The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell (2006) User Reviews

Boring, monotonous, flat and most of all campy

[Alarming_Passion · 3/10 · 2 July 2006]

This movie was made by a bunch of white guys that went to school together. Well there's nothing wrong with that, except it looks like it was made by a bunch of white guys that went to school together. 90 percent of the cast are white males about same age. It's almost like watching a bunch of guys at boys camp who turned the camera on themselves. The movie has no plot. It simply repeats the same action of blood bath after blood bath. There are some funny scenes and comedic bits. But they don't redeem the flat monotony.

The graphic cartoon scenes are used to cover the stuff that was obviously beyond their budget or resources to do, and not done very well at that. Anything that can't be done with white guys running around on the beach covered in blood is done with cheap animation.

I went to see this film after seeing the trailer, which makes it look like a Tarrentino piece. Well, the trailer scenes are as good as they ever get. Ther rest of it just repeats the same kind of mundane, inane comedy. It works at times, but it gets boring after the same stuff comes at you over and over. It's more like a string of Satuday Night Live skits than a movie. It's a hit-you-over-the-head-with-it kind of comedy. I can see where the story idea is intriguing. But, in this film post apocalyptic America is much like Medevil England. In fact Wheatlry says the story ideas came from that era. He plans to make a Part 2. I guess he thinks he's Tarrentino or maybe doing a parody thing.

At the opening in LA, Wheatley mentioned he will bring back pretty much the same cast in part 2. He was asked if he might consider a more diverse cast in the next one, to which he replied, well yea, sure.

All the other reviewers have only one review? Wtf....

[intelearts · 1/10 · 28 October 2009]

This is an incomprehensible horribly low budget piece of awfulness.

I don't even have the vocabulary to say how dire, turgid, boring, confusing, and just plain strange this effort is (Hey what d'ya know I do....) Set in a post-Apocalyptic America some guys meet on a beach and slaughter and chaos ensue - it was all so incomprehensible I couldn't make head or tail of any of it.

Seriously how this got picked up by National Lampoon totally defeats me: it really is awful.

And not in a its so bad it's good cult way.

It is just awful, awful, awful, awful.

Honestly. If you still don't believe me then watch it with every intention of loving it then come back here and tell me what you think. Even gerbils on acid couldn't hope to understand this.

Avoid or even better destroy...

Crap

[jcerise · 1/10 · 25 July 2008]

This is the biggest pile of crap I have ever watched. DO NOT RENT! The makers of this movie should be band from ever making another movie. It starts with some what of a plot, then fades fast to nothing. I think I would rather watch paint dry then to as much as looking at the cover. The actors were awful, the plot faded fast, filming left to much work to be done. Not one good thing to say about this crap movie. If you rent this movie you will waste your money. I really enjoy National Lampoon movies, but this was a waste of time. Learn to write, learn to act, learn to produce, and learn to direct. I feel I should sue these a-holes that made this movie for money wasted on rental cost and time lost.

Threshold of Hell Is An Interesting Place To Go

[ShoeyShoe · 10/10 · 26 June 2006]

Went to a midnight screening at the Crest in Westwood with some of my UCLA buds. Gotta say, I thought I might fall asleep since it started at 12am, but that wasn't the case. The movie's frenetic pace made for an exhilaration from beginning to end. It's akin to that rare sort of novel where you find yourself checking to see how many pages are left and hoping there are more, not fewer. A less imaginative movie coddles the audience. This movie opens up and says, "Here we go. You better hold on tight." The confidence the filmmaker's show in its audience's ability to follow every turn was such a breath of fresh air. But I could see a less savvy audience being turned off by this same confidence. If you like to try new things... If you like to challenge yourself... If you're sick of the tripe Hollywood is producing... You should see this film. With an embarrassment of riches at the filmmaker's fingertips, my only gripe is I will have to see it again to catch all the references and allusions.

Ambitious Film-making

[Optiville · 6/10 · 26 June 2006]

I attended the world premiere of this film at the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival and enjoyed what I saw very much. It is hard to explain this movie to someone who hasn't seen it...and I think that is a good thing, as it needs to be experienced to appreciate it for what it really is. This film is a completely visceral experience from beginning to end. The use of sound, special effects, on-screen graphics, etc. engage all of your senses and really draw you into what is happening on-screen. For first-time filmmakers, the creators of this (soon to be) trilogy should be lauded for their decision to employ numerous ambitious techniques to produce a successful, dark, funny, apocalyptic tale. Job well done for all parties involved! :) :) :)

Captivating, inventive, and completely FRESH!

