Sewer Chewer

'A space satellite falls to earth and lands in a rural area, radiating the local wildlife into a mutant monster that has a large appetite for humans. An unnamed government agency sends a special agent out to dispose of the satellite and the mutant and any who know of it.'

James Hawley is one of many in a new trend of setting the bar for indie horror films. Like his peers Cory Udler (Incest Death Squad), Henry Weintraub (Melvin), and Stacy Davidson (Sweatshop) Hawley has created something that is bound for cult status.

The fist thing one will notice upon viewing Sewer Chewer is that the soundtrack itself is just as much a character as any of the actors. It took me a few minutes to grasp that concept, but once I did I could not imagine the film without it. Jack Acid, James' recording moniker, created the music and audio alongside John Manson (lead singer/guitarist of the Oklahoma City band Billie Joe Minghead) on the theremin.

The dark and gritty look of the film makes you feel like you are watching one of those video nasties from the 80's, copied again and again lost to all but VHS bootlegs stowed away in dark closets. Hawley even went so far as to have the film shot in full screen, once again sticking to the roots of indie cinema by avoiding popular trends.

Sewer Chewer features a cameo by Troma President and co-founder Lloyd Kaufman as Director 69, the head of the unnamed government agency trying to dispose of the alien satellite. Kaufman is a legend in the world of indie cinema, and one to be truly respected. Yet, his role in this film doesn't seem to fit. His acting is over the top and too Troma'esque in a movie that doesn't feel like a Troma film at all. It's apparent he's to be the comedic relief in a film almost devoid of humor. Perhaps if he had played the part as serious as the other actors his scenes might pull the film together. I felt as though Hawley had spliced together scenes from another film entirely. That being said, I do not feel like it ruined the film at all. Perhaps others will love the added humor, and appreciate Kaufman in all his Tromatic glory.

Working with a cast of virgins, Hawley's direction has truly come through. He has pulled great performances from actors whom have never graced the screen before. Notably, Dan Hoganson (drummer for the Oklahoma City band Captain Eyeball) as Agent 23 brings forth a sense of dedication that works off Kaufmans over acting.

The effects, created by Hawley, are gory and beyond what you see in most films released by major distributors and with four times the budget. I was just as enthralled with the creature itself, trying to figure out the inner workings and how it was made to move, as I was the entire film.

Sewer Chewer is one of the most original films I've had the pleasure of viewing in a long time. Going on such a limited budget, he has created something truly amazing.