Nailed (DVD)

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Nailed DVD (click for larger image)Starring Charles F. Porter, Sam Sarpong, Wilson Jermaine Heredia

Directed by Adrian O’Connell

Distributed by Image Home Entertainment


One look at the cover for Nailed and the first thing that popped into my head was, “Oh look! The blacksploitation version of Saw! This should be good for a laugh or two.” I couldn’t have been more wrong. Despite the misleading artwork this flick is nothing like Lionsgate’s now staple Halloween franchise. In fact to my shock, Nailed has a hell of a lot more in common with J-horror masterpieces like The Grudge (the real one, not the sub-par American treatments). Let’s jump deep into the plot, shall we?

After a botched drug deal, two gangstas try to wait out the swarming cops by killing time in an abandoned house. Or at least they thought it was abandoned. Upon their arrival they find two other people — one bleeding and tied to a bed, the other tending to his wounds. Jackpot! Since one of them had been shot in the shoulder this nurse type guy should come in handy. Well … maybe not. Turns out everyone in the house both living and ummm … not so living has an agenda. An agenda that will prove to be very costly for all parties concerned.

Nailed DVD (click for larger image)The first thing immediately noticeable about Nailed is that the production, while low budget, seems to rise above any monetary constraints. The acting is better than expected, and truth be told it was a lot more disturbing in parts than one could imagine. If there’s any fault to be found here it’s that at times Nailed tries too hard to emulate the films that inspired it. I’d venture to say that the main ghostie is an understudy at the local J-horror Spectre School. Watching this thing move was almost distracting. Still, you’ve got to admire the ambition of it all.

In terms of extra material we have an okay little package. First up is the commentary with producer Ben Katz and stars Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Sam Sarpong, and (believe it or not) Charles Porter, who called in to record the track via telephone! Pretty fucking amusing! From there we get your standard making-of that clocks in at about twenty minutes and features everything you’d expect, including interviews with the cast and crew, etc.

Nailed achieves what it set out to do, and that’s make a gold old fashioned horror movie. Its urban setting, which easily could have served as a distraction, is totally inconsequential. With a bigger budget and the same amount of restraint, Ben Katz and his production company could very well end up being someone to keep an eye on.

Special Features

  • Audio commentary with producer Ben Katz and stars Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Sam Sarpong, and Charles Porter
  • Nailed: Behind-the-Scenes featurette

    Film:

    3 out of 5

    Special Features:

    2 1/2 out of 5

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