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.
