Very clever--and I am amazed they could sustain the film's momentum throughout.

Rating: 9/10 (3 December 2011)

I am amazed that folks from the studio that made this had no idea how to market it and actually shelved it for several years. It SHOULD have done extremely well in the theaters, as it's an exceptionally made and very quirky little film. It's a parody of slasher films and manages to enchant the viewer throughout.
The film begins with a group of annoying college kids heading off for the clichéd camping trip in the woods. Soon they see some local hillbillies who the kids have convinced themselves might just be killers such as you'd see in a slasher film or "Deliverance". However, two of these locals, Tucker and Dale, are very sweet and peaceful guys despite their appearance. But, every time they appear, the idiots think the pair are killers and they overreact. It's all rather funny--but the fun is yet to come.
Later, when the pair are out fishing at night, the young idiots who are camping nearby go swimming. When one of them sees the two, she assumes they have come to kill her and she falls into the water--hitting her head on the way down to the water. She'll drown but Dale jumps into the water and saves her. But, her friends THINK the pair have killed Allison and they run in terror. Not knowing what to do, they take her back to their cabin and Dale makes her pancakes. No big deal, right? WRONG!! The idiot young folks assume Allison is dead and they decide to attack--and a long and crazy chain of events takes place that only serves to convince them more and more that Dale and Tucker were serial killers! There's more....but I don't want to spoil the sick fun.
The plot idea for this film would make a great 20-30 minute movie. I wondered how they could sustain it for 90 minutes--but they did. How? Well, the key is that they made Dale and Tucker (particularly Dale) so gosh-darn likable as well as complex. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that this film will become a cult favorite, as it has a lot going for it. Great acting, writing and direction--I sure can't wait to see more from these folks. What a fine movie.
While it might not surprise you, this IS a very, very bloody film. My wife and I laughed at the blood and gore and you probably will, too. But I would NOT let kids see this one, that's for sure.
Also, during the scene with the crazy guy firing the revolver, note how the gun fires 10-12 bullets without reloading. I don't' think this is a mistake--more just an inside joke, as such a gun would run out of bullets long before this.