While attending the University of Miami, Robert Horn shot a student film about a killer llama run amok. After graduation, Horn felt he could expand the short film into a full-length feature, so he worked to acquire funds. Thanks to a university grant, he earned a budget of $3,000 to make his killer llama movie a reality. To keep costs down and help some aspiring filmmakers, Horn hired around 25-30 college students for the cast and crew. Horn specifically wanted to use llamas simply because he had access to one that he could use. Horn wanted his movie to be an intentionally campy B-movie, and almost everyone used pseudonyms as part of the joke. For example, Robert Horn became Howie Dewin, and the cinematographer became Chet Steadman. After a limited theatrical run in April 2015, Llamageddon made its way onto streaming services later that year.
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Rating
Synopsis
On a far-off planet full of killer llamas, one of them takes a rocket to invade Earth. During the journey, the ship gets damaged and crash-lands near a small farm, and the llama kills the farmers. Meanwhile, siblings Floyd (James Earl Cox III) and Mel (Pinki Brainweis) are coming back from their grandparents’ funeral. While their mother has to take care of the will, Floyd and Mel must watch over their grandparents’ house. Mel takes this opportunity to invite several friends, including her boyfriend Trent (Gooch Jesco III), over for a party. While everyone is either getting drunk or stoned, they’re unaware of the killer llama stalking outside looking for prey. Soon enough, the llama starts killing off the partygoers in ridiculous ways, including electrocution, heart removal, and toxic spit. Who will make it out alive, and will this killer llama be stopped?
Review
In my review of The VelociPastor, I mentioned how I’m generally not a fan of intentionally bad movies. To me, films that’re supposed to be terrible feel hollow and artificial, like the filmmakers use it as an excuse. I gave VelociPastor some credit because, even though it’s meant to be ridiculous, it felt like the filmmakers tried. With Llamageddon, it feels like the filmmakers put little to no effort into making this movie. Granted, they had a $30,000 budget to work with, but I’ve seen several low-budget films that look better than this. The directing is flat, the acting is bad all across the board, and the effects are laughably terrible. The only legitimately good thing is the animated segments, which are amateurish but are easily the best parts. However, I can criticize this movie all I want, but doing so is a pointless venture.
Everything in this movie is supposed to be terrible: the story, the characters, the effects, the script, etc. You’re not supposed to go into a film about a llama with laser eyes that kills people expecting high art. This is meant to be a horror-comedy, and I could get behind that if it were funny, which it isn’t. Aside from the absurd premise, most of the jokes fall flat and have been done better in other movies. None of the characters are likable, which I’m sure was the point, but it’s a lazy writing trope. Even at 69 minutes in length (Get it?), there is so much filler that it feels like it drags on. However, if anything I’ve described sounds appealing to you, you’ll have more fun than I did. Overall, Llamageddon is precisely what you think it is, but don’t expect anything more.
Watch Llamageddon on Amazon Prime: https://amzn.to/3U9wiIj.
Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
