Die-ner (get it?) (2008, Review)

Published on March 31, 2010 by Adam Troutt · 1 Comment

Director: Patrick Horvath

Cast: Josh Grote, Liesel Kopp, Parker Quinn, Larry Purtell

Shot in the Dark Pictures / NTSC Region 1 / Unrated / 1.85:1 Widescreen / Mono / 75 minutes

How many times have you went to one of these run of the mill, out in the sticks, little truck stop diners? Maybe you were plagued with the same problems as I. Like coffee that is cold or perhaps a hamburger that tastes as if it was cooked the week before and left under a heat lamp until some poor misguided sap came and ordered it. Lets not forget tables that have food caked on it from two nights ago and the staff you just murdered coming back from the dead as relentless zombies hellbent on feasting upon your flesh…….no?…….that last one just me? Ok, nevermind moving on!

That’s where Die-ner (get it?) comes in. The zombie flick follows a gentleman by the name of Ken. After Ken does what he does best, offing the cook and waitress and then hiding the bodies, he poses as the waiter and gets ready for his next victims. Just as soon as some patrons come in for a midnight snack so does the once dead staff. Now with a much bigger priority at hand Ken is forced to team up with his should’ve been victims Rob and Kathy, a couple whose relationship is on the rocks, and Duke, the small town sheriff who spends most of his time talking to the lonely dispatcher Jessie, to fight off the zombies and survive the night.

We all are very much aware that zombie flicks have been invading shelves for the better part of a decade now and some might argue that they have very much over stayed their welcome. I however am not one of those people. Personally I love zombie films! Just like a mindless shambling zombie my hunger is never quiet satisfied. Also given the fact that they’ve become so overexposed zombies really aren’t scary anymore. Which makes zombie horror/comedies some of my favorites. That brings us right to Die-ner (get it?). A fun zombie flick who doesn’t take itself to seriously. Before I get to praising it lets take a look at the bad.

The bad. To be honest there isn’t anything glaringly bad about Die-ner (get it?). It is however a low budget horror movie and just like many before it it does at times suffer from the budget. The performances are all decent for the most part. Some scenes are acted wonderfully while others fall a bit short. Also there’s the gore, now don’t get me wrong there is gore in the movie and when its on display its done just fine but I was expecting more. More blood more guts! I mean come on man I gotta get my rocks off somehow! Now lets move on to what’s good about Die-ner (get it?).

Now for the good. Everything else! Die-ner (get it?) has a dark demented sense of humor and its not afraid to show it. I mean its a movie where the lead is a serial killer! What serial killer wouldn’t have a blast in this situation. Speaking of killers Josh Grote who plays “Ken” gives a great performance as the homicidal diner patron. Playing the character pretty straight instead of over the top like oh so many others would have. The movie itself is very well shot by Director of Photography Jonathan Rigattieri there’s no scenes that come out to dark or to bright.

Die-ner (get it?) was written and directed by Patrick Horvath and its one helluva job that he does writing and directing this movie. He created a zombie movie that plays excellently on a friday night with some friends and some beers. The script was well written and funny and the movie was well shot and well thought out. I very much look forward to the flicks that Patrick Horvath will hopefully make in the future. Overall Die-ner (get it?) is worth cracking open and consuming like so much tender pink flesh!