Review: Pumpkin Man – The Ultimate Edition

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2019
Images from the Internet

Pumpkin Man: The Ultimate Edition (aka Night of the Pumpkin)

Written and directed by Bill Zebub
Bill Zebub Productions / MVD Entertainment
90 minutes, 2010 / 2019
www.billzebub.com
www.mvdb2b.com                                               

It’s rare to find someone who is so auteur that they end up creating a subgenre all their own. Director Bill Zebub is one of them. I don’t know if he came into the indie biz out of sarcasm/greed (as he describes in one of his earliest films, Assmonster), but his prolific output has proven that he’s up for the task, if the viewer is up for whatever comes their way.

Sure, that sounds like an insult, but that is not how it is meant, at all. I have a lot of respect for Zebub and his empire of films with titles like Jesus: The Total Douchebag, or Santa Claus: Serial Rapist. They tend to be obnoxiously silly, shot with a devil-may-care attitude (such as the boom mic and its shadow peeking out the top of the frame), and oft times head scratch-worthy, but they will entertain for certain if you’re willing. I am.

There are some constants in Bill’s films, such as:

·       Bill himself being one of the main characters (though here he takes more of a second billing – pun not intended – for the first time I’ve seen), and he will probably wear a Viking hat at some point

·       some scenes will be shot in the woods of New Jersey

·       Christianity will be questioned

·       the acting will vary all over the map; and

·       there will be a lot of nudity and blood.



Shoshana McCallum, Chelsea O'Toole, Pumpkin Dude, Kellyn Lindsay

This film was originally released in 2010 as Night of the Pumpkin, but is now getting a rerelease under a new title and reediting, and lots of extras, which I will delve into later. We meet a bunch of friends (and frenemies) who are meeting for a gathering (a fun conversation ensues between whether it’s a party or a get-together). The three main leads are Jen (Shoshana McCallum), religious fanatic Elizabeth (Chelsea O’Toole) and intellectual atheist Elyse (lovely Kellyn Lindsay). Oh, and Bill (Zebub) is Jen’s annoying boyfriend.

A mysterious Pumpkin Man that has vines that can move independently to snare people has been showing up and killing. There is some talk of a legend, but I’m still unclear about the origin of the creature. Nevertheless, it’s pretty cool looking for a micro-budget film. It chases our crew (and additional body count fodder) into each other’s houses and, as I indicated, the New Jersey woods (perhaps related to the New Jersey Devil?). It’s obviously a guy in a bulky costume, but I’ve seen a whole lot worse that cost a whole lot more. Zebub, who created the mask, did a decent job of the Pumpkin Man that makes it easily identifiable when compared to imitations (in the film, not real life… duh).

As with other four or five Zebub films I’ve seen, this is silly stuff that ends up being bigger than itself, becoming something so over the top that it becomes enjoyable. Yeah, he seems to be fixated on rapes and evil stuff like that, even when it’s Jesus, Santa or a big invisible pumpkin in this case, and I’m still not comfortable with it. At least in films like Ms. 45 (1981) and I Spit on Your Grave/Day of the Woman (1978), there is some revenge and comeuppance. Here it’s just for gratuitous viewing, and that drives me a bit nuts (I once got into an argument with the screenwriter of Street Trash over the unnecessary rape scene when the film first came out in 1987).

There are quite a few extras on the newly released Ultimate Edition, starting with a 49:27 minute “Blooper Reel,” which is really more of a Behind the Shooting Scenes collection. It’s interesting to see how Zebub sets up his shots. At 8:10 is “Cast Interview” where Zebub questions mostly O’Toole and Lindsay on the beach during the last day of shooting (for the opening credits).

From 2008 is the “Director and Slideshow” (22:44) which is really interesting as Zebub fills in just about every plot hole including origins and omissions. The first 8 minutes is the talking, and the rest is the slideshow over death metal music. “Director (New Speech)” is 8:25 and Zebub discusses his own disappointment of the initial release and what led up to the reediting the newest “Ultimate” one. Again, a good monologue. The “Deleted Scenes” is short and sweet at 3:53; this was understandably taken out, but there are a couple of really funny lines in there worth viewing. The last are a batch of Zebub trailers: definitely watch these.

Zebub is self-depreciating about his own films, but I like to think of them as earnest, and the fun the cast seems to be having emanates through the action onscreen, which translates into fun. Again, if you’re one of those who expect blockbuster film-level budget action, you are so lost here, but if you’re like me and can respect the work and effort of the entire project, well, uncap a beer and prepare yourself to a worthwhile experience in WTF World.