Noted comedy director John Landis (Animal House, Trading Places) turns to the documentary format to uncover what's funny (or not) about the life of a "slasher," i.e., a freelance car salesman who mounts high-pressure campaigns to clear inventory from used automobile lots. The subject is a California motormouth named Michael Bennett, who takes his crew of "mercenaries" to a Memphis dealership to sell 60 cars in about 48 hours. Bennett's sometimes unscrupulous tactics, not to mention the obscenity of the whole enterprise, comes under piercing scrutiny here. But the really surprising thing is the extent to which the often-grating and amoral Bennett comes off as a sympathetic, existential hero, grounded in a semblance of decency through his efforts to remain respectable in the eyes of his family. An often riveting film with a subtle, comic edge, the DVD includes director commentary, deleted scenes, and a "making-of" featurette. Recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)
Slasher
(2003) 85 min. DVD: $24.95. Docurama (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. ISBN: 0-7670-6608-1. Volume 19, Issue 5
Slasher
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