Ever heard the saying ‘it is so bad it is good’? Well that certainly applies to Hobo With A Shotgun, well maybe don’t exactly the word ‘good’, more the word enjoyable, although I’m not sure that the creative team behind the film really aimed for the audience to be laughing throughout the film.
Taken from a trailer from the legendary Grindhouse, Hobo With A Shotgun follows a Hobo (Rutger Hauer – The Cardboard Village, Portable Life) who stumbles upon a town that really has gone to hell. Run by evil showman-criminal, Drake (Brian Downey – Whirlgig, TV’S Haven), and his sons, Slick (Gregory Smith – Dream House, In My Pocket) and Rip (Nick Bateman – TV’S Just For Laughs). And while the Hobo is willing to just move on he finds his heart when he witnesses young prostitute, Abby (Molly Dunsworth – Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost & TV’S Haven) nearly becomes the evil family’s next victim. Hobo decides he wants to rescue the town and becomes Hobo With A Shotgun much to the anger of Drake.
If you think that the premise of the film sounds ridiculous, that is because it absolutely is. You can only hope that director, Jason Eisener (Treevenge, The Pink Velvet Halloween Burlesque Show!) set out to make a B-Grade gore fest, because if he didn’t than the Canadian Film Industry is in more trouble than many have predicted. Hobo With A Shotgun actually manages to go below B-Grade, thing maybe E-Grade or F-Grade but you still can’t help but enjoy the experience. The worse and slockier it gets the more you find yourself laughing and shaking your head. But having said that you do find yourself barracking for Hobo and Abby to get themselves out of the film unscathed.
The role of Hobo is lapped by Rutger Hauer who seems to have been born to play the role… he certainly looks like he enjoyed himself as he made the film. However, the person that can leave this film with their head held high is Molly Dunsworth. She stands head-and-shoulders above the rest of the cast and seems to be determined to use Hobo With A Shotgun as the film that shows Hollywood what she is capable of… scarily enough it works.
Please don’t go into Hobo With A Shotgun expecting a masterpiece because you’ll only be disappointed. As the name would suggest this is B-Grade all the way and turns into one hell of a laugh-fest for anyone with a dark sense of humour.
Year: 2011
Director: Jason Eisener
Stars: Rutger Hauer, Brian Downey, Gregory Smith, Nick Bateman, Molly Dunsworth
Classification: R18+
Runtime: 86 mins
Rating: 
Available on DVD/Blu Ray from December 29, 2011
Reviewer: Dave Griffiths