“Karma is a motherfucker”

You know when you sit down to watch a film and think you’ve got the plot figured out in the first 5 minutes, then you realise you’ve got it totally wrong? Well CHOP is one of those movies. Trent Haaga (writer of Dead Girl and co-writer of Toxic Avenger 4: Citizen Toxie) makes his directorial debut in this ultimate revenge flick.

Lance, a happily married career man is on the road when suddenly his new car breaks down. Having no phone signal to call for help, Lance decides to hitch hike to the next town so he can call his wife for a lift. A kind passer by picks Lance up and starts to drive him to town.  After some friendly conversation, getting to know you chit-chat and time killing questions, the stranger asks, “Who would you save, your wife or your brother?” Lance plays along and answers, “My Wife”, and the stranger then poses a second question; “Have you ever been shot with a tranquilizer gun?”…  That’s when it all goes tits up!Lance wakes to find an axe in his hand and his brother tied up in front of him. The question from the stranger wasn’t as hypothetical as he thought!

CHOP is a movie about dark secrets, revenge and karma, a real ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ movie.  It blurs the line that divides good guys and bad guys in a brutal, funny and downright bizarre way. The best way I can describe it is Saw and Old Boy meets Idle Hands: the brutality and consequences of Saw, the calculated vengeance of Old Boy with the stoner like comedy and surprise of Idle Hands – a brilliant combination.

It makes you laugh at shocking moments plus there are plenty of great slapstick moments too, courtesy of Will Keenan who is fantastic through out.The supporting cast is brilliant too. The deranged Ray and Jeff with their stump fucking, ‘Different Strokes’ obsessed insanity, the police detectives with their deadpan witty banter and the stranger; coolly deranged with a sense of righteousness.

CHOP is funny, sickening and brutal. A very clever story with twists and turns. It’s a brilliant example of how good low budget films can be. Check it out!