[flickchick79 · 9/10 · 26 June 2006]

I saw this movie during it's midnight premiere of the LA FILM FESTIVAL. I prepared myself to see a bad movie full of guts and gore, but instead witnessed a clever and engaging film. I loved it!! The characters were well developed and highly entertaining and surprisingly, the cast was actually talented. The story was unlike anything I had seen before(something that Hollywood should try!)and the humor was brilliantly witty! This film has everything you could ask for...plot, character, comedy and horror...and it delivers. Give the film a chance and you won't be disappointed (but don't give it only 15mins and turn it off because it's different). This is the type of film that is bound to pave the way to new and creative film-making.

good for some

[antblogger · 7/10 · 15 November 2007]

The story–written and directed by and starring Kevin Wheatley–meanders, jumps around, and pretty much confuses people and probably pisses off more. The characters fight, eat other people, struggle against and abuse one another; indeed, few lovely virtues exist in this depiction of the American future. But there is a guiding light, a journey, the quest to create a New America that pulls the protagonist along his path, and the strange characters, the wry humor, the clever filming, and adequate acting make the quest enjoyable for those of us ready for something outside the prepackaged, three-part, half-digested films you see all the time.

It pulls on mythology including immortal beings akin to the Greek gods controlling fire though in this case they control a radio tower, a mystical seer who sees the future, and the archetypal tale of brothers competing for power. I'm not gonna lie, I like films that allude to the great works of literature, that include the vast collective unconscious in their scope, but this film is so obvious about it, I'm afraid it loses some of it's "intelligencia" points, which is just as well. There is a bit of violence, but it's stylized after graphic novels, so even the most gruesome scenes never make one cringe in the same way a Terentino film can. BPonTH holds the attention, causes a few double-takes and ultimately feels worth the Ritalin-esquire ride.

World Premiere

[imdb-14494 · 9/10 · 26 June 2006]

I also attended the midnight screening at the LA Film Festival on Friday, June 23, 2006. I liked the film and got the impression that most everyone else did as well.

For a midnight showing, I was impressed that nearly every seat was filled. There was also more audience participation than I'm accustomed to, for the audience cheered when the title appeared, laughed and clapped during the film, and stayed for the credits. More so, about three-quarters stayed to learn more about the film during the Q&A that followed -- an impressive audience at 2:30 a.m.

I've never seen a movie quite like this one. It had a quick pace, over-the-top violence and gore, a sarcastic wit, and at least a dozen characters. It's one of those films you wish you could see again, in not to simply catch and appreciate all of its humor.

Pretty Nice For A Low Budget Film

[jesussaddle · 6/10 · 20 April 2009]

This isn't the film you're expecting. It may not be a film you will like. I liked it. I think I liked it because I like to watch movies that don't turn in predictable directions, that have decent unknown actors, and that have a premise or storyline that gets my curiosity. This wasn't great, but definitely better than most low budget films. The director and actors are worthwhile, and the writing was decent as well, and if you have any desire to watch cult movies, you may not be sorry you watched this, so long as you're not expecting a Hollywood budget and scenes and dialog "polished" for an average audience. That's the thing that generally makes movies appear dull to me, whereas an action audience might be thrilled. I enjoy creativity more than pointless pacing. There is pacing in this movie. But the direction opens up and the characters are given time to be distinctive. This is definitely comedic in a dark, satiric way, and I sense that viewers that hated this film would hate Bill Murray's performance in "What about Bob". Some people don't get certain types of comedy. I'm not saying they're below it, but they only wish they were above it.

A champion of independent film

[dtillman23 · 9/10 · 26 June 2006]

I got a chance to catch The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell at its World Premiere at the L.A. Film festival. I would unabashedly recommend the film--especially to indie film-lovers and cult flick-enthusiasts worldwide. The filmmakers worked wonders in bringing a post-apocalyptic satire to the big screen on a meager budget.

The acting is, at times, pitch perfect and the story is a kind of Oh Brother Where art Thou meets Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas set in 2097, New America. The cinematography, editing, graphics and animation sequences are stunning and visually entertaining.

The film is a bit unconventional in structure, but the History Channel documentary/comic book style of the film is original and works well. While it has political and social overtones, the comedic setups were usually paid off with satisfying hilarity. The film started a bit slow, but it soon took off and kept me on the edge of my seat the rest of the way.

