WWW.FTBOMP.COM

"One of the finest pieces of viseral cinema in recent years. A gore hound's wet dream made flesh." Fuctup - http://www.cinemaeulogies.com/

read full review here

"Hell is exactly where DeCaro takes his viewers" http://www.angrymidget.net/

 read full review here

"uncompromisingly nihilistic and singularly fucked up experience".

-The Gore-Met -Rue Moruge Magazine June 08 #79

read full article below

Hi everyone, I'm going to break character for this review and abandon the pot-induced profanity-laden posts that my few friends here are used to reading-and attempt to "go deep" for this review of what has become for me the most challenging film I've ever seen.

A quick aside for perspective's sake- I'm 39, have been a horror fan since as early as I remember, and have been "hardcore" since around '88, when my friend and I began a tape-trading/underground movie binge that amassed us thousands of titles-so I've been into the scene all my life, and I love it with all my heart. From mainstream to underground, I have many favorites, most of them carrying an emotional wallop to go with whatever mayhem is depicted. After the near-death of my daughter 3 years ago due to sudden onset of type 1 diabetes, my wife and I took nearly 3 years and basically didn't watch movies at all, let alone horror. Well, life has mellowed out for us and we're active in the scene once again (mostly me). One of the first places I went to was this site- I joined, and basically asked you all, "what have I been missing?" When I left, the most shocking shit out there was Guinea Pig, Aftermath, Schramm, Italian cannibal flicks, and my faves, the films of Jim Van Bebber. You all responded with many things, but August Underground and Gateway Meat caught my attention.

O.K.- listen. 1st off, I don't "get off" on torture. I "get off" on gore in genre offerings like Re-Animator, Land of the Dead, etc. but don't "enjoy" films like Cannibal Holocaust, My Sweet Satan, and many others- I learn from them. Ultimately, that's what I'm in this scene for- it cuts to the ugly truth in regards to life sometimes. The Gateway Meat is the one film that has surpassed all others in that regard for me.

If you haven't seen The Gateway Meat, I will start by saying this movie is PROBABLY not for you, unless you're a fan of ultra-extreme horror. If you are, seek this out immediately, check around on this site for links, etc. because it is the most brutal movie ever..

This review is targeting those out there who HAVE seen it. I must say with clarity that this movie does NOT belong in the same category as August Underground, The Murder Collection, etc. The whole torture genre is to me a "top this" contest to see who can depict the most repulsive murderous and sexual acts on-screen. The problem with this for me is, there's no emotional attachment- it's all just stalking, screaming, and torture. People, I like hardcore horror, but a couple hours of one torture after another, all in "verite'" style....that's not challenging..and hopefully, not entertaining!! (If you are "into" that- o.k- I like punk but have goth friends, so we're cool, 'k?) The Gateway Meat is NOT REMOTELY like the rest of these films. (BTW- [I]'m not even going to get into the Asian torture genre i.e. Audition, Oldboy, etc as these tend to be quite emotional but in an artistic way)

The Gateway Meat dares to go beyond the genre and give us not only extreme hardcore horror, but an emotionally involving story that combines to give us, well ME anyway, the most disturbing and thought-provoking movie ever.

No plot synopsis here, no blather about the gore or effects (which are BTW the best gore effects ever in a low-budget film)- I just need to say that society needs this kind of film. One that reminds us of the things this fuckin' abhorrent place can produce. More horrifying than the family in Texas Chainsaw, the family in Gateway Meat...is....real! This family is what this world can produce!! And even the sickening deeds perpetrated by the family pale in comparison to the mass horrors inflicted by the "human society" which helped give its murderous rage rise. Hell, the family in this movie is more functional and the dad a better parent than most typical suburbanite families!!

Ron De Caro has made a raging, anarchic, hellish, and engulfing work that has a life and spirit all it's own. It's clear to me that he has gone through some serious hell in his life- this movie strikes me as an excorcism of sorts- I have never been so racked out after a movie. I watched this one alone, late at night, and I advise anyone out there to do the same, as this movie has the power, if viewed by the right person in the right frame of mind, to change you. It did me. I will not probably watch this one again for a long time--I cannot say that I enjoyed watching this movie; in fact, I hadda take a break after 1/2 way through- and it's only just over an hour-long movie! I was up all night after it, and it's been in my mind every day since. I have delayed this review for 2 weeks for not having the proper time to talk about this movie.

Ron, I believe I have walked in some of the same dark places as you, and I feel blessed to know that kindred spirits like you are out there who are letting the rage out, to a world that will never understand it, as they are the enemy. They could never understand the love that the afflicted have and the passionate rage that it gives way to. I have watched this world swallow up loved ones in my life time and again, and you have forced thoughts into my head that I need to be thinking, even though I don't want to.

So...yeh- pretty heavy review of what most people are treating like just another torture flick. But it's true...to me. I can't help if you don't agree with me- just as Mr. De Caro can't help if you can't get out of his film what it has to give. Watch it ALONE--and if you've been on a hardcore horror binge as of late, take some time off before seeing this- being jaded will only remove this film's impact on you.

I've been hugging my now 5-yr old daughter a lot more lately.

Love to you all,
Tawd