Actors: Mark Webber, Ron Perlman, Christopher Berry, Devon Graye
Directors: Daniel Stamm
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Run Time: 92 minutes
Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
Back in 2010, I was helping to promote a film called “The Last Exorcism”, this was right when I started this website and I snagged a huge interview at the time with the director of that film, Daniel Stamm. I knew this guy was going to be a big name and I was lucky that I got him early. Fast forward to today, “13 Sins” is his next film and it headed directly to home release. I find that rather disappointing to be honest. The film itself is not disappointing though and has a lot of great aspects to it. It does have traits of the “Saw” franchise but it is able to take a rather fresh take on that idea. What the film also has is a sharp cast including Mark Webber (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”), Rutina Wesley (HBO’s “True Blood”) and Ron Perlman (“Hellboy”). The film also has a helluva punch at the end, which was quite surprising and ended up winning me over. I could see myself recommending this horror/thriller and hopefully we will be seeing a lot for from director Stamm.
Official Premise: Elliot (Mark Webber) is a bright but meek social services coordinator, drowning in debt and desperate because he’s about to marry the love of his life (Rutina Wesley). Upon receiving a cryptic phone call informing him that he’s on a hidden camera game show where he must execute 13 tasks, Elliot learns he will be on his way to winning a multimillion dollar cash prize if he quickly follows through with his first two instructions: swat the fly that is currently bothering him and then eat the fly. Although thousands of dollars are suddenly appearing in his bank account, Elliot remains suspicious, though comforted by the knowledge that he can stop playing at any time if only to lose every penny that he’s won. As he leaves a path of destruction behind him and runs away from the law (Ron Perlman), Elliot’s need to complete the game escalates as the tasks grow increasingly sinister, to a devastating point of no return.
The 1080p transfer looks awesome for this film. The cinematography is also well done and really works for the film’s setting. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 really delivers some impress sound especially for the key bone saw scenes…Yikes! In terms of special fearures there is a great audio commentary track with Stamm along with Webber, Perlman, and Graye. Besides that there is a decent behind-the-scenes look into “The Making of 13 Sins”. It is a little short but does pack a lot into it. There is a complete deleted sequence from the film, which runs just over five minutes. It is an already seen for sure involved oral sex (oh yeah!) but it was well cut. The alternate ending is pretty kick ass as well and included a nice twist also. Lastly “Anatomy of a Meltdown” features Stamm talking about the scene.