As this is only part one, I hope the filmmakers will be granted the budget and name talent to make part two even better than the first installment.

Best chainsaw starting scene ever

[synergywizardry · 7/10 · 12 September 2012]

This movie is a particular type of "theater of the absurd". Think of something like "The Bed Sitting Room" post-apocalyptic, surreal movie starring Dudley Moore and Peter Cook. Of course, it's more gore-bent. However, it's the kind of violence where you can see spurting blood but never have to look directly at the source.

The improbable storyline makes just as much sense as a nuclear holocaust. Leo Coco is a study in psychosis. The budget is so low that they couldn't afford to "break-in" the costumes. The clothing is tattered and holed, but spotlessly clean, even with all that blood.

The only scene that looked improvised was the chainsaw-starting scene. It looked cinema verite to me and even funnier in that context.

I was pleasantly surprised that "gamma radio" could be picked up on a 1940s AM radio with a wooden cabinet. There are little touches throughout the movie, such as oddly pronounced words "eating human flash" vice "flesh" and "eviskerated" for "eviscerated".

In short: broad, bold and ultimately funny enough to sit through once.

Standing at the Threshold of New America

[paintingwithlife · 8/10 · 26 June 2006]

Starting with the title, this campy, hilarious, New American film is gushing with the zeal of the youthful, hip, and edgy filmmakers. Charting a primordial course towards a new genre, Writer/Director/Lead Kevin Wheatley and his directing collaborator Johnny Gillette, along with co-conspirator Cameron Pierce, have touched on something quite new and fresh. Hearkening back to the multi-format style of some of their predecessors like Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers and Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, the filmmakers lucidly blend time-shifting storytelling with "expert" testimony, hand drawn animation and graphics with live action, and clever writing with strong performances.

A first attempt at making a feature film is usually marred with over-acting, technical blunders, and misguided "post-fixes". This film, however, is an overachiever for these first time filmmakers. Their strong storytelling skills shine through in their History Channel-on-mescaline style, and the wait for their next foray has already been too long.

{ {d(-_-)b} }

Good Time at the Beachparty!

[backman-1 · 8/10 · 26 June 2006]

Saw the film at the LA Film Festival and had a great time. It's not a Hollywood film, it's very much an independent spirit and as such the story telling is not your traditional formulaic arc. It feels like a historical chronicle of the end of the world and the rebuilding afterwards with sections of narrative dialog.

There is a fascinating array of characters and character work presented in the piece.

The visual effects are amazing when you consider what is achieved on a micro budget. The filmmakers have taken imagination and creativity over a big budget. I particularly enjoyed the digital effects with the introduction of each character and the use of narration and biography writers to frame the story.

I loved it and am looking forward to the next installment.

A fresh and innovative film

[jdg1230 · 10/10 · 26 June 2006]

I was fortunate enough to enjoy this incredibly out-of-the-box, stylized cinematic treat at the LA Film Fest, and feel completely encouraged that the next generation of filmmakers will usurp the mainstream machine's unimaginative grip on the industry.

The movie rolls by at a rapid pace, introducing you to barrage of creative characters in a well-established world of the future. I was very impressed by the comedy blended within the gory and bizarre realm of New America.

Bravo to the entire crew that brought this film to fruition, because the hard work clearly paid off. I found myself quoting and reliving some of the most hilarious and brutal moments after I left the theater.

Keep an eye on this crew of filmmakers!

Surprise Hit

[exploretalent · 10/10 · 26 June 2006]

Frankly, I was dragged to this movie by my girlfriend who works for a major development company in town. The screening was at Midnight on the Westside and I was dreading it. She had heard good things as this movie has quiet buzz growing around it already.

In the end, she was right. I left the theater thinking I had seen the start of something big.

For starters, the film looks amazing visually. It has a great "look" and intercuts with some cool animations and after-effects style shots. Very high production value for an indie.

Secondly, the movie is hilarious. Sure, I might have a sick sense of humor, but if you love off-beat humor (like Wet Hot American Summer or Wes Anderson) mixed with a little bit of gore (which is also very well done) then you'll love this movie. It reminded me of a cool graphic novel.

Not to mention there are a bunch of young actors in this movie who will make names for themselves. Truly some great performances!

I could rave about this movie for 3000 words, but I won't. It's a shame that sometimes movies as great as this can't find an audience. If people just get a chance to see this movie, it is destined to become a cult hit.

