Black Sheep (2006)

 

This one is a regular hoot. You might expect a film about zombie sheep (yes, really!) to be one of those ideas that look good on paper but suck in execution, while in fact this is one of those films that is hilarious and gory at the same time. If you like what Peter Jackson or Sam Raimi did in their earlier work, you'll love this!

The Oldfield sheep farm has been tended by the family for decades. The youngest brother (Henry) now returns after several years, having been traumatized by his utter prick of an older brother Angus. In those years, Angus has been genetically modifying sheep to breed the ultimate race: the Oldfield. He has set up an elaborate press conference in order to go global with his product. In the meantime, two environmentalists, Grant and Experience, want to break in and discover evidence of the tampering. Grant steals a tube with an embryo inside, but when he drops it, it turns out the embryo is still alive and bites him. It also bites a sheep and then the shit really hits the fan. The sheep become bloodthirsty killers and devour everyone in their path. Will Henry save the farm or himself? What will happen? 

Yes, the premisse is completely daft, but it works. You'll never look at sheep the same way. It's pretty much genius, because turning something as inherently benign and soft into a vicious monster just opens the door for all sorts of shenanigans. As if it wasn't enough that the sheep infect other sheep and you now have a massive flock of killers on the loose, people that get bitten, turn into a bizarre sort of weresheep as well, something that happens to both Grant and Angus at one point. They also poke fun at some of the more artsy-fartsy environmentalists with Experience, who is babbling on about chakra's, but she does become a better character along the way. Also Henry, who's deathly afraid of sheep, mans up and becomes our intrepid (well, maybe) hero. 

There is so much humour in here, that you will be laughing almost all the way through. Some cleverly placed puns and just some absurd situations will have you peeing your trousers laughing. Not only that, but the gore is also incredibly effective. The Weta Workshop created some pretty gruesome stuff and it is no wonder this hearkens back to 'Dead Alive' or 'Evil Dead' at more than one point. Heck, it even has a couple of very effective jumpscares. And again: it is a film about sheep! Props to the filmmakers to stick to practical effects as well. Okay, some of the sheep puppets look a bit iffy at times, but as for entrails, dismemberment and all round bloody messmaking, this looks excellent!

It is also rather short, but that's okay, as this means nothing overstays its welcome. This wonderfully entertaining mix of shlock and fun is almost recquired viewing for gorehounds who like stuff on the lighter side of things. A bit of a laugh, a bit of throwing up and a whole lot of inbridled fun: 'Black Sheep' is a truly entertaining flick!