HazMat (2013) User Reviews

HazMat: Passable slasher

[Platypuschow · 5/10 · 29 August 2017]

I like the idea behind HazMat. It tells the story of a reality TV show which pranks it's victim with a scary scenario, but in this instance it all goes terribly wrong.

Beyond that sadly it falls into the realm of a generic slasher but there are a few nice touches to keep it relatively fresh.

By no means is HazMat a good film but you can do a lot worse and considering its budget it actually looks fairly solid.

The Good:

Quite a good concept

The Bad:

Leaves a couple of frustrating questions unanswered

Things I learnt from this movie:

Even when there is only one psycho killer and a large number of you it still makes sense to hide because duh!

Not that bad but not good either...

[SusieSalmonLikeTheFish · 4/10 · 23 August 2014]

Jacob is a nice but rather disturbed guy who is obsessed with chemical factories, especially the one where his father was killed, he thinks it is haunted. His friend Adam puts him on a pranking TV show without realizing the harm it will do. The crew sets up in the chemical factory and scares him, but the joke backfires and soon the crew, Adam and two girls are trapped within the factory with Jacob coming for them dressed in a gas mask and wielding an ax.

HazMat wasn't very scary and used excessive gore that was irrelevant to the story. The acting was pretty bad as was the soundtrack, but the plot was very original. Cross the 1997 TV movie Goosebumps Welcome to Dead House with the 1981 slasher My Bloody Valentine and you'd get something like this. It's okay to watch maybe once, but I think it could have been better. One thing I did really like was that although a chemical factory was involved, there was no dopey happy-hippie environmental message preached to us in the movie. I was rooting for Jacob throughout the film though, I mean, it's hard to feel sorry for a TV crew and group of so-called friends who decide to prank a boy in the same chemical factory where his father was killed, that's very cruel of them to do and I was hoping they'd all end up dead.

Not as terrible as some say.

[dracforever · 5/10 · 8 March 2023]

Granted this movie has it flaws BUT, it takes a very simple story and runs with it. Imho, more indie film makers could learn from this gem in the rough by not trying so hard to be witty. I would have liked a bit more character development although it was not necessary for the approach taken here. As mentioned, this does have some flaws but it seems the majority of such can be attributed to inexperience while not distracting enough to stop me from watching or rooting for the final escapee! As long as your expectations aren't too high you will not be disappointed with this fare. I say check it out and decide for yourself if you like it.

This movie is an awful waste of time!!

[Caseygirl981 · 1/10 · 2 April 2014]

**WARNING, This Review Contains Spoilers**

After watching this film I HAD to become a member of IMDb just to warn people about how awful it is. First off, I have NO IDEA where this raving reviews came from. Like the reviewer before me, it MUST be friends and family or paid off people.

So to start, the film opens with the most horrendously acted scene with two friends. The one is getting "pranked". I almost turned off the movie at that point because the acting and the film quality was so bad, but I persisted.

So the whole premise here is this guy Scary Dave is a host of a reality show that scares people. His love interest is upset with him for scaring people, and the rest of the people are his crew. They are setting up for their latest prank which is this guy Jacob who acts weird and so his friends feel by scaring him maybe he will snap out of it....um....OK.

So, they get Jacob there and through a very unconnected and virtually no back story way, Jacob flies off his rocker and starts killing people with an ax, including his best friend and well, anyone who gets in his path.

The story stumbles along at the most boring pace. I wanted to turn it off several times, but I kept hoping it would get better or move along faster. I was never scared....I think I laughed more than anything else, especially at the awful special effects, and I mean awful! (Rubber head rolls into frame when it gets cut off of a character, looks nothing like the actor, and is obviously rubber) IN the end, everyone is dead. Wow....thanks for that colossal cluster of a storyline.

The only actors who were decent enough were who played the characters of Dave, Adam, Brenda, and Jacob. Everyone else had no business being in a movie they took away from the scenes and just made it awkward. Who hired these people?

Now on to the directing....bad actors and bad scenes reflect on the director. I had never heard of Lou Simon so I looked her up, she has only made one other horrible movie. I certainly know NOT to check out anything by her anymore, according to IMDb, she is making another one, God help us all....

In a nutshell, this movie is pure waste of time. Waste of time for me watching it and waste of time for the people who made it.

SAVE YOURSELF! Rent something else!

Embarrassing. Don't Waste your time.

[Robvader12 · 1/10 · 16 March 2014]

Go ahead and assume that all the reviews on here are either from friends, family or people who worked on this because they contain nothing but lies. This isn't a "Classic", it isn't "Well Acted" and it definitely isn't even remotely scary. It's painful to watch.

