by It was nine years ago that America was introduced to Mick Taylor in the film Wolf Creek. He made his return in its sequel last year. The Babadook began haunting our nightmares earlier this month. Now it looks like Charlie Wilson will be coming to play next year thanks to Shoreline Entertainment.
Charlie Wilson is the bigger than life sadistic star of Charlie’s Farm and you will know who he is soon enough. His story is memorable, his kills are imaginative and gory, and he’s brutally unrelenting. In fact, this film hits all the notes of a classic slasher film with likable characters, great practical effects, and beautiful shots to boot. This one was a real treat to watch as it even kept that classic Friday the 13th playfulness to it.
Charlie Wilson (Nathan Jones) was a slow boy that grew up in a house of insanity. His father John (Bill Moseley) killed everybody who wandered onto his land, and at some point, began eating and feeding them to his family. His wife went along with it and even got a little jealous at the harlots’ “feelings” towards John as he sexually assaulted them. Charlie ate well, and he played happily among the tortured souls. All of that changed one night, however, when the locals got tired of the family’s ways. They took matters into their own hands, but Charlie was never found.
As the years passed, Charlie became bigger and stronger as he lived in the wild. He became a monster of a man: deformed from birth, he also became a giant. His mental retardation left him unable to realize what his father had done was wrong, while his insanity drove him to survive the only way he knew how. Charlie Wilson is the new Jason Voorhees.
Folks are still disappearing out at the farm, and locals stay away the best they can. However, the backpackers still show up.
Charlie’s Farm follows four friends and their eventual run in with Charlie Wilson on his farm. The film starts out slow as the friends decide to travel, actually leave, and then look for the farm. Jason and Donkey (who play a tandem similar to Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright in Sean of the Dead) are looking for excitement and decide that Charlie’s Farm is where it’s at. Jason’s girlfriend Natasha invites her friend along, but neither is aware of the men’s plan.
After a long drive and a beer stop at a local tavern, the gang finds itself at Charlie’s Farm. The women figure out that something is up, and demand answers. Soon, Charlie shows up and, well…
Now, surrounding Charlie, is quite a strong cast of characters and actors. Moseley as John Wilson is just downright phenomenal as he he reminds us just how awesomely funny Otis was in House of 1000 Corpses/Devil’s Rejects. Sam Coward‘s character Donkey is real and a highlight of the film. Tara Reid and Allira Jaques are perfectly suitable as damsels in distress, and Dean Kirkright is the common man put into a horrible situation. Hell, even Kane Hodder has a little fun here as an ex-boxer/all around badass that’s just looking out for his friends.
While Charlie may not be the brightest man, he sure is mean. His choice of weapon is a sword that has to weigh 100 pounds (which he yields like it’s nothing). The setting and tools of the farm are at his disposal as he joyfully laughs with each kill. He just plays with 
them! It’s insanity at its finest, and Charlie’s Farm seems to obtain and keep that morbid playfulness that Friday the 13th delighted us with for years. It wasn’t until one character’s death that I remembered some ingenious foreshadowing from the beginning. A tractor is used as it shouldn’t be. And that sword… Slaughter FX really shined here. Everything is practical, and everything is gruesomely awesome.
The beautiful landscape of the Australian countryside is captured by writer/director Chris Sun. He keeps the mood and tone light, and opts for what makes a great movie: He builds his characters. He builds them realistically. He puts the lambs out to slaughter.
Charlie’s Farm reminds me why I loved 1980s slasher films so much. The film is great. The villain is brutal. I liked the characters. This is one to look out for. It will be big, and Charlie Wilson will be remembered.