An original and intelligent cult film in-the-making

[lemoncurry11 · 8/10 · 26 June 2006]

I caught the premiere of "The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell" on Friday night as part of the L.A. Film festival and was highly entertained. This film is a breath of fresh air with a truly original vision at a time when the majority of movies labeled as 'independent' have begun to fall into the same bloated budget, formulaic naval-gazing as their studio-backed counterparts. Beach Party feels like the next generation of the Bruce Campbell style of horror/comedies that have all but disappeared in the wake of special-effects-heavy shock and gore fests. Not quite a horror but not quite a comedy, Beach Party's characters are offbeat and the story line is so unique that it comes across more like a cult film in the making. This film is an intelligent, eye-catching and campy alternative to the cookie-cutter action flicks that flood the screens this time of year. It's a fun ride and, judging by the packed house and the crowd's reaction at the premiere, this film has successfully addressed an audience that has long been overlooked by the studios.

One Killer Party

[flaminghat · 10/10 · 10 January 2009]

There I was, minding my own business, fishing for cheesy movies to watch whilst enjoying a late night drinking session. I'd stumbled upon a listing of post-apocalyptic 'classics' and knew I'd hit the jackpot. One of the movies in that list had an intriguing title: 'Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell'. My eye caught, after doing a little research I decided to give it a shot. Couldn't be worse than 'Roller Blade 7', after all...

Wow...alright, before I explain why this movie induced violent paroxysms of laughter, I will cover its so-called 'weak points'. Yes it's cheap: there's one scene that was apparently beyond the scope of the makers' budget and/or abilities so it was animated, the costumes are usually jeans and t-shirts cut up, everything takes place in basically one location and the cast is not 'diverse', consisting mostly of the creators in the acting roles. It jumps around and inserts documentary sequences and character introductions that break up the action. It's done in a documentary style that will harsh many a buzz of those used to more straightforward storytelling. If you're Tarantino, Rodriguez or Ritchie apparently that's all well and good, but I digress. There may be further 'negatives', but even the ones mentioned aren't negative to me, so forgive me if something's left out. However, now you must again forgive me as I rub my hands together with devious relish and explain why all that doesn't matter, or at least doesn't make the film any less enjoyable.

First and foremost, it made me laugh louder and harder than anything has for a long time. The dialog is great and the gags hit their mark. You do have to possess a sick sense of humor and love of irony to truly enjoy it, but with those two qualifications this movie will take you to fine places. I would love to point out specific things, but honestly, they won't be as funny if you are expecting them. The only one I'll touch is one of the funniest sequences involving some difficulties with a chainsaw. That's all you're gonna get. Just trust me on this, if you're a sicko, your gut will be a-bustin'.

Now to address those alleged weaknesses: the documentary style does slow it down, sure, but it's a comedy. It's not an action-packed thrill-ride that needs to move quickly. It was pulled off very well and allowed for the inclusion of some very good and funny cameos, such as Jane Seymour as the last President, Tony Hale (of 'Arrested Development' as Buster) as a biographer and Richard Riehle (who played Tom in 'Office Space') as the narrator. Some may think the documentary bits padding, but I truly think it adds an element of tongue-in-cheek quirkiness to the proceedings, and while perhaps the characters could have been introduced in other ways, I thought their way was far more interesting than characters busting into monologue or ill-fitting dialog. Some may think it a rip-off of other directors, but I say thee 'nay'. What they did always felt more like respectful hat-tips than straight rips, though there were many. The whole feel of the movie is very Dr. Strangelove meets Pulp Fiction, and I say that as a means of description, not really to compare this film to those others. Even at its most serious it doesn't take itself a bit seriously, but it's imaginative and well-written enough not to spiral off into pure goofiness. Campy, yes, insipid, no.

Bad acting? I have seen bad acting (I've seen 'Men of Honor'), and with a cast of primarily amateurs the acting is actually very good. Hell, even Daniel Baldwin didn't suck, and that's saying something! But the actors had a lot to work with and had reason to do a good job, for the script, again particularly the dialog, is excellent. I'm not even going to qualify that with a 'for a low-budget movie' or anything. It is just GOOD. It's sharp, and is sharply delivered. The characters are weird but cool and well-played. These are not the typical post-apocalyptica stereotypes, but something altogether different and, dare I say, brilliant. What else do you need? But wait, there's more!

