Transamerican Killer (2005 Video) User Reviews

No really.. you're dead!

[jinxie_34ce · 4/10 · 11 April 2005]

I watched this movie last night due to lack of anything better and in all honesty I've seen worse but I've definitely seen better. The acting on certain points was really wooden. (the doctor for instance)

Personally I had the idea the director thought " if I take all the cheesy scenes from every horror flick I've seen and add lots of half naked women I'm bound to make a good movie"

On the plus side the music (even though it's not really my kind of music) is quite alright and fits the movie well.

The killings where rather random and a bit poor in my opinion. There's quite a few scenes where a knife is supposed to cut through a stomach or a neck and it's just plain obvious that the blood is being painted on, over the skin. no cuts at all. Even the occasional stabs look a bit poor even for a low budget movie.

The story line is pretty shallow and could have been a lot deeper. The thing that annoyed me most about the movie is the ending. The bad "guy" gets it's classical comebacks but it just feels as if they just did it to fill up time then anything else. Honestly you're dead don't bother moving or twitching and give me the end credits already.

If you like B movies with lots of nudity or just haven't got anything else to watch, go for it. Otherwise you might want to leave this one for what it is and get something different.

He promised he'd change...and he did...

[The_Void · 5/10 · 19 March 2009]

So, a while back I had a conversion with a friend that had just seen "one of the most stupid films ever". The film in question was of course Transamerican Killer, and despite how ridiculous and rubbish she was making it sound; I have to admit that I did make a mental note to track it down if possible. After seeing the film, I can confirm that it is indeed ridiculous and rubbish...but I can't deny that I enjoyed it! At its core, Transamerican Killer is basically about obsession...although assigning any 'values' or 'themes' to this film would be doing it far too much justice. We focus on a stripper named Jamie. She's split up with her boyfriend, and the person she's left him for just happens to be another woman. Naturally, the guy is not very happy about this (as you would expect) and follows through with promise of 'changing', and gets himself a sex change operation (as you wouldn't expect). So the transsexual ex-boyfriend turns up out of nowhere and begins picking off his ex-girlfriend's friends in a bid to win her back...

The film doesn't have time to get boring - and that is because the runtime is only around an hour and ten minutes. It never transcends its 'direct to video' roots and is every bit the low-rent piece of garbage that would expect from this sort of film. But even so...it could have been a lot better. It soon becomes apparent what this film's main problem is going to be; and it hits you in the face as soon as the killer appears. It's just so obvious it's a man! It's a guy in a dress and would fool absolutely nobody. The film honestly would have been better off hiring a slightly butch actress for the role as that would have been far more believable. The whole plot is also brought down by the way that the killer arrives on the scene. I have to admit that I'm not the most knowledgeable about this sort of thing...but I'm sure you can't just "go get" a sex change. Anyway...all that stuff aside this is a mildly amusing little horror film. The kill scenes aren't too bad and the strip club where a lot of the action takes place is suitable sleazy. I won't be recommending this to anyone; but those who enjoy stupid trash movies can't fail to find something to like.

i think the director was very ill and couldn't show up for work the day they filmed this

[silviutzza · 1/10 · 27 July 2005]

I need a stronger word here. Awful is just too nice. If you want to see the worst movie ever made this is definitely it! I tried to understand why it is considered a horror... and i guess I came up with something interesting: You watch the hole movie having in mind only one thing "OMFG this can't be real" and when it is over you grab a knife and start killing people because you were so annoyed by the movie-that's where the horror part starts. :) Anyway if you are in the mood for fun someday try watching a movie that wants to be a horror but looks more like Scarry movie. (imagine how interesting that can be-these guys are not joking.) :)

There are some things you can't un-see....

[Gnesis13 · 1/10 · 13 August 2006]

Ah-hem. We're gonna get right to the point. This movie has plenty of nudity. Plenty. Good and bad. Plenty of lesbianism. And stripping. That's really good. However, for all its enjoyable cheapness (I love the recreation of Casablanca) and the violence and ample nudity, this movie contains the most horrific thing, and I stress "thing", that I have ever seen. The half male, half female creature that stalks the movie and does, at one point *spoiler* have sex with a man, does *spoiler* get naked. I've never screamed like I did when I saw it. I would go into more detail, but I can't bear to recall in detail. It was shriveled and wrong, and grotesque. I am not sorry to say anyone reading this who is a shemale, please never take your clothes off. Ever. You made a mistake. I'm serious. Thank you.

Great B Flick

[linktoruth · 9/10 · 1 November 2003]

Transamerican Killer is a movie you want not to like. It is about Las Vegas, men's clubs, psycho killers, it contains lots of nudity and blood yet it is beautifully filmed. The cinematography is wonderful, the nudity scenes are tasteful. There are a lot of first time actors who are so much better than a lot of established actors that you have to wonder what SAG is all about. The plot is thin but you have so much fun watching the movie that it really doesn't matter!