I am a huge fan of horror and specifically the slasher sub-genre. I love a good masked killer stalking and killing people. This movie basically went out of its way to be as unenjoyable as possible. The killer isn't interesting, scary, or fun and they backstory is pointless and makes no sense. There is literally no reason for the character to go crazy because of this prank. He is played up before he is actually on-screen as being some quiet, unassuming, dark and disturbed individual. When we finally meet him, he is just some rejected "Real World" cast member who behavior like a child. He acts excited to be in a place that is supposedly scary and haunted and where his dad died (another plot point they just brush over with minimal explanation). He snaps and starts killing everyone in the cheapest hazmat suit, in the most generic way possible. He just hits them half heartedly with an axe.... over and over again. To every character. There is no originality to be found anywhere within this movie.

The characters are some of the most unlikable people I have encountered in a long time. They must all be friends of the director because they seem straight out of "D-bag and Hoodrat Casting". Not a single one does even a decent job of delivering their lines, let alone being even close to relatable. The two female "Co-Conspirators" mumble through their lines and are so annoying and catty that you are praying they are the first to go. They have no business being in front of a camera. The sound guy is just so awkward, his delivery of awful line after awful line made me cringe. I was embarrassed for these actors.

The biggest crime this "film" commits is just being plain boring. Nothing happens... ever. Everyone hides in a locked room, they see the killer somewhere in the building, they leave the room, someone gets killed and they run back into the room. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. The characters/acting were so terrible that by the end I didn't care who lived or died, I was so bored I just wanted it to end. How can a movie that is 1hr 20min feel this long!

Its clear the writer/director has no vision and absolutely NO passion for the genre. Its offensive as someone who loves horror to see someone create such a cheap product and then pimp their friends out to give it glowing reviews. I was more than disappointed. Shame on the cast for wasting everyones time with this utter nonsense.

DO NOT WATCH!!!

HazMatter of fact..I need to be decontaminated after this..

[matthewkrussell1111 · 1/10 · 30 April 2014]

What a toxic waste of matter this film was. I thank god I got to see it thanks to TD. I would have been livid if I sat through this after shelling out ten bucks or so. The acting is god awful, the effects putrid, and the story blah....I almost lost my girlfriend over this.

HazMatter of fact...after the first ten minutes in, a silly prank scene, my girlfriend looked over at me and smirked then shrugged. Right then I knew she was already disappointed in my nightly film selection.

HazMatter of fact...When the character that ends up being "hazmat" first decides to go bonkers and ax dudes, for no discernible reason, I heard my girl tsk and say "why would he be doing that?" I looked at her she smirked and shrugged again.

Hazmatter of fact...By the time a dudes head gets chopped off and the special effect is basically a basketball painted skin tone with a rubber face attached...which I think even had different color eyes than the actor...My girlfriend said that's it, got up, walked to the front door, turned smirked and shrugged again, and then walked out. I still haven't heard from her.

Terrible Movie/Bad Acting!

[yomanda · 2/10 · 4 May 2014]

Howthe last reviewers can say "this is a classic" "Wow"? I'll never know!? Also said was "I was surprised at how well written and acted this film is"? The acting was terrible, and writing very bad. With this sort of movie the acting needs to be very good, it was bad! One or two of the actors were just about OK sometimes, otherwise BAD! I was wondering if this was the correct review for this movie or these people watched something else! Or as in many cases it seems with some reviews obviously the person was involved with the movie! I gave it 2 because the idea was OK. I'm trying to pad this review out to warn many of you to avoid it.

Summary: Bad Acting, Bad Script, but not a bad idea. Don't believe the positive reviews, this is trash.

Reality show turns bloody

[dslr88 · 5/10 · 15 July 2021]

Some expendable people go to a creepy building for a reality show called scary antics. A prank goes wrong and triggers a killing spree. Lots of hysterics, screaming and running around dark hallways ensues. The killer in this seems to have been borrowed from my bloody valentine and as such loses lots of brownie points on originality. Could they not have come up with their own unique killer? That being said its not entirely horrible and there is some entertainment to be had. If youre into low budget horror movies done reasonably well you might like this one.

Be honest

[rherring-16040 · 4/10 · 23 July 2020]

I can't help but notice that no matter how bad a movie is, the first 3 people to review it always give it 10/10, as if we don't know those reviews are from people associated with the movie.....so I say be honest...honest enough to admit that it may not be the masterpiece you make it out to be....that being said, this movie wasn't completely terrible....I've definitely seen worse.....I give it an honest 4 star rating.....

Why are all high school film projects horror movies?

[greg-29535 · 1/10 · 17 March 2021]

At least, I hope this was a high school film project, because that's the only thing that could reasonaby explain this quality...

