Creepy Clown, Big Cleaver, and Buckets of Blood
MOVIE REVIEW
100 Tears (Director's Cut)
NC-17 - 
Genre: Horror
Year Released: 2007, Unearthed Films Blu-ray 2025
Runtime: 1h 36m
Director(s): Marcus Koch
Writer(s): Joe Davison
Cast: Raine Brown, Joe Davison, Georgia Chris, Jack Amos, Leslie Crytzer, Kibwe Dorsey, Jeff Dylan Graham, Jeremy King, Chris Antilian, Krystal Badia, Ted Geoghegan
Where To Watch: available now, order your copy here: www.unearthedfilms.com, www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com
RAVING REVIEW: There's nothing like a clown with a giant cleaver to spark an audience’s nightmares—or at least raise some eyebrows. Director Marcus Koch taps directly into that primal fear in his brutally messy slasher, 100 TEARS. This independent horror flick dives straight into the thick of things, piling on the gore while serving up a plot that feels amusingly outrageous. The result is messy yet oddly watchable; audiences who prefer their horror drenched in practical effects and dripping with irony will find themselves grinning through the bloodshed, while others might simply wonder what exactly they've gotten themselves into.
The setup is straightforward: meet Gurdy; for over twenty years, he’s haunted a sleepy town in Florida, chopping and slicing his way through victims without care. The local cops haven't gotten anywhere close to cracking the case. Enter Jennifer and Mark, two tabloid journalists eager to break open the truth behind this long-running chaos. As they chase their story deeper into the darkness, they quickly discover that finding the truth behind a blood-drenched urban legend isn't as easy—or safe—as they assumed. But despite an engaging premise, the film's narrative fizzles out, becoming little more than a loosely connected series of gruesome set pieces.
What director Marcus Koch truly nails in 100 TEARS is his passion for practical special effects. The movie's visuals, especially the violent, bloody sequences, are genuinely impressive. Each slice, each flying appendage, and each shocking moment of carnage is created with meticulous detail. Koch demonstrates remarkable skill in these graphic moments, conjuring uncomfortably real scenes. He relishes crafting disturbing visuals, refusing to rely on digital shortcuts. These moments stand out as highlights, memorable for their raw authenticity and unsettling realism. Fans of intense, boundary-pushing horror will likely applaud Koch's dedication to grotesque spectacle.
Ironically, the film's digital cinematography significantly undermines this gruesome charm. Rather than choosing a medium that matches the gritty, grainy feel horror fans often associate with intense slashers, Koch opts for a crisp, crystal-clear format. As a result, the movie usually feels oddly sanitized, losing some of the grimy, unsettling quality that could have heightened its effectiveness.
While the film earns praise for technical creativity, it falls short when examining its storytelling and performances. Joe Davison’s script offers intriguing glimpses of the villain’s twisted backstory, but unfortunately, the explanations provided lack complexity. A deeper dive into Gurdy’s warped motivations might have made the character more menacing or tragic, turning him from a simple, shallow villain into a genuinely chilling presence. Instead, the clown’s behavior comes across as arbitrary at times, weakening the impact of his villainy.
The cast brings mixed results, with performances varying in quality. Raine Brown, tasked with conveying a sense of madness, overacts to such an extent that her scenes unintentionally become comedic rather than menacing. However, Georgia Chris and Joe Davison fare considerably better, injecting much-needed credibility into their characters. Although their dialogue and character arcs remain superficial, their charisma chemistry helps carry viewers through some of the film’s weaker narrative stretches.
Koch deserves credit for capitalizing on technical aspects within his limited resources. His framing and camerawork demonstrate skill, disguising some production limitations. He shows creativity in staging violent sequences, proving an understanding of maximizing impact visually without resorting to clumsy shortcuts.
Ultimately, its unflinching audacity in delivering raw brutality keeps it compelling. It offers unapologetic entertainment for viewers fascinated by the grotesque and absurdly violent. However, those hoping for a deeper exploration of horror psychology or a sustained sense of dread will likely be disappointed.
As it stands, Koch’s bloody clown caper straddles a strange line: it’s an undeniably memorable but flawed gore spectacle. Regular moviegoers might find themselves mildly amused by its sheer absurdity and impressive special effects, though ultimately left wanting more substance beneath the copious bloodshed. Horror enthusiasts, meanwhile, might enjoy the spectacle purely for its shock value despite recognizing its significant shortcomings. In essence, 100 TEARS offers exactly what it promises—uncomplicated, unapologetic, blood-soaked mayhem—but little beyond that to leave a lasting mark on viewers who prefer more from their horror experience.
Bonus Materials:
Audio Commentary with Director Marcus Koch & Stephen Biro
Original Cut
Interview with Director Marcus Koch
Blood, Guts & Greasepaint: Making 100 Tears
Original Behind the Scenes
Additional Behind the Scenes
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Marcus Koch's Childhood Short Films
Trailer
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[photo courtesy of UNEARTHED FILMS, MVD ENTERTAINMENT]
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