Film Review: Hipster Holocaust (2011)

SYNOPSIS:

When two strange men are thrown out of a mansion party, they take revenge on the socialites with a roll of duct tape and a switchblade.

REVIEW:

As the locals of an L.A scene go about their business partying, dating, hanging out and carrying on about the problems with the society, it’s the draw of a weekend party that always seems to draw them out into the open. We meet these locals who aimlessly creep thru life and compare notes along the way. Though it appears that life has gotten to be a little too comfortable for friends who seem to have it “too easy” while failing to really grasp the essence of what life is really about.

“Hipster Holocaust” presents itself under the feel of a 70’s throwback that at first takes us on the daily lives of these hip young teens who indulge, embrace their coolness and take life for granted. The thrill of the weekends joins them from one party to the next.

Though life is about to change one night when 2 uninvited guests stop by that don’t really fit into the crowd. They end up spending most of the night acting foolish while under intoxication.

In many cases, we have experienced the situation that gets out of hand when a few bad eggs seems to ignore the consideration of others. They are asked to leave but fail to abide by the wishes of the house. In fact, it seems like the “situation” becomes just the match needed to light the fire for the real entertainment to begin.

In “Hipster Holocaust” this situation goes from awkward to dangerous as the 2 men proceed to tie up the rest of the party at knife point while playing mind games with them the until the next morning. Though the tension in room grows and escalates into murder and bloodshed in a rather violent screen showcase of uncontrollable urges.

At the end of the day, director William Burgess makes a statement about the “have it all” kids and the underlying hatred that seems to brew beneath the surface of those “without”. Whether intended or not, these unfortunate ones seem to have no trouble bringing their anger to the table and playing out the violent intentions that rise when cooperation is not an option anymore. One of the thoughts that ran thru my mind in “Hipster” was that these 2 partners, who are almost a Laurel and Hardy of each other, reveal themselves as a team who have done this kind of thing before. In other scenes the director tries to relay a contrast of emotions. Such is an example when we witness the same shot from one segment of a female orgasm and then later compared to her getting stabbed to death.

I didn’t feel like this was necessarily a party gone bad, but rather a weekend thrill that these 2 perpetrators enjoy by torturing those who seem to reject them in society. The 2 also paradox each other in a way where the weaker is actually more violent than his partner, the lead of the team.

“Hipster Holocaust” becomes visceral at times reminding me a bit of the Manson murders though with a lighter take. If humor is intended it is thrown into the dark premise that unveils and progresses within the characters of the film. An impressive film, Burgess keeps the shots framed and edited for emotional response while injecting a certain amount of madness within the perpetrators who play out their parts in this story almost with a sense of urgency and compatibility.

Hipster Holocaust (2011)