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Jason Flemyng, Peter Stormare, Leslie Hope, Nina Garbiras, Tom Atkins ... see more see more... , Jeff Monahan , Andrew Tarbet , Jonathan Higgins

Horror-meister George Romero directs this thriller about a 99-pound weakling who strikes back at everyone who has wronged him in the past. Henry Creedlow (Jason Flemyng) works at a fashion mag called ... read more read more...Bruiser for the short-fused, dictatorial Miles Styles (Peter Stormare). Henry spends much of his day fantasizing about killing himself and killing others, particularly his nagging wife Janine (Nina Garbiras). After learning that Miles is shagging his wife and that his stockbroker best friend swindled him out of a stack of money, Henry wakes up the following day to learn that his face has mysteriously been rendered white and featureless. Soon, like a mime with bloodlust, Henry violently dispatches with everyone in his life, save Miles' wife, whose paintings may be responsible for his sudden transformation. This film was screened at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

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32% liked it

3,716 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

9 critics

R, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: George A. Romero

Release Date: December 31, 2001

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DVD Release Date: October 9, 2001

Stats: 186 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (186)

  • cancercapricorn2002
    May 21, 2008
    cancercapricorn2002
    George Romero has been responsible for some of the greatest horror films of all time (Night of the Living Dead among others), and some that are more misunderstood (Season of the Witch, Monkey shines). "Bruiser", clearly falls in the latter category, which is not to say its a bad ... read moremovie, but that the "theme" of the film is what to watch for, not necessarily the film itself.

    "Bruiser" isn't a who-dunnit horror film where the audience has to guess the serial killer, or said killer's reasons for murder, nor is it a suspense thriller with the police on the hunt of an elusive genius who happens to be a murderous psychopath. "Bruiser" makes its plot and killer clear from the beginning: Henry is a man who is unable to stand up for himself, and is taken advantage of and ignored by everyone he knows, from his wife having an affair with his boss, to his best friend, who he finds out is stealing thousands from him. He entertains thoughts of murderous revenge and even suicide, but realizes he can never act upon them. One day, he wakes up to discover that his identity has literally disappeared, his face replaced with a pale, blank white mask. He uses his new identity (or more accurately, lack thereof) to take the vengeance he has always dreamed of on all those who have hurt him.

    The reason the film works so well is because Henry's situation is one we can all understand. Whether at work, school, or otherwise, there is always someone like Henry, someone who works hard and tries his hardest to be kind and polite to everyone, but is totally ignored and passed up for promotions, invitations to parties, etc. Instead of taking the time to properly recognize that kindness, it is simply exploited, and this exploitation of the kind is unofficially encouraged in modern corporate America. Henry's loss of identity and kind soul to backstabbing family and friends is a true occurrence experienced by many everyday, and its a gratifying feeling to see Henry, unlike the rest of them, get a chance to finally assert himself through his apparent invisibility, even if it is through murder. He is the ultimate antihero, a murderer whose actions are arguably justified, violently poetic in response to constant suffocation; there are some who would repeat such actions if given the chance (are you one of them?).

    The fact that it isn't a straight horror or thriller film, along with its less-than-subtle commentary on American society, may turn off a lot of people, but it is well directed and competently acted (it doesn't feature any stand-out portrayals; maybe Henry's Euro-Trash boss is a little too annoying), although the finale is so silly that it almost ruins the whole ordeal. The haunting beauty of Henry waking to see his new face for the first time is enough to show that, though he has evolved past some fans' tastes, Romero still has it in him.
  • puffchunk
    March 30, 2008
    puffchunk
    George A. Romero makes good movies, right? Zombie movies anyway, this one sucked. The only cool part was how freaky his mask looked, and that he imagined holding a womans head down on a train track for cutting in front of him. Otherwise it made no sense, except that it was som... read moree sort of metaphor for his face becoming a blank slate and colored as he killed people. But since it was actually happening it was dumb.
  • FilmFanatik
    February 13, 2008
    FilmFanatik
    Not his best, but an interesting flick none-the-less.
  • Godless
    May 18, 2006
    Godless
    Almost as bad as land of the dead.
  • fb100002023516744
    June 20, 2011
    fb100002023516744
    Not that great of a movie actually, very boring and unrealistic.
  • Lemure
    April 10, 2012
    Lemure
    This is a fun take on the "I'm not going to take this shit anymore, grrrr!" genre. Away from zombies, Romero has made some smart little flicks. This is one of them.
  • ashicles
    May 6, 2012
    ashicles
    I slightly remember a guy with a blank face and watching the clock to see much longer it was until this was over. Very droll and boring affair.
  • juliantoepfer
    December 29, 2011
    juliantoepfer
    Romero re-affirms my belief that he's one of the most overrated horror directors in history with this bomb.

