Death Rattle LSD (2011, Dir. Ron Atkins)
A review by Mario Dominick
As of recently, Las Vegas underground filmmaking icon Ron Atkins has given us some of his best work with the 2010 release of his drug-murder crime extravaganza Mutilation Mile and the 2011 release of The Cuckoo Clocks of Hell, the third “Harry Russo” feature (after depraved micro budget masterpieces Schizophreniac and Necromaniac) and one of his best features with John Giancaspro as Harry being teamed up with underground legend Jim VanBebber playing “Terry Hawkins” (the character horror fans know from Roger Watkins’ classic Last House on Dead End Street). Atkins also gave us a third film in this string of underground masterworks, that being Death Rattle LSD, a film about what happens when an actor goes to the “dark side,” so to speak.
Lawrence Bucher (from Mutilation Mile and Cuckoo Clocks) stars as himself. He’s an actor looking for work and one day his friend filmmaker Ron Atkins (played by Atkins himself no less) gets the idea to make a snuff movie. When Lawrence takes part in this, things take a turn in a direction of absolute and utter depravity that virtually places Lawrence in a state that can best be described as pure Hell on Earth. Torture, rape, gore, self-mutilation, and other vicious, vile acts of degradation ensue.
Death Rattle LSD is the ultimate treat for fans of cinema that goes to the lowest depths of bad taste and is a must see for those who enjoy all of Atkins’ previous works. Lawrence Bucher proves himself again in this one as he did in Mutilation Mile to be an actor with the guts and drive to take on the most intense roles and can pull it off with an ultimate no-holds-barred approach to the script material.
Death Rattle LSD along with Mutilation Mile and Cuckoo Clocks I firmly believe are the essential Ron Atkins films and the ones I recommend the most to those just discovering his work. Since Schizophreniac and Necromaniac, he has proven himself to be a true auteur of extreme underground sleaze and Death Rattle is no exception.
Death Rattle is available on DVD from Atkins himself through Atkins Entertainment. Visit them online at www.cutthroatvideo.com to order your copy along with Mutilation Mile, the Harry Russo flicks, and Ron’s other works.
