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Gregory Nicotero, Betsy Palmer, John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Amy Jones ... see more see more... , Paul Lynch , Harry Manfredini , Tom Savini , Joseph Stefano , Stan Winston , Joseph Zito , Rob Zombie , Anthony Timpone , Jeff Katz

For decades fright fans have cowered in horror as vicious killers stalked their helpless prey in the cold flicker of the projector bulb and in darkened living rooms with the curtains firmly drawn. Now... read more read more..., for anyone who has ever wondered just what motivated the filmmakers behind these brutal classics, this look at the history of the modern slasher film offers demented insight into some of the most terrifying motion pictures ever released. From Psycho to the giallo genre to Freddy Vs. Jason, Going to Pieces offers a comprehensive overview of the entire slasher genre as discussed by such horror luminaries as Wes Craven, John Carpenter, Sean S. Cunningham, and Rob Zombie. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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73% liked it

2,142 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Michael Bohusz

Release Date: October 13, 2006

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DVD Release Date: March 20, 2007

Stats: 220 reviews

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Michael Myers On The Cover of The Documentary "Going To Pieces".
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Flixster Reviews (220)

  • Deano78
    April 16, 2011
    Deano78
    A fun doc on the history of Slasher films from the early voyueristic films like peeping tom and Psycho right up the remakes of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Hostel. It's not that indepth but it is good how it charts how the studios wanted to cash in on the success of Halloween, Fri... read moreday the 13th. Then there were tons of low budget stuff in the 80's before it picked up again in the 90's with bigger budgets and a twist to the genre with the likes of Scream. Also covers make-up artist Tom Savini and interview with all the best directors of the genre. The DVD also has a few quizzes and true or false to play with, a nice touch!
  • superclerk25
    October 24, 2009
    superclerk25
    A good watch but it's almost just a commercial for the genre. They get into the history of how people were against the slasher flicks when they were coming out but there was no one to talk about the other side of the situation. It's a very one sided doc.
    This is one for the fan... read mores of the genre, by fans of the genre.
  • yona71
    October 20, 2008
    yona71
    Brilliant documentary about the history of slasher films as told by John Carpenter, Wes Craven, makeup artist Tom Savini, and various actors and filmmakers of the horror genre. If you're a horror enthusiast, this is a must see.
  • pier007
    June 20, 2008
    pier007
    Too bad it was badly edited, some interviews were difficult to comprehend due to the incompetent montage, but it was fun to watch all those gory scenes and some of the great minds behind one of the most berated cinematic sub genres.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    May 17, 2008
    cancercapricorn2002
    Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film is just like the book by Adam Rockoff it was based on, fun, entertaining, interesting and a must for all horror fans! I cannot stress how much horror fans will love this film!!

    Going to Pieces is a documentary that focuses... read more on the delightful sub-genre of horror, slasher films. It explores early films in the 60s like Peeping Tom and Psycho and 70s films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Last House on the Left that paved the way for slasher films, which exploded on the scene when Halloween hit theaters in 1978. Halloween gained so much popularity that it soon became a template for other slashers, which soon flooded movie screens across the country. Going to Pieces shows the golden age of slashers in the 80s and how eventually the public became disenchanted with the genre in the late 80s and into the early 90s. That is, until the genre was reinvented and reenergized with Cravens Scream and continued to evolve with new films such as House of 1000 Corpses, Hostel, Saw, The Devils Rejects, etc. Through film clips, still photos, behind-the-scenes and interviews with both the greats of the genre and the more obscure participants, Going to Pieces is pure, unadulterated joy to watch!

    The archival footage of classic, obscure and controversial slasher films was a treat to see, as well as interviews with directors Wes Craven, Amy Holden Jones, John Carpenter, Sean Cunningham, Rob Zombie, special effects masters Stan Winston and Tom Savini, actors Felissa Rose and Betsy Palmer, and many, many more familiar (and not so familiar) faces all talking about their craft and love for horror.

    Through interviews and footage, the documentary also delves into the socio-political implications of slasher films, including how Vietnam, the Reagan administration, a society of mass consumption and other turmoil in America influenced horror films. Archival footage of parents outrage at the killer Santa flick Silent Night, Deadly Night and a classic Siskel and Ebert show that decries and belittles horror films as misogynistic, sick and nasty are also included. I love this in-depth look at horror films, because, like it or not, horror films usually mirror the fears of a particular time and place in society. These hows and whys of horror reveal that the genre goes much deeper than just hacking and slashing barely clothed co-eds. This aspect of Going to Pieces reminded me of another great horror documentary, American Nightmare, which explores more of the historical turbulence that gave rise to so many horror films in the 70s and onwards.

    The interviewees offer some great commentary on their films and what went on behind the scenes, before and after a film was made. You can tell each of them has a real passion for the horror genre and it is so cool to see that spark in their eyes when talking about it. Each and every one of them has great viewpoints and most are pretty humorous! Check out what Rob Zombie has to say about the titles he chose for his films!

    One small warning , the documentary does give away some big plot points and endings to several horror films, so if you havent seen many slashers I suggest you catch up with your viewing before checking out Going to Pieces. Other than that, I have no other complaints with this documentary. Its pretty much drool-worthy for fellow horror fans!

    If you are a fan of horror, you will dig this documentary and I highly recommend you pick it up. It?s a fun, entertaining and nostalgic look back (and a hopeful look forward) at the slasher film.
  • Beefy
    May 6, 2007
    Beefy
    Decent, but not all that revealing. A few fun anecdotes.
  • nuheart
    April 26, 2007
    nuheart
    Not as comprehensive as it could have been, but it hits all the high points, and skips some of the low points, so it could have been worse. Overall, a pretty good doco on a subject that's generally overlooked as an art form. Worth watching for Betsy Palmer's interviews alone.
  • danieljparsons
    May 11, 2009
    danieljparsons
    The potential for an interesting documentary is squandered in this un-illuminating and talking-head heavy film. Going to Pieces purportedly sets out to trace the origins of the much derided slasher genre from Peeping Tom and Psyhco up to the post-modern offer... read moreings of Scream and 'torture-porn' of Hostel. Unfortunately, this documentary is anything but comprehensive, and many of the films featured are hardly noteworthy examples of the genre. Almost all of the clips featured show the most gruesome aspects of the films commented on, often involving the special effects gags of the likes of Tom Savini. Whilst the clips are often interesting, the constant barrage eventually becomes exhausting and the need for actual analysis is sorely missed. Issues such as the nature of fear, misogyny, censorship and the effect of violent images on children are discussed but in the most off-hand manner and there's very little insight on offer here. The most interesting parts of the film are the interviews with the directors of the films featured, Wes Craven coming across as the most affable and intelligent of them, but even here there's nothing new that a fan of the films will not already know.

    Further hampered by narration from "deep throat trailer guy", cheap production values and annoying and unfunny anecdotes, this piece would serve better as a throwaway DVD extra than a film in it's own right.
  • John2223
    May 11, 2009
    John2223
    If you're looking for a simple and informative documentary on the history of the slasher flick, this is a good film to see.
  • patrickdol
    October 24, 2008
    patrickdol
    Simply a great and entertaining history and survey of slasher films throughout the years. It made me want to check out some I'd never seen and rewatch others. One problem I had with it is that it completely leaves out Bob Clark's Black Christmas, that definitely had a large influ... read moreence on the slasher genre... for shame.

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