Header Review by deadhorse13

Written by: deadhorse13

What's a "header"? "It's how we do things around here, how we takes care of bidness. The only thing you can do to get proper ree-venge is by having a header!" Grandpap explains in this over-the-top gross-out based on the Edward Lee novella. Without spoiling too much, let's just say it's the ultimate form of backwoods vengeance. "An eye for an eye" as the Bible implies, so consequently "a head for a head" here. All I'll say in good conscience is that Bobby in Deliverance had it easy if that tells you anything.

The plot is thicker than you'd expect from a low budget shocker with a one-trick pony. We are introduced to Travis Clyde Tuckton, your average country bumpkin who just got out of the pokey and returns to live with his disabled grandfather. "Never getting to share proper in the joys of life" and plagued by the loss of his parents, Travis has questions and Grandpap has answers. Meanwhile, in another neck of the woods, ATF Agent Stewart Cummings ("a fed on the take") is having trouble with his sick girlfriend, Kathy. Her laundry list of medications is becoming impossible to afford and Cummings works a deal with local drug pushers to subsidize his meager income.

Once Grandpap shows Travis the pleasures of havin' yerself a header, bodies start to pop up eventually leading Agent Cummings to come a knockin. Tired of just busting stills, the agent wants to do some real police work but his superior discourages him from pursuing the odious offenses. "It's the law of the hills. Folks don't talk about it, it's just understood. Just leave it be" the knowing badge insists. Before the inevitable showdown we witness Travis and Grandpap subjecting more "skanky crackers" to their unusual whims; Agent Cummings falling under FBI surveillance; and enough unsavory-ness to alarm even the sheep in the foothills of Kentucky.

Freshman director Archibald Flancranstin squeezes his pennies for all their worth in this low budget indie. Header's direction is uneven but it still moves along briskly. The photography is pretty spiffy for such a small production and the acting is acceptable aside from a few hiccups, most especially those of lead Elliot Kotek as Travis. Dick Mullaney as Grandpap easily steals the show and is afforded the best dialogue; albeit you almost need subtitles to understand what he's saying at times. There's a fair bit of grue but nothing too impressive; most of the perversity is handled off screen but leaves no question as to what is happening. Cameos by author Lee himself and Jack Ketchum add some respectability to the adaptation which I predict will become a cult classic in the years to come.

If you're the delicate or sensitive type you might want to steer clear of Header. However, the entire premise is crazier than a shit-house rat, so it's hard to ever take it too seriously. The zany dialogue had me laughing out loud repeatedly and I found the whole sordid affair generally entertaining. How can you not with with kidnapping, murder, headers, shootings, masturbation, police corruption, marital infidelity and psychosis coloring the plot?

Definitely worth a gander, you owe it to yourself and your inbred kin to find out what a Header is before you're caught unawares. Don't miss Grandpap's brief refrain of "Dump This Skanky Cracker In The Woods Somewhere" either - it's sure to barnstorm up the country charts at any moment. Depraved fun from beginning to end, what can I say?

This is a community member review and not a staff member review. We appreciate and respect the opinions of our readers and are gratefull that they took the time to contribute it.

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