I find myself wishing that this Cyrus were a sequel to that Cyrus, as this true-life crime chiller is unpleasant on many levels. But if Hill were playing the role for laughs? Itd be equally tasteless, but something to see.
Here, Cyrus (Brian Krause of TVs Charmed) is the so-called County Line Cannibal in a redneck town full of people he kills and carves up. He wasnt always a crazy-ass homicidal maniac; he was driven to it after he caught his wife boning another man. You can almost hear the snap.
Snotty newswoman Maria (Danielle Harris, a newly minted scream queen after Hatchet II and Rob Zombies Halloween remake) rolls into town with her cameraman seeking a good story. Flannel-wearing Emmett (Lance Henriksen, lending this project name legitimacy) is happy to share Cyrus reign of terror, in every exhaustive detail. That makes the movie narrated beyond need.
The town doesnt realize Cyrus is a butcher of people; they just see him as the butcher who makes the most delicious hamburger meat in town. Certainly viewers can predict the films painfully obvious twist. But hes not without his morals; as Emmett explains, Cyrus kept womens bodies in the basement, because it wouldnt be right for them to sleep in his house since they werent married.
I wont argue that the subject matter isnt worse than the likes of The Human Centipede or the I Spit on Your Grave remake or even Harris aforementioned films, but at least those exhibit far more stylish execution no pun intended not to mention a point. This one just has a last-minute trick, which shouldnt fool any member among its core target.
If you must watch, stick through all the credits for two more minutes of Marias interview footage, containing what may be the movies single worst performance. Cyrus is only for collectors of Tiffany Shepis nude scenes; I know youre out there. Rod Lott