Mark Turner Horror fans know already what it means when you hear the words Pittsburgh and horror in the same sentence: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Yes all of the zombie films created by director George Romero were created and filmed in that area. But he wasn't alone.Alongside Romero were a group of friends who decided that if he could make a feature film they could do so as well. They had worked with him and watched how it was done. Now to make a movie on their own. With local make-up legend Tom Savini, who had done the special effects make-up on Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD and the movie MANIAC, what better topic to use than effects? In addition to that at the time in the early 80s there was a large amount of attention being paid to "snuff" films, movies that were supposed to have filmed actual murders and seen only by viewers willing to pay the high price to watch them. Not to mention being some sick individuals.The story here is of a low budget film crew working on a horror film in a remote location in Pennsylvania. As viewers we would think that something is amiss right away as scenes are combined that would not have been shot a particular way but that would have been edited to appear as they do. But the film makers here have decided to set that aside for the moment.As the movie progresses we realize that there is a movie being shot within the movie as well. The director of the initial movie, Lacy (John Harrison), is shooting behind the scenes with hidden cameras placed all over the house and area. A trip to a secluded basement area finds him meeting with the crew he has watching over what happens on various monitors.The story takes several turns and twists as we begin to wonder just how far Lacey is willing to go for either of his movies. Is he just shooting items for a making of type special or does he have something more going on? When he sits with the cinematographer of the initial film Dom (Joe Pilato) to unspool for him an actual "snuff" film, we start to wonder if perhaps that isn't his goal in the end. With that in mind the questions of who will survive and who is in on the whole thing come to mind.The main question becomes is the movie any good or not? Well yes and no. The quality of the film is much in tune with low budget films from the time period. Colors seem washed out at times and no amount of restoration can change some of the filming that was done. The acting ranges from quite good to passable. The effects are very bad, which is odd for a movie called EFFECTS. Few effects are used in the film if at all and when they are its most often to show how the effects would work in the initial film.What makes the movie interesting from a fan point of view is that it comes from what could be termed the Romero school of film making. The methods used here were the same he used and he even gave advice to them while they were making the film. An extra included here has footage of the cast members talking about making the movie, some at what appears to be a backyard part for them to get together at which Romero appears to have attended.In the end I couldn't whole heartedly recommend this film for everyone. But fans of Romero and the type of guerilla film making he did early on will want to check this out. Horror fans will want to give it a look. And completest will want to add it to their horror collections.

Coventry This movie seriously had me worried that I might be autistic! Forty-five minutes into the film and there still wasn't the slightest sign of plot development and/or essence. I don't know about you, but especially when dealing with early 80's low-budget horror flicks, I like to know if it's at least going somewhere. I was slowly starting to behave like Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man"; continuously repeating 'I need a plot … I need a plot …. I badly need a plot". "Effects" is a long, slow-moving, incoherent and visually exhausting movie and I honestly regret to say that because I'm a devoted fan of the genre and usually I really, really, really support obscure horror titles like this. Sadly, however, "Effects" is amateurish nonsense with sequences that are endlessly stretched and a story that literally never shifts into gear in spite of its great rudimentary potential. The crew of a cheap horror film, well … actually just the effects guy and the lighting girl, notice that the director is behaving very suspicious on set. They're right, too, because that sleazy bastard is actually planning to turn his little film project into a genuine snuff movie with the cast and crew members as the unaware and probably very reluctant lead players/victims. Sublime idea for a bona fide 80's shock feature, if you ask me, but the execution of the film is horrible. All of a sudden, I'm not even surprised anymore to find out this film was apparently "lost" for 20+ years. Even with Tom Savini and Joe Pilato (the latter giving a terrific performance and totally unlike the role in "Day of the Dead" that made him famous) in the cast, this is an infuriatingly lame movie. There's actually very little gore in the film and if you were, by any chance, hoping to learn some "kitchen secrets" about the special effects industry, you'll be sorely disappointed as well. "Effects" only specializes in overlong and pointless padding footage – especially the chase through the woods seems endless – and oppressed slasher ideas. Another extremely disappointing snuff-themed thriller, joining the same list as Roberta Findley's "Snuff", "Live Feed", "Snuff-Movie", "Vacancy" and Larry Cohen's "Special Effects". For good snuffies, stick to the Spanish "Thesis", the massively underrated "Mute Witness" and the legendary classic "Peeping Tom".

