Coventry This movie seriously had me worried that I might be autistic! Forty-five minutes into the film and there still wasn't the slightest sign of plot development and/or essence. I don't know about you, but especially when dealing with early 80's low-budget horror flicks, I like to know if it's at least going somewhere. I was slowly starting to behave like Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man"; continuously repeating 'I need a plot … I need a plot …. I badly need a plot". "Effects" is a long, slow-moving, incoherent and visually exhausting movie and I honestly regret to say that because I'm a devoted fan of the genre and usually I really, really, really support obscure horror titles like this. Sadly, however, "Effects" is amateurish nonsense with sequences that are endlessly stretched and a story that literally never shifts into gear in spite of its great rudimentary potential. The crew of a cheap horror film, well … actually just the effects guy and the lighting girl, notice that the director is behaving very suspicious on set. They're right, too, because that sleazy bastard is actually planning to turn his little film project into a genuine snuff movie with the cast and crew members as the unaware and probably very reluctant lead players/victims. Sublime idea for a bona fide 80's shock feature, if you ask me, but the execution of the film is horrible. All of a sudden, I'm not even surprised anymore to find out this film was apparently "lost" for 20+ years. Even with Tom Savini and Joe Pilato (the latter giving a terrific performance and totally unlike the role in "Day of the Dead" that made him famous) in the cast, this is an infuriatingly lame movie. There's actually very little gore in the film and if you were, by any chance, hoping to learn some "kitchen secrets" about the special effects industry, you'll be sorely disappointed as well. "Effects" only specializes in overlong and pointless padding footage – especially the chase through the woods seems endless – and oppressed slasher ideas. Another extremely disappointing snuff-themed thriller, joining the same list as Roberta Findley's "Snuff", "Live Feed", "Snuff-Movie", "Vacancy" and Larry Cohen's "Special Effects". For good snuffies, stick to the Spanish "Thesis", the massively underrated "Mute Witness" and the legendary classic "Peeping Tom".

vjimw I am sure for some folks this movie is the cat's meow because of the cast and crew, but unfortunately, it's pretty boring. It's not a horror movie (although they are making one in the film) and it's certainly not a thriller because there is little to no suspense. It's the late 70s and they're doing coke in a farm house while making a movie. The concept is interesting (what's the difference between making a movie where it looks like the people are getting killed and a movie where the people are being murdered on screen?), but it gets dulled down watching them do coke and putzing around in general. It's kind of like some pre-cursor to a bizarre reality television concept. eh. kind of a waste.

Backlash007 ~Spoiler~ Effects is a lost movie from the late 70's that just got an official release, almost 25 years later. Was it worth the wait? You be the judge. The film is about a cinematographer, Dom, who ventures to a secluded spot to film what he thinks is a low-budget horror flick. But it may be a snuff film. It's almost impossible to figure out what's going on for a long time. For the first hour, I was not into it. It was a boring drama where nothing was happening. But something was going on beneath the surface that you may not realize until the end of the film. I sure didn't. I was positive that I was going to hate Effects. The last 30 minutes are pretty incredible and once you piece together this outlandish puzzle, it's a pretty good effort. The whole piece has an experimental feel to it. Dusty Nelson does a lot of things other filmmakers wouldn't dare try. And I feel like he leaves a few things out which may confuse people and limit his audience. But at least he's giving us credit for being smart, a lesson could be learned here. The acting is way above par. Joe Pilato is fantastic in the lead, he's very meek and innocent. A complete turnaround from his character in Romero's Day of the Dead. Tom Savini is another recognizable face who plays a very unlikable character, quite well I might add. And finally, John Harrison (composer for Day of the Dead) plays the director, or the manipulator as the film's alternate title suggests. He's one of the coldest characters I've seen in a long while. Like I said before, the last 30 minutes features the meat of the movie. The frenzied camera-work is perfect for ours and Dominic's bewildered state. After shooting a fake movie, he finds himself being hunted in the middle of nowhere. And they're filming it all. He's gone from cameraman to star. The ending is very disquieting and leaves you plenty to think about. Very few movies make you reflect on everything you've just seen and second guess character's motivations. Some people were in on it, some people thought they were in on it, but only Dom is completely innocent. So I have to give Effects a thumbs up for audience participation. This is not popcorn fluff where you can turn your brain off. So if you're looking for a slasher movie, stay away.

jklein8787 Being a fan of Tom Savini, I was excited to see this old film of his that he did the effects for. Now, think of this: Tom Savini, Joe Pilato (Rhodes from Day of the Dead) John Harrison (the composer of Romero films like Creepshow and Day of the Dead) in a movie about a making of a snuff film! Sounds like good ol' 70's exploitation horror, right? As Arnold said in Terminator "Wrong!" This boring suspense drama is about...well, not too sure since there was no plot. But something about a crazy director who secretly video tapes his cast and crew have sex, snort cocaine, talk about George Taki's sex life, and then tries to kill his cinematographer for no reason. Tom Savini is funny as a scumbag stunt man who loves his women (basically Tom just played himself). But there is no blood or gore, there is nothing scary about the film, and the editing is really poor. I would rather see midgets shoot their little people pee all over a bag of Dorito's for 90 min. Now that would be an effect! I would rather see mentally challenged people drool all over bare breasts for 90 min. That would be an effect! Watching Joe Pilato mope around and fall in love with a female gaffer on some cheap movie is not an effect! Effect rhymes with erect.