Masters of Horror: Cigarette Burns

Review by Peter

Production Year: 2005
DVD Release Date: March 28, 2006
Studio: Anchor Bay
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Gary Hetherington, Udo Kier, Norman Reedus
Genre: Television - Horror
MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Masters of Horror is a Showtime original series that has enlisted some of today's greatest horror directors to contribute an original hour long film. John Carpenter, famous for such classics as Halloween, Escape from New York and The Fog, directs the Masters of Horror film Cigarette Burns. Although this movie was not written by John Carpenter, it was he who directed this film according to his vision producing one of the most bizarre films in the Masters of Horror series.

Cigarette Burns is about a troubled movie theater owner named Kirby (Norman Reedus), who is haunted by the death of his girlfriend. He is contacted by film collector Mr. Bellinger (Udo Kier) who wants him to find a film that is thought to have been destroyed. The film supposedly contains some of the most horrible acts of violence ever filmed. When it first aired at a film festival it had resulted in the audience going insane and literally killing each other. Now Kirby has set out to save his business and come to terms with the death of his girlfriend. The only thing he didn't expect was the impact the film would have on him.

While the plot is well constructed, there are elements of the story that cannot be questioned, despite their unbelievability, if you want to enjoy this film. An example of this can be seen when the wings are cut off an Angel. This defies all believability but if you cannot accept it at face value you simply will not be able to enjoy the artistry of Carpenter. For a 60-minute film this is a fine effort, and one of the better entries in the Masters of Horror series from one of the consummate pros of the genre.

Video Quality

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen (1.77:1) the picture quality is surprisingly high quality. The picture is clean and crisp and presents very good skin tones. While it is not free of flaws, the flaws are extremely minor and will not take away from the enjoyability of the film.

Audio Quality

Containing two main audio tracks, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Surround 2.0, the audio is very good with solid voice levels and decent audio separation effects. The audio is mostly limited to the front speakers with limited use of the back speakers. Overall it is a good mix that most people will enjoy.

Special Features

With a film runtime of only 59 minutes many people would expect a DVD packed with special features. Anchor Bay does not disappoint as this DVD is jam-packed with special features. In many ways the amount of special features make up for the length of the film and can justify someone wanting to buy or rent this DVD.

This DVD contains two commentary tracks, one with director John Carpenter and the other with writers Drew McWeeny and Scott Swan. Both tracks, while similar in what is discussed, look at the film from two different perspectives. The writers discuss what they envisioned the movie to be and offer some insight into the film's scenes that might not be obvious to the casual observer. Carpenter discusses the movie from the position of a director and describes how he turned the screenplay into a film. He also shares numerous stories about the production of the movie.

"Celluloid Apocalypse: An Interview with John Carpenter" - A biography of John Carpenter's progression from writer and director to horror legend. Because of the short runtime the biography is not as in-depth as I would have preferred and only scratches the surface of this talented director's considerable body of work. (17 minutes)

"Working With A Master: John Carpenter" - This feature takes a look at John Carpenter from the perspective of those who have worked with him. It gives viewers a sampling of how Carpenter's friends and associates view the horror master and whether they regard him as a true horror genius. (17 minutes)

"On Set: An Interview with Norman Reedus" - A short look at the main character of Kirby Sweetman by the actor who play him. Those who watched the film may find this a little boring because the character in the film was not very complex. (6 minutes).

"Behind The Scenes: The Making of Cigarette Burns" - One of the shortest behind the scenes I have ever seen, it offers very little to this DVD and contains on minor glimpses at some scenes. (3 minutes)

Also included as special features are a John Carpenter biography, Trailers and a Stills Gallery. Those with a DVD-ROM drive can also access a Screenplay and a Screen Saver on their computer.

Summary

While not the greatest horror film ever directed by John Carpenter, Cigarette Burns was above average when compared to other Masters of Horror episodes and was primarily good for some laughts rather than frightening horror. Those who have some interest in the Masters of Horror series or in director John Carpenter might want to take a look at this film. Just remember though, this film is anything but conventional.