The tyranist's thoughts
A three-part (isn't that standard?) anthology that has perhaps the worst frame I've ever seen. On at least one level the stories are worth seeing, but the frame really kind of ruins the movie a little.
Story 1, "Killer Punch", centers around a man obsessed with his Punch & Judy puppets. He has been working them for years making a very meager living and his family is tired of it. Of course, they start dying when he finds out.
This is really the weakest story in the anthology. The effects are bad, the acting weak, and the villain(s) completely unscary. If I had to judge by this one, I'd say don't rent the video. Still, there was better to come.
Story 2, "Scream House", was much better. A man and his wife move into a home that his father had been having a difficult time selling. Almost immediately, she starts having hallucinations centering around several grisly events, but no one else can see them.
The quality really picked up with this one and I'd have to say that in the end it was the best entry. It drags a little, but the payoff at the end of the segment is completely worth it.
Story 3, "Garden of Blood", had the most potential of all the stories. A young man who likes to race the motorcycles needs cash to pay for a repair. To get it he agrees to do some handyman work and gardening for a couple of strange old ladies. When he finds out they are loaded, he breaks in and tries to rob them blind.
There really was high potential here and it could have been easily lengthened into a feature. The only problems it had centered around the fact that the most visible villains were played by lawn gnomes. Other than that it was really just underdeveloped and certain plot elements seemingly came out of nowhere.
The frame. If there was a way to skip it I'd tell you to do it, but there isn't so, just endure.
Considering the second and third stories, I'd say that this one is worth a look. Don't go in expecting much and you will probably enjoy some of it.