Leon's Broken Mind

I'm a great fan of underground films getting the exposure they deserve and was very grateful to get my hands on a copy of Leon's Broken Mind. From the very beginning of the film we are introduced to Leon, a fantastic performance by Richard Robotham who at times I forgot I was watching an actor and thought he was actually a mentally disturbed individual, fantastic acting and somewhat disturbing as the events that unfold are most definitely centred in the extreme.

The film is very well executed with great performances from all which is a pleasure to see on an indie project. The fx are good and there are several moments guaranteed to shock

There are some obscene scenes that the censors will disapprove of but thats the appeal of this film, its one of those films that i can see becoming a talking point in the underground independent film world, one of those films that will turn up on someones shelf and instigate a cult following.

The Kidderminster Killer film, also from the same filmmaker, makes an appearance during an in joke within the film where Leon is given the film free of charge as its not supposed to be at the store. Bazz Hancher is a director who isn't afraid to hold back.

So if you can stomach the obscenities on display here, definitely keep an eye out from the deranged mind of Bazz

A lot of film-makers cut their teeth with short films and in such short space of time have to leave an impression with the viewer. With shorts you can get a fragment of something wonderful, a slice of something that could germinate later on into a full blown feature, or for the most part you get instantly forgettable efforts whilst all well and good for the filmmaker and their practice don't leave too much a lasting impression on the youtube viewer or festival goer.

Leon's Broken Mind is no such film. For it's short running time director Bazz Hancher has made a sledgehammer of a film that will be an endurance to those viewers who aren't exposed to their cream of exploitation fayre - and even to those who are it will come as a shocker!

Hancher really takes no prisoners as we follow mentally ill Leon who has visions of his dead abusive father and rents out video nasties which urge him to commit murder, and beyond!

The horrific scenes build and build in extremities until it reaches a particular scene that you won't be forgetting for some time. Richard Rowbotham gives a bold and commendable performance as Leon and should be applauded for his daring portrait. It is with this film and his other appearances that he really shows some versatility as an actor. Kudos to Hancher for pushing the limits with a short film that for my money would be worth buying on a disc alone. Luckily it comes with 3 other shorts, all with something grim to offer the viewer but none of them quite living up to the sickness of Leon's Broken Mind!

Gorehounds and lovers of the real deal in underground cinema get your hands on a copy of FILMS FROM A BROKEN MIND from White Raven Films.

Here is a review of Leon's Broken Mind courtesy of Strangers In A Cinema

Leon's Broken Mind is an intriguing horror short from director Bazz Hancher and White Raven Films that is in no way intended for the faint of heart or easily offended, oh wait maybe it is… The film follows the character of Leon, who grieving for his deceased mother appears to have some kind of mental breakdown and starts to see visions of his abusive father, after watching a "video nasty" he happens across in the local video store he cracks and the resulting killing spree is graphic to say the least.

Whilst the films opening text appears to insinuate that the film carries with it a message, it's difficult to take something seriously (or for that matter take offence) when the violence is this overblown and extreme. In this case that's not a negative, for this reviewer Leon's Broken Mind is less challenging horror and more straight up exploitation. It's meant to offend people and it's intentionally controversial, if the scenes on display here upset you then that's want Hancher wants. What is intriguing, is the premise of the film essentially being a "video nasty" about the supposed effects of "video nasties", it's a great post modern twist and does give the film a little more depth than is initially obvious.

Credit to the film as well for the way it looks, it would have been all too easy to go for shock value above all else but visually the film looks fairly decent throughout. It's well shot and this is enhances the horror elements to give the film a genuinely creepy atmosphere in places. The performances are more of a mixed bag though but kudos to Richard Rowbotham who puts himself through some pretty horrendous scenes and does deliver a disturbing killer in Leon.

Overall fans of exploitation need only apply, anyone else is unlikely to find much to like about this film but ultimately that's the point. Whilst its certainly not a classic it succeeds on this level and that should be applauded.