I saw this "film" on the streaming channel American Horrors, which is run by the director Hart D. Fisher. Like his channel, this "film" is repetitive, juvenile and very boring. Making the serial killer an African American is unique, but the film grinds to a near halt whenever you think it is about to become interesting, which it never does. Full of headache-inducing in-camera effects and many moments where absolutely NOTHING happens, this film would try the patience of a saint. Hey, I'm all for "art" films, but this one gives the genre a really bad name. Oh, and Hart, quit whining on your channel about how the lead actor tried to extort you. It makes you look even more juvenile than this movie! That was over 10 years ago! Get on with your life.Ugh.
6 Reviews
Sophomoric Horror
kino196915 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Obviously, the only other reviewer of this title is Hart D. Fisher himself (couldn't even think of an original "ID" to even attempt to hide yourself, huh?). This is another "entree" from the Penn Jillette-wannabe himself. Although it has some originality, the straight-to-video film is merely for those who are Fisher-addicts and graphic comic fans, and that is a very small group, indeed. Mr. Fisher had to go back to the 90s to even get some recognition. I watched the movie and was ultimately bored with the film school thesis type filmmaking that is apparent. The summary on this page pretty much sums-up the movie: a black serial killer and graphic horror. Original?? Maybe HD (not for "high definition") Fisher will one day graduate to the level of the big boys and stop making the same old, same old. 2 out of a whopping 10 for me, for some imagination. VHTF video, also. Just happened upon a copy.
A sad, amatuerish, emotionally stunted piece of childishness.
asphlex25 November 2023
Originally begun prior to a personal tragedy, Mr. Fisher understandably put it aside to try to develop a life. But Hart, ever the selfish, exaggerating exploitationist, returned to this goofy slog years later, presumably with new ideas, and made it even worse. A terrible writer, a blurry-eyed director, one wonders why such a talentless hack ever tried in the first place. The self-important arrogance one cringes at should they bother peeking in on his tv channel showing dumb movies no one wanted to see in the first place, the schedule changed occasionally when he bothers--(apologizes to some of the original programming who deserve a better platform)--is a final review on The Garbage Man.
I Can See Why You Hate This
ritera19 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I really didn't think that I'd like it. I thought I'd put it in and see just how bad it really is.
And you probably won't like it. If you "enjoy" it, then you need some help. It's very rough and that probably skewers people's objective opinions about the artistry vs. their own tolerance and likes.
But there were some good artistic choices made. It's gritty, moody and menacing. Effective use and depiction of of themes like internal pain, trauma and insanity. Yes, zero budget look but played well into the film overall. It had the eye of a comic book artist as the shots were framed well.
I even liked the lead. The piece didn't ask him to do much but he did that well.
But I thought the opening credits were offensive. The moody editing leading up to such were well done but the use of the victim as a punching bag was just too much. You test the limits by not breaking the limits.
I'm very wary of the choice of making the serial killer African- American, even though it worked. Usually whitey does the serial killin'. But I will reserve judgement. I'll assume there were no racist tendencies involved.
And even though it was only 84 minutes, it felt slow at times vs. moody.
I don't know what to think of the director. I watched the extended introduction about the trauma in his own life and where he came from. I like him as an artist but don't think I'd like him as a person. After all that I would think he'd want some distance from material like this. Thus, I thought there was a hypocrisy in him. There was a story he told that the lead "extorted" the production for more money and walked off. The director said they finished the film without him. How? He's in all the scenes. And as a reviewer mentioned, he wrote his own ten-star review of his own film here at IMDb. Just look at the handle.
But if you are in that rare group that doesn't find glee in a piece like this but can tolerate the brutality, then this is for you. I would compare this to the Hostel movies, although those were worthless pornos for the first half. But those films were unflinching in their examinations of brutal themes, too.
And you probably won't like it. If you "enjoy" it, then you need some help. It's very rough and that probably skewers people's objective opinions about the artistry vs. their own tolerance and likes.
But there were some good artistic choices made. It's gritty, moody and menacing. Effective use and depiction of of themes like internal pain, trauma and insanity. Yes, zero budget look but played well into the film overall. It had the eye of a comic book artist as the shots were framed well.
I even liked the lead. The piece didn't ask him to do much but he did that well.
But I thought the opening credits were offensive. The moody editing leading up to such were well done but the use of the victim as a punching bag was just too much. You test the limits by not breaking the limits.
I'm very wary of the choice of making the serial killer African- American, even though it worked. Usually whitey does the serial killin'. But I will reserve judgement. I'll assume there were no racist tendencies involved.
And even though it was only 84 minutes, it felt slow at times vs. moody.
I don't know what to think of the director. I watched the extended introduction about the trauma in his own life and where he came from. I like him as an artist but don't think I'd like him as a person. After all that I would think he'd want some distance from material like this. Thus, I thought there was a hypocrisy in him. There was a story he told that the lead "extorted" the production for more money and walked off. The director said they finished the film without him. How? He's in all the scenes. And as a reviewer mentioned, he wrote his own ten-star review of his own film here at IMDb. Just look at the handle.
But if you are in that rare group that doesn't find glee in a piece like this but can tolerate the brutality, then this is for you. I would compare this to the Hostel movies, although those were worthless pornos for the first half. But those films were unflinching in their examinations of brutal themes, too.
This isn't garbage!
burl-116 February 2014
"Right away, from the first scene, you know your in the hands of a director who takes the art of cinema seriously, even with a shoestring budget, and the distractions of a real life murder of his girlfriend in mid-production. Yes that opening shot could be inspired by Orson Welles' opening of Touch of Evil, and if not, it only shows that Fisher has a true eye for cinema and an understanding of perspective Some may call it "moody" -- often an alternate term for "slow" -- and the ending is a bit obscure,, but when you consider what he was up against (including alleged extortion like threats from a lead actor) this debut by the man who runs American HORRORS is a preview of what would become realized media potential -- sort of like seeing Coppola's early films. There are not (yet) any "later" Hart Fisher films -- at least not full length -- but the future holds much for this true American talent. If you are into horror films and American cultural rarities, I say buy it!"
Garbage Man takes you into a downward spiral of killing madness...
crimepayshart16 February 2010
"When the majority of us watch films about serial killers, we are often looking for insight into a troubled and criminal mind of a person who can commit the most heinous of acts. But what happens when the person writing the script, developing the concepts, growing the characters, and directing the film is the one with the troubled mind? What happens is, you get GARBAGE MAN by Hart D. Fisher.
Garbage Man was filmed back in the 90's and is now just being released after many years of scrambling to get all of the pieces together. Fisher brings you into a gory, demented, and terrifying world of just how easy it is for these predators to stalk, capture, and murder their victims with ease and live out their darkest fantasies without being suspected. The movie really takes you into this spiral of madness and then gives you a glimpse of what made this killer tick.
Final thoughts on this one is, this is one of the most original films of late, so go pick up your copy of The Garbage Man for a demented good time!"
Garbage Man was filmed back in the 90's and is now just being released after many years of scrambling to get all of the pieces together. Fisher brings you into a gory, demented, and terrifying world of just how easy it is for these predators to stalk, capture, and murder their victims with ease and live out their darkest fantasies without being suspected. The movie really takes you into this spiral of madness and then gives you a glimpse of what made this killer tick.
Final thoughts on this one is, this is one of the most original films of late, so go pick up your copy of The Garbage Man for a demented good time!"
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
