Directed by Dan Mintz, 2001

Addicts who set up a meth lab in a dilapidated house in the woods is, at least, unchartered territory in the genre. But Cookers shows why it probably is untred ground.

It’s really just not that interesting. Addicts are boring. They’re the same in every single movie and they’re never original. Unless, they’re on “The Wire“. That’s the only exception.

But despite all the predictability surrounding the entire situation, Cookers is actually endurable. The budget may have been practically non-existant (there are several shots where you can see sound or camera equipment in frame) and the look of the film is more boring than even the most barebones of shot-on-video crap and yet, somehow, it isn’t revoltingly bad.

I can’t really explain why it isn’t that bad, which makes writing this review a challenge. The scares are generic and derivative. You can call the pay off of any setup minutes before it comes. As they cook up their supply of stolen meth, they grow crazier and crazier until they start seeing and hearing things. None of it is entirely shocking, but it does lead up to an end which is very oddly satisfying.

The performances are better than the pay-grade, but they’re nothing amazing. Though, I will admit that Cyia Batten, who is apparently one of the Pussycat Dolls, gives a commendable performance and isn’t exploited with a bunch of makeup as the junkie girlfriend.

But some how, it survives on…well… something unknown. I guess you could call it charm. It is obvious everyone wanted to make a good movie and though they may not have done their best to hide their limitations, they at least embraced them throughout and I can respect that.

Turning it on half way through at 2am on a Sunday night would probably keep you watching, but other than that I wouldn’t go out of your way to see it, unless you can’t think of anything else.