There's blood and gore, as one would expect of post-apocalyptic fare, and quite a bit, but done well (though certainly not tastefully) and death scenes that would look cheesy are given the 'go to black' or 'blood spatter on lens' treatment, avoiding the typical groan-and-eye-roll moments that plague horror movies. It's also done with great sick humor. For instance, a spine gets pulled and in later scenes you can still see it lying on the ground as other situations play out in the same area. The much poo'd-upon animated sequence is actually cool, and a smart move on the makers' part. I'd much rather see animation, adding more quirk to the quirky, than hokey live-action. As opposed to simply axing the bit, they use it to make their movie even weirder. I for one dig it and applaud them for it.

I could go on, but this beast needs to be wrapped up. In summary, I think 'Beach Party' is simply a great movie, funny and wrong in all the right ways. It stands up against the best the big companies have to offer, and with a fraction of a fraction of the budget. It's a fine example of what indie developers can do with heart and inspiration. If you want big budget fluff, look elsewhere. I for one will not miss you. If you want a to spend a hour-and-a-half chortling and feeling like a misanthrope for doing so, please, for the love of all that is sick and unholy, look this movie up, then tell someone else. That's the only way to make sure that movies like this continue to be made, as they damn well ought to be.

Stupendous, plain and simple

[onnrrolstudint · 9/10 · 6 November 2006]

Living very close to where most of B.P.T.H. was filmed, I was very excited to be able to see this at a public screening during the Pensacola Bay Film Festival; I was even more fortunate to see most of the cast and a Q&A with Kevin Wheatley. One of the burning questions was "how did you ever come up with the idea for this?" He actually said that his initial intention had been to adapt Shakespeare's Richard III (believe it or not). Viewing the film afterward, I was able to see that he really made a successful Shakespeare adaptation...a funny, violent, post-apocalyptic Shakespeare adaptation.

Another thing that really impressed me was the number of (some might say B-list) celebrities who were featured in various roles, mostly as commentators. Having them pop up at the most random moments definitely added more comedic value to this movie.

This is an indie movie in the best way--it's irreverent but watchable; it's different and funny; most importantly, it's entertaining. Some of the effects are a little cheesy or overdone, but that doesn't detract from the value of the final product. Highly recommended to anyone with a chance to see it.

whatever you expect, you're wrong...

[butyraceous · 10/10 · 10 October 2006]

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to see this film in Tulsa before it ventured onward to Toronto. I had seen the trailer on MySpace, and thought it would be something akin to "Bad Taste", which is one of my favorite movies. It wasn't. But it WAS one of the funniest films I've seen in a long while. In short: fluid, yet relatively non-linear storyline...clever, hilarious, seamless dialog...engaging despots, lovable bumbling heroes, and a protagonist like no other. This film does not play like low-budget; it moves quickly and never catches on a sloppy shot or a cliché line. The acting is first-rate, and visually the film rises to the challenge of it's post-apocalyptic storyline. If you never see this film, I'm sorry for you; and if you do, you WILL NOT be disappointed!

the only film to make cannibalism hot...

[leon-lashway · 10/10 · 12 March 2007]

I saw this film while working at the Carolina Theatre in Durham, NC, it was a feature film of the Nevermore Film Festival. I caught about 30 minutes of the film before having to return to work but was instantly hooked. My first thought was "how in the hell did they get Jane Seymour", I was intrigued at this point but not hooked. That didn't happen until I saw Buster, and if you're an Arrested Development fan than you know who Buster is. The acting was very impressive and each character had such a rich history. I loved the various animated clips spread through-out...well...I love this film. My friends are getting annoyed at how much I keep talking about this film and about how awesome it is and I think my wife is about to turn cannibal on me because I keep singing the Quincy song (but def. goats milk). If you get the chance, see this film.

Low budget, post apocalyptic dark comedy awesomeness!

[matthewkengesser · 10/10 · 13 September 2021]

This is not a big budget blockbuster movie... Now that that's out of the way I have to say that I absolutely love this movie!!!

When I first saw it I thought that it was pretty fun. I have since bought the DVD and have watched it at least 6 times! It has grown on me like a true cult classic. The actors and actresses are some very fun characters. The dark comedy is fun, the story is fun, the way that it was filmed and put together is fun. There are some fun tunes to keep things moving. There's a Baldwin, lol. And even a cameo by Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman herself, Jane Seymour. There is cursing. It is a little gruesome, just to warn you, but works well with the movie.

Jamie Bullock is adorable as "Cannibal Sue" and she was also the producer!

Kevin Wheatley was fantastic as "Tex Kennedy" while also directing the show!

Don't expect anything going into this movie, but absolutely, give it a try today!!!