Scarecrow-88 A cinematographer/special effects man(Joseph Polito, Capt. Rhodes of Romero's "Day of the Dead")finds himself caught in a real snuff film, a tragic example of life imitating art.A demanding director, Lacey(John Harrison)secretly puts in motion a planned real snuff film, having his camera and f/x pro Dominic(Pilato)and gaffer, Celeste(Susan Chapek)a major part of the central horror. Dominic believes he's finally arrived in film-making having taken the position with his director as they currently work on a slasher film. We see how the cast and crew participate behind-the-scenes as they prepare for various scenes in the film they're working on. A troubled married couple, Barney(Bernard McKenna)and his wife, and the supposed star, Rita(Debra Gordon)portray the couple on the film and we see how their relationship off-camera is crumbling. Dominic believes he has a chance at romance with Celeste, but has no clue that she is portraying a role. Dominic is indeed the tragic character of the film for he's completely in the closet about the REAL movie being made. He brings up a point to his director about slasher films..he complements his director yet complains that in order for the film to really capture an audience there must be a chase scene. He doesn't even have an idea that he would be a part of that exact argument. We bare witness as the director has a hidden film crew operating in a secret room within the house they're shooting. The director even has his effects man(..and true star)Dominic watch a snuff film reel he claims he made himself as a film student..this is both macabre and clever for the director openly admits, in a way, to having made the film, with Dominic shell-shocked at it's realism. Lacey has shown Dominic an example of what he's capable of creating..in a grand sense of irony, Dominic will be the part of a snuff film, only on a much larger stage.I have to respectfully disagree with others who have commented on "Effects", a small independently produced, acted & directed horror flick from Pittsburgh talent, that it should've stayed lost. I personally thought it was a nifty, well crafted take on "guerrilla" film-making. The closing scene at the end, the name of the real movie being made, adds a nice little sick twist to the proceedings. I think many will indeed, as some user comments attest to, find this film a laborious, often confusing, film to sit through, but I think everything comes together quite neatly by the end. I also thought it was exceptionally photographed..this explains that independent films can have cameras which don't shake like crazy giving their audiences nausea. The opening of "Effects" pleased me because I'm a movie buff, and I was truly satisfied as the whole film, from director Dusty Nelson, comes together explaining certain odd actions(..and behavior) from our director, not to mention, why Dominic and Celeste were being shot in blue hidden from within the woods, and how it spies on them. Little moments Nelson provides us informing the viewer that something completely sinister is amiss. This might work for Backwoods horror fans, specifically the ending as poor Dominic runs for his life having no clue that there are cameras everywhere capturing/covering every move he makes, except inside one particular house. The most creepiest scene for me is the reveal of Lacey's snuff film to Dominic..it's quite masterfully staged(..a hint as to who the masked man cutting the tied female might be can be seen at the BBQ camp fire, by recognizing how the person sticks the knife into the floor)in B&W with the film stock quite shoddy displaying scars and jumps. There's a unique film score put to the film, by actor Harrison on piano he dubs "neo-classic", along with a chilling melody which shadows Lacey's scenes where his face is lighted(..while Lacey remains blanketed in darkness like a sneaky thief cautiously peeking from within a closet on the verge of snatching jewelry), and a series of drum beats during Dominic's terror in the woods. Debra Gordon has a nicely gratutous shower scene where the camera glides down her body following the soap as it travels. Violent film, but ultimately not gory.I think the character of director Lacey is the key factor in "Effects". He seems mysterious for a reason. Too quiet..there's something not quite right about him. You know the feeling where you come across someone with a hidden agenda you can't quite put your finger on. Tom Savini(as Nicky)has a crucial part, masked in secrecy which comes out at the end..he seems, at first, to merely cause trouble to Dominic and Celeste always bringing up to his director a certain role he plans to play wondering when it would be time. In hindsight, he's ALWAYS been playing a role. Charles Hoyes portrays Lobo, a crew member who also plays a part at the end.

jasempre-1 I bought this movie because I am a fan of Joe Pilato. When I bought it, I actually expected him to be a little like Capt. Rhodes (DAY OF THE DEAD). I was very wrong. This movie and his performance blew me away.Joe Pilato plays Dom, a very likable cameraman. He's basically an every day guy. He is even funny at times. And he falls in love with his gaffer, Celeste (Susan Chapek). He is just an average guy. He wasn't the ***hole he was in DAY OF THE DEAD. Instead, the ***hole of the movie is Nicky (Tom Savini).He is also the only one in this movie who is completely innocent.After watching a home-made murder movie from the director, Lacey (John Harrison), he suspects the murder was real. Even after Lacey tells him it isn't. He gets very suspicious. It turns out Lacey is directing two movies. The low-budget horror movie with the set of actors. And a real horror movie with real horror and murder. It is all up to Dom to make sure that it doesn't happen.