“Chainsaws Were Singing” is a zany, blood-soaked, and utterly bizarre musical-comedy-horror mashup that will leave you either rolling with laughter or running for the exits, depending on your tolerance for extreme absurdity. This Estonian indie bloodbath from director Sander Maran blends campy, over-the-top violence with toe-tapping show tunes, creating an experience that feels like “Cannibal! The Musical “ meets “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”— and that’s only scratching the surface of its gonzo charm.
Maria (Laura Niils) is having the worst day of her life when she meets Tom (Karl Ilves), a suicidal stranger turned unlikely hero. Instantly drawn to each other, their romance is short-lived when a chainsaw-wielding killer (Martin Ruus) abducts Maria to feed his cannibal family. With talkative sidekick Jaan (Janno Puusepp) in tow, Tom sets out on a rescue mission to save the love of his life from the hillbillies intent on consuming her for dinner. As they make the dangerous trek through the Estonian wilderness, the pair encounter an eclectic list of obstacles, from a lesbian hedgehog and dangerously trigger-happy cops to a cult that worships a grotesque talking fridge.
Yeah, this movie is awesome!
Everything kicks off with a barrage of bloody gore and goofy jokes that set the tone from the very first scene. If you’re not sold in those opening moments, this might not be your kind of film. But those willing to embrace its weirdness will find a lot of laugh-out-loud, side-splitting comedy in the first half. The film’s ridiculous characters embody a universal brand of camp humor that works in any language.
Where the film succeeds handily is in its musical numbers, which are actually quite catchy. There’s a particularly unforgettable chainsaw solo that kept me chuckling, and a lot of the tunes help elevate this one to cult classic status within the horror musical genre.
Maran approaches his project with a DIY filmmaking spirit that gives the movie a charming, handmade feel. His inventive camerawork, slapstick editing, and unapologetically absurdist tone make it clear that this is a passion project. He’s resourceful while willing to push boundaries, and that in itself is a magic combination.
Despite all of this creativity and ambition, the film’s biggest flaw is its length. At nearly two hours, the second half begins to drag as the story shifts from hysterical musical madness to a more traditional (if such a term can be used here) cannibal horror narrative. Trimming about 30 minutes would help tighten the pacing and maintain the frenetic energy that works so well.
Filled with genuine cinematic ingenuity and an infectious love for the genre, “Chainsaws Were Singing” is a celebration of underground horror cinema. It’s a madcap comedy splatterfest that’s best experienced with a rowdy audience, but the outrageous humor plays well at any level.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 