Dir. Sander Maran (2024)
A new relationship is tested by a chainsaw-wielding psychopath and his cannibalistic family.
I had no idea what to expect going into this film. The poster describes it as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre crossed with Monty Python and Les Miserables. An odd mixture, to be sure, but also one of the most accurate descriptions of a film I've ever come across (no pun intended, which will make sense when you watch the film). Chainsaws Were Singing is one of the wildest movies I've ever seen, a perfect representation of what horror through the eyes of England's favorite off-kilter comedy group would be. It's filled with incestuous twins, hilariously inept cops, cannibalistic kidnappers, and cars that explode when they run out of gas. In short, it's absolutely bonkers and thoroughly brilliant.
Tom (Karl-Joosep Ilves) is about to kill himself after breaking up with his girlfriend when he spies Maria (Laura Niils) mourning her own terrible day. The two hit it off immediately, falling deeply in love in a matter of seconds before Maria is abducted by Killer (Martin Ruus), a chainsaw-wielding madman who kills indiscriminately. When Killer takes her back to his cannibalistic family, Tom must team up with his new friend Jaan (Janno Puusepp) to rescue his new love before its too late.
Chainsaws Were Singing is a film that will be an acquired taste, a decidedly European sense of humor that won't be for everyone. Those who appreciate it, though, will see that it has all the makings of a cult classic. It's laugh-out-loud funny at times, sweet and endearing at others, and the sing-a-long bits in between are made for this type of film. It's clever, completely over-the-top, and the writing features the type of sketch comedy-esque humor that is so rarely done and even more rarely done well. Chainsaws Were Singing has loads of references to pop culture, including a gang of weirdos in the woods that are basically human Ewoks that talk like Monty Python characters.
It is, however, overly long and at times hard to follow, though the latter is undoubtedly intentional. At nearly two hours in length, it definitely could've shaved a good bit of time off without losing its effectiveness. The timing of the jokes is good enough to work anyway, sprinkled throughout the plot so as to make the film enjoyable even when it gets convoluted and bogged down with subpar pacing. I don't know if it just took a few decades for Flying Circus to make its way to Estonia, but it arrived just in time, because this is a film that will find its audience with fans of Python and gory horror alike. Thankfully, there's a good bit of crossover between those two markets.
Ilves and Niils are lovely as the cuffed couple in the film, and even when things are at their worst, you're pulling for them to make it. Unlike a lot of slashers, Chainsaws never has you rooting for the villains in anything more than a cursory way. Killer's backstory is intriguing and compelling, and while you may hope that he makes it through to the other side, it never takes away from your love for the central characters. They may have just met each other today, but if they can make it through this, they can make it through anything. Even lesbian hedgehogs.
Who this movie is for: Horror comedy fans, Musical admirers, Bukkake Wednesday celebrators
Bottom line: Chainsaws Were Singing is ridiculous and over-the-top, a wonderful tribute to classic American horror and kooky British comedy. It's hilarious, touching, and gorier than you think it's gonna be, even for a film with chainsaw in its title. This is one of the more fun films I've seen at Fantastic Fest this year, and it's an enjoyable ride even if it could've used a little trimming in the editing room. Check this one out.