Some May WHINE, but I give Hazmat a NINE!!!!!!

[wan-maness · 9/10 · 22 June 2014]

Hazmat has been one of the best slasher movie, I have seen in a long time. Trust me I collect all horror movies and I rate this one high. I'm not going to give all the details cause that would just ruin the movie for you. All I will say is if you like dark creepy places, scare tactics pulling pranks on your friends and a killer with a ax and good kill scenes then this movie is for you.

Also for the people who said they didn't like it, you should of quit watching it, that's what I do when I don't like one. So boo hoo and let me get you a Kleenex for your whining and crying.

Definitely check this movie out and make your own opinion.

Old-School Horror Movie Like Hatchet

[silentmoon327 · 6/10 · 22 September 2014]

This wasn't too bad of a movie. Kind of a low-budget old- school horror film. I've seen so many scathing reviews on the plot, background story, and characters. How about the positives? I thought it was decently put together, like at the very end, just when you think you have it -BOOM- you're wrong again. Jacob's character WAS hyped up before it as this shady dark depressing creepy person, so you already knew it was going to happen. Semi-predictable. I will admit I was wrong in guessing what was going to happen at least three times while watching this. I will agree with the people who say it was worth a watch, but to each their own.

Hi scary Dave

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 18 January 2018]

A reality TV show that sets people up to be scared opts to film in an abandoned chemical plant that had a fire (good luck with that permit). It seems Jacob (Norbert Velez) whose father worked there and he played there as a kid, thinks it is haunted. He appears to be obsessed with the idea so much his friends have grown tired of him to the point of playing a professional prank with the aid of a film crew and make-up artist.

Of course the first "twist" comes after they pan in on a new fire ax which then goes missing after Jacob thinks his friend was murdered. I kept hoping for a real twist, i.e. a joke being played on the girls or the camera crew, etc. because the film grew into a real boring slasher.

This is a very generic slasher film, one you will quickly forget. The acting was sad with Daniela Larez unable to deliver a line. Parental Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity or Hazmat showers.

HazNo

[wandernn1-81-683274 · 2/10 · 27 March 2021]

Yeah this was a terrible waste of time. I watched it til the end tho and was sorely sorely disappointed. 2/10.

Attack of the hazmat killer

[Leofwine_draca · 3/10 · 24 October 2018]

HAZARD is yet another indie found footage horror concerning antics in a haunted and abandoned factory with a dumb crew and the addition of a hazmat-suited killer on the loose. It has a practical joke angle but is otherwise routine and unremarkable, always going through the motions and never once proving interesting or, indeed, frightening.

Really Tried to Like This

[creepyhomeboys · 1/10 · 15 June 2019]

I really like indie movies. I like cheesy dialogue and acting, because I can usually look past that stuff. I really wanted to like this movie but, it just wasn't good. Dude gets his PTSD triggered by a practical joke gone awry and goes to slaughter all of his friends. Look, if my friends knew I had PTSD and thought it'd be a good idea to play a joke on me, I'd probably kill them all too. The worst part of this movie for me, without a doubt is the "men are stupid" scene. Look, I don't care that they want to complain about men, but it's so shoehorned in the movie that it seems the writer went "oops, my script is too short" and decided to add the scene in from another script they were working on. The ladies in the movie, I kid you not, go over, sit down and complain about the men in their lives while there is a guy RIGHT OUTSIDE trying to kill them. What kind of asinine logic is that? Is this Tommy Wiseau world? Like I said, I tried liking it but it was too unintentionally silly for me.

Garbage

[draftdubya · 2/10 · 24 August 2018]

When the non crew girls said she left her cellphone in her purse in the car, I lost it. No one under 30 in 2013 would be without their phone. Hollywood keep screwing this up. They could've at least said that they can't use their phones inside decommissioned building from the 60's(plaster walls with iron wire)

Good Movie

[eddie-149-786554 · 9/10 · 23 August 2015]

I thought the movie was good for a low budget movie. The actors were good and I thought the script was also. If you want a terror movie that will keep your interest then this flick is made for you. I liked the plot and the follow through. I do not give spoilers. I depend on the IMDb summary to read before watching; but do not read spoilers' I would give the movie a 'R' rating , and advise viewers of it. If you like the horror genre this fits. The characters were believable from start to finish. I say low budget as it was all done in the same location. The actors held their own and I saw no flaws. Also the scenes were all in one building; but that's what was intended. Do yourself a favor, if Horror Themes are what you want try this one out.