    Its exceedingly boring, unimaginative and bland. Throw in the Misfits, and you have a total garbage fest. The mask is cool, I have to give it that. A much better version... read more of the Michael Myers mask. But thats pretty much it. Bad script, bad acting, extremely anti-climactic ending, and just totally devoid of creative expression.

    A very strange performance from Peter Stormare... Out of character for him, and he clearly was out of his element. The only way I can recommend this is if you're having insomnia problems. This movie should take care of that right away.
  • antwanleeroyphillips23
    December 27, 2010
    antwanleeroyphillips23
    welcome to the life of henry creedlow this is his story of madness,terror,and murder welcome to his nightmare I mean your nighmare revenge is a good thing for henrey creedlow and this is his movie bruiser tells the horrifc story of a man named henry creedlow who which has a dark ... read moresecret that which would change his life even though he has violent and disturbing thoughts of murdering people which the film describes that really is he really killing these people or is he until one day he wakes up which he wakes up with a white mask if he tries to take the mask off which he cant get the mask off for a resason which then he relaizes everything is happenning which after he killed this lady who stole his money at his house supossedlly his maid or something else then he follows his wife which earlier in the film during his job's party which he works at a magaizine called bruiser which during the part he catches his wife with his asshole of an boss which then during when he is following his wife which when she is at the place that henry works at to see henry's boss which then henry's wife and henry's boss start about to have sex which henry's boss ex-wife comes in and says you asshole and takes a picture of them having sex which then henry comes in after that grabs an extension cord and kills his wife which she is hanging outiside of a window then other things happen which stranger things happen bruiser is a great horror film highly recommended for any horror fan a great horror film gem even though bruiser is hard to find on dvd it is worth the money bruiser is one of those horror films that a well known horror film director still does a good job the director does not fail during these measures of the direction and the director is good at making the film scary which brusier does not fail the scream meter highly recommended.
    BRUISER AKA GEORGE A ROMERO'S BRUISER
    starring:jason flemyng (seed of chucky leauge of extrodinary gentlemen and mirrors) peter stormare leslie hope nina garbiras tom atkins (the fog (1979) halloween III:season of the witch and night of the creeps) and jeff monahan.
    release date:october 9th 2001
    genre:horror
    film's rating:R for strong violence a sex scene nudity drug use and strong language
    directed by:george A romero (night of the living dead (1968) dawn of the dead (1978) day of the dead (1985) martin monkey shines land of the dead diary of the dead survival of the dead knightriders and writter of night of the living dead (1990) ).
  • jakeseaborn
    September 21, 2009
    jakeseaborn
    Between 1993 and 2005, George Romero went into hibernation, only to make one film with Studio Canal in 2000, which turned out to be this steaming pool of dog urine. The story centers around a whiny little girl of a man who complains of being treated horribly by everyone, includi... read moreng his boss, landlord etc. By a chance meeting with a hippie chick making stupid masks, he becomes faceless and takes his aggressions out on those he feels have wronged him. Yep, it's as bad as it sound. This may be the worst film Romero ever made (This is including Knight Riders, Two Evil Eyes, and Monkey Shines. However, I have yet to see "There's Always Vanilla"). Avoid at all costs.

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Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson
October 23, 2008
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

It's fascinating in an overwrought kind of way, and even though it was not filmed in Pittsburgh, it's still filled with all of Romero's usual touches. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
February 17, 2006
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com

Never scary or suspenseful, and only succeeds at being sleazy and unpleasant. It's easy to see why this stinker never got a theatrical release.

Scott Weinberg
April 3, 2005
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Dark, ugly, violent, and bleak. Fun times for all!

David Nusair
May 7, 2003
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

Bruiser is clearly meant to operate as both a social satire and horror flick, but it's effective in neither realm. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
March 14, 2002
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The humor is vacuous and the story lacks subtlety. Full Review

Walter Chaw
December 30, 2001
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

A fairy tale worth telling for Romero who, even in his minor failures, exposes by example the dearth of significance and heart in the majority of today's lifeless knock-offs. Full Review

Jeremiah Kipp
October 29, 2001
Jeremiah Kipp, Filmcritic.com

Bruiser may be a lightweight in the Romero canon, but he's still able to deliver the goods. Full Review

Johnny Butane
January 1, 2000
Johnny Butane, CHUD

Bruiser is very adept at getting its point across.

Emanuel Levy
July 21, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Jon Popick
February 7, 2001
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy

No review available.

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