"Mustang Sally's Horror House" is a fine film, if not exactly a spectacular one.
**SPOILERS**
Preparing to go on a trip, Josh Henderson, (Mark Parrish) decides to leave with friends Mike, (Erik Fellows) Luke, (Garrison Koch) Toby, (Sonny Marler) Ryan, (Al Santos) and Seamus, (Sean McGene) to a discrete brothel recommended to them. Arriving at the site, owned by Mustang Sally, (Elizabeth Daily) they are also introduced to the other workers at the brothel, Caressa, (Lindsey Labrum) Titianna, (Joni Kempner) Tushalean, (Alycen Malone) Persuasion, (Tina McDowelle) Kitten, (Dana Fares) and Likilick, (Deidre A. Cannon) and decide to go about their business. After several hours, they start to notice that there's something wrong there, and it dawns on them that they're being killed off one-by-one in retribution for their father's actions against her years ago. Realizing the severity of the situation, they try to get away from the psychos before they all suffer terrible fates from them.
The Good News: There was some good stuff to this one. One of the better features is that the film does have a really wicked sense of fun to it. There's an obvious sense of camp to it, as there's hardly anything here that's taken seriously and that allows the film to be a lot of fun, especially in the early goings when there's not a whole lot of action going on. The campiness is found pretty much everywhere, from their interactions with each other to the jokes they pull on each other and the different encounters they have in driving to the location. Once they get there, the campiness doesn't really stop as the different stalking scenes between the two groups are definitely not in any way meant to inspire fear but simply keep that kind of feeling about the film intact, and it's what makes those scenes so fun. Those stalking scenes, once it gets to that time of the film, are another big part of the film's enjoyment, not only because they're not at all that serious but also because they're a lot of fun in their own right. The big one, where the couple on the nature walk turn on each other is a lot of fun, with the different escapes and tactics used on each other through a great setting makes it a good time to be had, and once it involves those who stumble upon it with just as much ferocity, it gets all the more entertaining and enjoyable. The later scene through the forest, with the big brawling, messy deaths, action-packed conclusion and more is another big plus for the film, getting a lot of points involved that are instrumental in getting a lot of fun times out of it. That the girls are involved in them just as much as the guys is a big plus here, making them look just as good here and in the film overall because of these scenes. Of course, the main fact that they all have rather distinct looks to them when they're in the rooms earlier for the different trysts at the brothel is another big plus, as these run the gamut from erotic to sensual to dominatrix to outright sleazy, and are fun for that factor. The last plus here is the film's deaths, as despite the fact it's not a real bloodbath, the kills do get messy. There's a couple gunshot wounds, a rock repeatedly bashed across the forehead, a scythe impaled in the stomach and a neck, a couple are violently run over by a car and there's some stabbing as well, so there's some good stuff here. These are the film's good points.
The Bad News: There wasn't a whole lot to this one that really kept it down. One of the biggest flaws here is the fact that, as a film set in a brothel, there's hardly any nudity at all. There's some of it, which isn't bad at all, but isn't even close to what would be expected at a place that's featured here. The inability to strip down is furthered even more when only one of them spends anything more than a few seconds nude or even topless, and again, considering the location where it takes place, isn't even close to what would be expected at such a place in the real world, where it would be more commonplace. The other part here that doesn't work at all is the incredibly ludicrous and highly confusing ending to this. This here makes no sense at all, doesn't really do much at all for the film, and worse of all, makes no sense in the context of the film. Nothing is really explained about how it happened, none of the events leading up to it have any mention of it, and the whole thing is wrapped up with a feeling of stupidity. Some might call the beginning a little dull, but it sets up the rest of the action and can be forgiven. Otherwise, these are the film's problems.
The Final Verdict: It's not that bad of a film altogether, but it's not one that's going to be really remembered if it didn't happen. Give this one a shot if it's something that might appeal to you or you enjoy these kinds of slashers, otherwise this is one that should be meet with extreme caution despite the positives listed.
Rated R: Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, several Sex Scenes of differing severity and Nudity
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