Not friend or family

[befoulmetalroosa · 7/10 · 15 April 2016]

I thought this was a really good movie, for the kind it was. The actors were very natural, and the smarmy host of the 'reality' scare show was just the right amount of douche. The two girlfriends were disposable; neither one was more than a cardboard cutout stereotype of what most people believe Hispanic ladies to be. The best friend was a dick; why anyone would torment their 'best friend' like that, it's just sad. I once heard a comic say that if you make disparaging jokes about someone, it means that you really don't like them. It's a kind of passive aggression, and this 'prank' is the ultimate definition of passive aggressiveness. I liked most of the cast members, and I was really rooting for Brenda to survive. Alas, it was not meant to be. I thoroughly enjoyed the fella who played Jacob; personally, I thought he was the best of a fairly good cast. It was well-written and tightly directed. A great combination of 'found footage' and third person perspective make this a really enjoyable watch.

Scare Tactics Gone Very, Very Wrong

[prectra · 8/10 · 24 April 2014]

I saw HAZMAT in August of 2013 at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival and within ten minutes was emailing a distributor in New York to pick it up. It's got a perfect blend of vanity, humor and claustrophobia.

Director Lou (Lorraine) Simon is a skilled director, giving the slasher genre some much-needed ethnic flair - a must, given that the film was shot in Miami. Nice to see principal characters who are not white college kids.

Also not surprised to see that within weeks of premiering the film, it earned a DVD deal with Uncork'd and VOD on Comcast/XFinity.

Can't wait for Lou's next film!

Not bad!

[DarknessVisible20 · 7/10 · 4 January 2021]

An entertaining and creepy flick, I've seen it twice now. Nothing high brow, just fun, scary entertainment. A few friends decide to play an unsavory, televised prank on a guy who's already on edge, and when he figures out what they've done, he snaps, and starts hunting them in an abandoned warehouse that they get lost in. Meanwhile, the camera crew for the 'Scary Antics' show that set everything up is locked in a control room in the warehouse, with no way to leave without getting past the crazy guy. Fun movie, will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Wow!

[fobregon · 10/10 · 30 July 2013]

I won tickets to a private Screening of this film. I'm not a huge slasher fan since I find them mostly comedic but since it was free, I went. Wow, was I surprised! Yes, I guess technically this is a slasher. It has a very scary guy with an axe killing people so it qualifies. But it has a very cool back story about the abandoned warehouse where it takes place that makes it also like a ghost story. Then there are real characters. Not just a bunch of horny teenagers who (one by one) drink or do drugs, have sex, and get killed. These are real people who you like and care when they die. You even care about the bad guy. He's not just some faceless killer. You get to know him before he starts hacking up people. Finally, the film also has some very funny dialogue that thankfully was intentional. Overall, I really enjoyed this movie and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a smart slasher for a change.

Do you love horror movies, this is a classic!

[Arivero-742-161540 · 10/10 · 29 July 2013]

I had the pleasure of viewing this film in a private screening. This is about a reality prank show and how it back fires on the crew and participants. The guy who is "pranked" goes crazy and it's a roller coaster ride from there. I was surprised at how well written and acted this film is, considering that it's a low budget film. All elements of a good horror movie are there. This is like the first Halloween or Friday the 13th..it's just that good. You will be at the edge of your seat and find yourself rooting for characters. Only problem is that I'm not sure if you will be rooting for the good or bad guys! When you see it at a theater near you, you have to go see it if you are a true horror film fan or even if you're not.

an edge-of-your-seat MUST SEE

[klmartinez1217 · 10/10 · 30 July 2013]

I don't usually write reviews online, but I won tickets to a private screening of this movie and I thought it was the least I could do. I wasn't expecting much since I knew that this was a low-budget movie, but I was very pleasantly surprised.

The movie is about one of those prank reality shows like "Scare Tactics." They are setting up this guy up so that they can scare him at an abandoned chemical factory that he thinks is haunted. His dad died at the plant, so he is already not completely there. Why they would have thought it was a good idea to make fun of this guy, I have no idea. He looked creepy even before he started to kill people.

The fun really starts when they guy thinks that the prank is real and goes crazy. Since the plant is all boarded up, the rest of the crew cannot get out of the building without risking getting hacked up by him. It's a simple plot, but it works really well in a story that takes place in just one really spooky place.

HazMat is an uncommon, intense horror/thriller film. This film will leave you on the edge-of-your-seat, rethinking the whole idea of a "practical" joke. There's not one moment when I felt bored or I looked at my watch to see how much time was left. If I have one complaint is that it should have been a little longer, but then maybe it would have dragged. I can definitely see this villain becoming like Jason or Michael Myers, that you want to see coming back to life again and again. ... A definite MUST SEE!