to stand in the way of her glutinous appetite, even if it means killing! After years in a mental institution, Ethel is taken in by her aunt. Many people, including the head nurse of the institution and a local detective, believe letting Ethel leave that hospital was a huge mistake.

Story

Ethel Janoski (Dixie Gers), a rather large woman, has been institutionalized for allegedly killing her uncle.  After being in the mental institution for many years and being mistreated and abused by the staff she gets released into her aunt’s custody.  She cleans out the fridge in no time, and her appetite is still not satisfied.  So what happens when the food just isn’t enough?  Will she resort to killing pets?  People?  The answer is yes, of course!  Not only that, but she does most of it without even leaving the house.  The “good news” is most visitors do end up leaving…once they’re digested!

It’s almost impossible to describe the film without having the words “very” and “disturbing” escape your mouth multiple times.  Seeing what Ethel is willing to do to eat is extremely messed up.  There are some very disturbing (see?) sex and rape scenes, and it’s very, very brutal and gory.  There’s also a little comic relief that caused a few laugh-out-loud moments, but the scales definitely lean towards the horror side.  At one point Ethel is sleeping and the dream sequence is very creative and weird as hell.  One thing’s for sure, I’ll never be able to look at a wine bottle, or a key, the same ever again.

Ethel’s Dream Sequence

Presentation

While the story is pretty simple and most of the movie takes place at Ethel’s aunt’s house, the production quality is good for a low-budget horror, especially the cinematography.  The special effects used (fake blood, guts, etc.) seemed very realistic most of the time, which added a lot to the disturbing aspect of the film.  I’ve also got to give some credit to Brian Dorton for using regular, everyday women for the nude scenes, rather than the Hollywood fashion model types; it added more to the realism.

The jewel of the film is, of course, our leading lady Dixie Gers.  This girl gave it her all.  She established herself as a psycho right from the get-go, and her performance makes the movie both enjoyable and believable.  The expressions she gives and the lines she delivers are full of emotion.  In fact, most of the actors/actresses in the film seemed very professional and didn’t give B-rate performances.

Gothic Fit

Many of us in the Goth scene tend to like the macabre, and Crazy Fat Ethel would be up at the top of the list in that category.  The horror elements and at times sadistic humor would be greatly appreciated, along with the dream sequence I previously mentioned.

Closing Thoughts

You’ll need two things to really enjoy this film: A big bowl of popcorn and a strong stomach!  (Might be safer to not eat anything actually.)  Crazy Fat Ethel is one of the most disturbing films I’ve ever seen.  I have images burned in my mind forever, and the irony is that I love it!

        Story: 3.0 Moons (Out of 5)
        Presentation: 4.0 Moons (Out of 5)
        Gothic Fit: 3.5 Moons (Out of 5)
        Final Score (not an average): 4.0 Moons