Wanted to dislike it, but couldn't...

[stsinger · 6/10 · 9 March 2005]

This is a movie you want to dislike. It's barely feature-film length (runs about 70 minutes and then a ridiculous 10 minute "music video recap" and a "delete scene" make up the less than 90 minutes running time), the "secret" of the film is given away on the DVD box, and even if it weren't, is blatantly obvious. But a funny thing happens when you watch it. The director revels in the very things that should sink it, and that makes it work.

For example, the lead character's Grandmother loves the film "Casblanca." They obviously didn't get clearance rights to show the film running. Most directors would have kept it out of sight and just had the characters talk about it. But not Hail. He re-shoots the climactic scene (in B&W) with actors who neither look nor sound anything like Bogart and Bergman. Another scene takes place in a hospital. But there was probably no budget for a hospital bed. So he just puts the patient in some sort of recliner instead of a bed! And to make it look "medical" they actually put an EYE CHART on the wall!!

How can you hate a movie that does things like that? It's got strippers who get naked, loads of bizarro sets, an insane psycho serial killer who hacks people up, and an awesome chainsaw battle. What more could you want for an evening of utterly mindless fun? Only real complaint is that lead actress Cara Basso stays covered up, which is made worse by the fact that she does show us her butt, and it is spectacular (to say the least). Don't know why she did stay covered up since she's done full nudity in other films, but that's the way it is, I guess.

Calling all dark humor

[ladywinters · 10/10 · 7 October 2020]

Transamerican Killer, do you have watch parties where you and friends get together and watch bogus films? If you're that sorta person or have friends as such. This is your movie. There's nothing wrong with looking at beautiful bodies. I do enjoy a film where you find dark humor without expecting it. All you horror lovers I'm expecting you to enjoy this crazy slasher! This movie is a trip! Remember she's a cut above the rest.

Not bad little horror flick.

[HumanoidOfFlesh · 7/10 · 4 June 2005]

Jamie flees from her psycho boyfriend only to find that he has had a sex change in order to please her.The bad news is that he has been killing off anyone she is close to in order to win back her affections."Transamerican Killer" is a sleazy slasher that features a transvestite killer plus lots of blood and nudity.It certainly delivers plenty of what the genre fan expects:T&A,gore,strippers,random killings and a little bit of chainsaw action.The story is weak and the characters are one-dimensional,but the film is never boring due to its relatively short time.The acting is awful and the lack of suspense is especially hard to forgive.Still if you liked 'em trashy or sleazy give it a look.7 out of 10 and that's being generous.

wanna take a stab at it......I'll try

[KHayes666 · 8/10 · 31 May 2005]

oh boy...Switch Killer. This movie wasn't great but it was watchable from start to finish. We get naked and half naked girls throughout the movie that took your mind off the thought of a man becoming a woman to get revenge on her.

If you are a straight man you will like this movie with countless T & A and some great kill scenes. We even get a chainsaw scene at the end so this movie pulls out all the stops for the gore. This movie just should have been a porno because that's what this movie basically is.

The one liners are also sometimes funny. A stripper is giving a lap dance to our knife welding killer and she asks if he's ever done something wild with a stripper and he says no. She goes "Wanna take a stab at it?" He goes "I'll try..." then he kills her with a knife, I thought that was funny.

The overall sub-plot about the Casablanca loving grand-ma was probably thrown in to keep the straight women happy because the rest of the movie is centered around strippers, lesbians and sex scenes.

The Man Show would love this....a low budget T & A fest that's also a horror movie. Good stuff 8 out of 10

Correction in the cast

[vegasmagic-1 · 3 August 2006]

he filming for this film was delayed, and during the course of the delay, the film was re-written. At that time, several nude scenes were added, and Jennifer Autry removed herself from the film. Another actress had to step in as Bunny. Jennifer Autry is not the woman depicted in the website photos of nude scenes from this film, as when those were shot she had already resigned from the project. I do not know the name of the actress who took over, but I believe she was from Las Vegas. Jennifer started the film as originally written. She resigned after the re-writes. The ANGEL episode is correct. The other info on her is correct. The end.

Bit Iffy

[saint_brett · 6/10 · 6 February 2023]

(Editor's note - As we live in sensitive times and are being forced to be mindful in our way of thinking towards other's in this inclusive new world, where we have to mince words, I felt my original review was a bit insensitive so I edited a few snarky remarks. I've become aware of the guidelines today, due to this groupthink, herd, mentality, so my words in this here future are being controlled which goes against my understanding and I despise it. In short, I hate how you're restricted and being told what you can and can't say today.)

Wow, the special features on this DVD is just a trailer gallery. What bonuses. I'm glad I paid extra for that! (And you wouldn't wanna watch one movie out of all those trailers as they were all garbage.)

To kick proceedings off, a couple argue which leaves one with a black eye.

Halloween-type music plays as she darts off up leafy Elm Street.

