By Melissa Antoinette Garza
This low budget, straight-to-DVD, odd little horror film provides laughs and an original premise, which collectively help the film exceed expectations.
It would be a great understatement to say that “Satan’s Little Helper,” is strange. The movie surrounds a young boy named Dougie (Alexander Brickel) who has an obsession with the devil because of a popular video game. He dresses like him for Halloween and when he encounters Satan, he has no hesitation about befriending him and asking to help the dark one in his misdeeds. Together they stalk, plot and murder, though Dougie is under the impression that it is no more real than the game he has been playing. Though this is mentioned quite a few times, in no way is the film attempting to prove a point or preach to its viewers. More than anything else, it is trying to tie together loose ends that otherwise wouldn’t make any sort of sense.
The movie states without relent that Dougie’s strange behaviors and fascinations come from his dysfunctional home life. His mother (Amanda Plummer) encourages her daughter Jenna (Katheryn Winnick) to dress in the “slutty” costume she wore last year. Common conversation between children and parent include constant innuendos, the possible marital infidelities of their father and most frequently, incest.
The acting is above par. Amanda Plummer expertly plays the unstable and eccentric matriarch who bares a notable resemblance to Nettie Cobb, a character she portrayed in “Stephen King’s Needful Things.” The rest of the cast does a fine job with what they had to work with. Young Alexander Brickel was burdened with the tough task of playing a part that was written by someone who has completely forgotten and lost touch with how it is to be a child. Therefore, he comes across not only unbelievable but so annoying that at times one may be tempted to shut the movie off all together. A similar problem occurs times with Katheryn Winnick. Many of her lines seem so out of place that, despite her decent delivery, the character loses all credibility.
One must suspend much belief in order to enjoy the plot of this movie. Dougie who witnesses the brutal slaying of people in front of his eyes, somehow still believes it is all fake. It isn’t until a loved one is butchered in front of him, that for some reason, he realizes that it is not fake.
Despite the flaws, which are easy to point out, “Satan’s Little Helper” does have a certain cult-like charm. In essence, it is a series of skits where the devil has the upper hand and enjoys having a young admirer to terrorize with, and it is quite amusing to see Satan taunt his victims and celebrate the aftermath of his destruction. During the last half hour, it does wear thin, but the ending is worth the wait.
Scared Stiff Rating 5/10- Not a real horror film, but bizarre enough to keep your attention.
