lastliberal
OK, I love seeing Danny Trejo in films. I didn't actually see him in this one, as he was the voice of El Charro. El Carro (Andrew Bryniarski) was too busy swinging a machete to speak, I guess.Maria is a neurotic mess whose sister committed suicide and is being stalked by El Charro because of some wrong done by an ancestor. She joins her friend Christina (Heidi Androl) and two other girls on a trip to Arizona. Good that they had Tanya (Kathryn Taylor, Miss Kansas USA) along to handle the cop when they got a speeding ticket.Best performance in the film was definitely KellyDawn Malloy as a goth chick who did a shower duet with Tabitha Stevens.Great looking slasher, but the appearance of Archangel Michael and the ending left a lot to be desired, as did the rednecks the girls hooked up with.
danthewrestlingmanorigin
El Charro opens up in a fairly interesting way, leading me to believe it was some sort of religious supernatural thriller. However these themes are pushed aside, and not really developed. Later the group of friends run into a creepy Sheriff, who escorts them to bar, filled with assorted weirdos, including a wheel chair bound death metal rocker, suffering from some kind of mental handicap. At this point I'm thinking the film is going to become a Devil's Rejects, or Texas Chainsaw Massacre insane family type of film. No again, they simply leave the bar, and the Sheriff, and his wacky pals are never developed beyond that. Seriously, the writer or somebody has really messed up here, the film is a jumbled mess, and I can't begin to imagine where they went wrong. The film doesn't know what it wants to be, one minute it's going for the intense dramatic angle with a girl coping with the suicide of her sister, the next it features snore inducing stereotypes trying to party, and get laid. Finally by the end, it decides to go the slasher route, but it's far to late. I rate this a two, because I know some of the actors' are better then the material, and there are a couple decent kill scenes in the end, though nothing special. For those of you wondering, there is a brief lesbian shower scene with Tabitha Stevens, but it lasts all of three seconds, and you don't see much of anything. On a side note, Lemmy what were you thinking? You have to stick with Troma man, you were great in Tromeo And Juliet, but this garbage is beneath you.
wrlang
The Curse of El Charro is about a girl who sees visions about her sister's suicide. Apparently Charro is punishment for the girl's family for something her ancestors did. It wasn't easily discernible because the film was not that interesting to watch. She goes on a trip with some back stabbing friends, and everyone is attacked by El Charro. Her persistent dreams give away the film. The characters have no redeeming qualities and there is nothing that gives this film any reason to be viewed other than it is there to be watched. Some of the cinematography is interesting, but the film flips around between flashback, Charro, and the star. If you're looking for some mindless slashing, this film is for you.
maf-31
A very mixed effort, the inspiration is there, but a _lot_ of the execution is poor. It does however boast a couple of scenes that make it into the decade's short list of horror scenes. 1. When the girls enter the desert bar they are suddenly overtaken by a one-step-too-far feeling with nothing they can pin it on. Ugly people, weird talk, and a hint of threat that are clearly too much even for the self-styled goth girl and their unease is symbolized, reinforced and given focus in a stage show that's simple, hypnotic and unforgettable. Unfortunately the tension in that scene isn't lessened, but almost totally abandoned and it never really recovers. 2. The second scene is when the heroine (who doesn't understand simple Spanish despite clearly being Hispanic) has a vision in the style of a silent movie with title cards clearly directed at her. Unfortunately, the revelation turns the movie into an idiot-plot movie as she doesn't understand what's going on, even after being told exactly what's going on and I lost patience with her long before the final reel. The main monster himself is unfrightening and far too conventional. With loads of religious symbolism and references to Mexican folk art/lore I'd normally want to take a second look, but the deeply annoying cast keeps me from it. I'd like to see more from the filmmakers if they tone down the stereotypes and overacting (I blame the director more than the actors there) and find a better framework for their particular vision.
AD
