Film:  Black Sheep

Director:  Jonathan King

Starring:  Nathan Meister, Peter Feeney, Danielle Mason, Oliver Driver

            Black Sheep, not to be confused with the Chris Farley movie of the same name, is everything one could hope for in a black comedy.  Released in 2006, this movie is perfect for those wanting a good laugh; it is not so good for someone expecting an actual horror movie, or anything at all serious.  As long as you know what you are getting into, this is a fun time. 

            Black Sheep is essentially a movie about a genetic engineering experiment gone horribly wrong.  The movie starts out with two boys, Angus and younger brother Henry, on their farm in New Zealand.  Angus plays a prank on his brother involving a dead sheep, terrifying him, but the joke is abruptly ended by news that their father has died.  This experience traumatizes Henry, and the movie fast-forwards many years to an adult Henry, now very fearful of sheep, on his way back to the farm after a long absence.

            Angus is getting ready for a presentation during which he will unveil a new breed of sheep.  He is rather obsessed with the sheep they will be showing off, and this obsession grows disturbingly obvious as the movie progresses.  When his brother arrives, it is clear that they do not get along well, and Angus tries to quickly get rid of his brother by offering him two million dollars for his share of the farm. 

            Things are fine and dandy until two animal rights activists show up.  Experience and Grant scout out the location where the genetic engineering is taking place, and Grant steals a container of waste.  They make a run for it, but the container falls and breaks, releasing a terrifying, if not hilariously energetic, sheep fetus.  This starts a chain reaction involving lots of biting between various sheep and humans.  When the sheep start biting each other, they are turned into vicious killing machines.  When a sheep or an infected person bites another person, the victim slowly turns into a sheep.  This is the first movie I have seen where I could use the term “Sheeple” in a literal sense. 

            Black Sheep is the New Zealand version of a zombie movie.  Pretty soon, more sheep are infected than not, and our heroes must figure out a way to cure them before all of New Zealand is infected with killer sheep.  This movie certainly does not skimp out on the horror elements.  Shape-shifting faces, creepy characters in dark corners, lots of gore, scientists who seem to have no morals and murderous animals are all present in this film.  The special effects deserve special mention as well, for they are quite good and really add to the horror side of the film.  This is not surprising, considering WETA of Lord of the Rings fame was involved. 

            While the elements of horror are there, this film is no doubt a comedy.  In a scene toward the beginning of the film, several of our characters jump into a truck and try to escape the sheep.  At one point, they are all in the back of the pickup, and just as the viewer begins to think—“Wait.  Who’s driving?”—one of the characters asks this very question.  The next shot shows the front of the vehicle, very clearly being driven by a sheep.  Everyone screams and jumps out.  In another scene, we even get to hear the gem, “You baaaa-stard.”  And of course, a comedy of any sort would not be complete without a ridiculous ending.  Black Sheep certainly delivers.  Let us just say that it involves sheep passing gas and a lighter. 

            This movie is not for everyone.  It probably takes a certain type of viewer to appreciate the humor in this film without rolling their eyes the whole time and writing everything off as purely stupid.  It is stupid.  It is ridiculous.  It is also a fun piece of crazy entertainment.  That is the point.  

          On a scale of 0 through 4 (with 4 being most highly recommended)

            If you like comedies: 2.5

            If you like black comedies: 3

            If you like horror movies: 1.5

            If you like romantic movies: 0.5

            If you do not like movies: 0

            If you like all movies: 4