The abusive ex pledges to "change" his ways.

Normally that means seeking counselling, or cleaning up your act, not a gender reassignment transfer.

Yep, there's the 'Halloween' music again.

Wow, that bruise healed quickly.

She takes off and moves to Vegas.

I hope this isn't similar to 'Las Vegas Serial Killer.' It's turned into 'Showgirls' for the time being though.

Our killer, the one with the confused identity, looks like a band member from NIN.

One of the Spice Girls is first to die in violent fashion by having her throat slit then tenderised by a runaway goods train. (I didn't think trains ran through Vegas?)

Look, it's one of Corey Feldman's angels.

This movie would be more enjoyable if you were wasted as there's a decent soundtrack.

How'd Buffalo Bill's brother know to follow her to Sin City?

"I'm gonna make you happy if it kills me." Clever writing.

"Don't you wanna take a stab at this body?" Why encourage the killer though?

Oh brother! Don't go to the ICU in Las Vegas - they just prop you up in a recliner lounge chair. (That's almost 'After Last Season' stuff.)

Is that Steven Harwell from Smash Mouth?

I'm still undecided if the lead actress is to my liking.

Lots of lady on lady action. A few murders here and there.

The acting is a bit stilted and not really professional.

That jock who just got stabbed in the chest looked almost too real.

Is it just me or does the dude in this, who transitions into a woman, kind of look like Fred Figglehorn?

Figglehorn disrobes and has the sparse, hirsute, body of Angela from 'Sleepaway Camp.' (Nice try, director fella, but it's already been done in '83.) But that scene would make even Ed Gein proud.

A chainsaw to the head sees Figglehorn split open like a melon then cops it through the belly Leatherface style which would result in what's-her-name going to prison for murder.

(Assumed dead, he/she comes back at the end of the movie in the medic's van.)

I've never seen a recap of an entire movie before the end credits roll.

Was that an attempt at humor with the chain-sa commercial at the end? Again - stilted and stillborn. Doesn't jell.

I don't know why the hell they added that wet t-shirt business at the very end either.

If you're thinking about giving this movie a go then make sure you're inebriated, and under the influence of something, and turn up the volume as there's some killer music in this.

Possible Sequel?

[mayormcdeath · 10/10 · 20 February 2005]

Wow, i just finished watching this movie, and... WOW. it was incredible, a plot that was so full of twists, i just didn't know what was gonna happen until the end, i mean who would have known that girl was a guy!!!!! holy crap, i bet this movie will get an Oscar nod for best screenplay for sure. (too bad Hitch will win) I guess the reason I'm posting is to ask if there are any plans for a sequel? the end was so awesome, how that guy who took a chainsaw threw the chest was still alive! and the lead actress meeting that guy, who liked that movie.. what movie was that anyway? some obscure thing? casa blank or something? never heard of it, i think ill look it up on here, prob one of those crappy B movies they sometimes refer to in excellent movies like this, just to show how intelligent and non-mainstream the writer is. **fingers crossed** for a sequel!

I loved this movie

[riftrack · 8/10 · 13 May 2005]

I gotta' tell you, I first read about this flic at some horror sites. but it wasn't until recently I checked it out. I was surprisingly impressed! I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a straight-up slasher and more entertaining than scary, but it did have its moments and I personally love films like this. It reminded me of the old throwback horror films of the eighties. has a decent amount of gore, and really good looking girls. the ending was pretty twisted, involving the heroin "Jamie" getting jiggy with the chainsaw! oh yeah, did I tell you it had good looking girls? for all the crap I've seen released lately, this wasn't too bad. If you like slasher horror i recommend it.

pretty good slasher

[brickshaw · 9/10 · 14 March 2006]

Saw this movie from a friend of mine, knowing I was a big horror freak. It's definitely sleazy slasher at it's best. I rather enjoyed it. I actually met the director of this film (Mack Hail) at a horror show on the east coast, and after knowing he did this, I was shocked. He was a really nice guy, personable and quiet. Of course so was Dahmer! Anyway, good debut in my opinion with plenty of blood and hot skin. I'm assuming this was low-budget with it going straight to video and all, but I think horror fans will be pleasantly surprised. The ending is righteous. It gives new meaning to the term "Party Crasher". If your a horror buff, I recommend this for late-night flick. I can see why lions gate picked this up.

Transamerican disappoints

[Realrockerhalloween · 12 August 2016]

I was having movie night with my friends when we saw an ad for Transamerican killer. The trailer made it seem like a low budge thriller in the likes of saw and the original my bloody Valentine.

Instead it was a poorly acted, grainy and clichés mess. A man who will snap over his girlfriend leaving him wasn't explored enough. Does he have A past of stalking and up rooting his life? Did he ever show any signs of mental illness? Sadly the movie never tries to answer these questions. We are left wondering why the characters act the way they do.

It feels like it was written as a student project joke that went to far. Avoid at all costs.