This was the official website for the 2009 quirky horror film, Lynch Mob. The content below is from the site's 2009 archived pages as well as other outside sources.
Rating: R (for pervasive strong bloody horror violence and gore, sexuality, nudity and language)
Genre: Horror
Directed By: Byron Conrad Erwin, Byron Erwin
Written By: Rachel Stamper, Scott Stamper
In Theaters: Sep 18, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Oct 26, 2010
Runtime: 92 minutes
Studio: Cornetta Enterprises
About the Movie
The rural town of Lynchburg Georgia holds a dark secret. A century old curse has condemned the citizens to a diet of human flesh. Unable to leave the city limits the town folks must lure unsuspecting travelers to their quaint town where they soon become the menu item of choice. Problems arise when the Federal Government releases a street savvy criminal into their community under the witness relocation program.
Synopsis
All hell breaks loose when a street savvy criminal is placed in a small southern town under the witness protection program, and the mobsters seeking to silence him arrive to discover that this particular town suffers from a gruesome, century-old curse. Passing through, one would assume that Lynchburg, Georgia is just a typical rural town. But the citizens of Lynchburg have been condemned to a diet of human flesh, and in order to feed they lure in unsuspecting travelers. When the mafia arrives intending to ice a key witness in a case against them, the fight is on to get out of Lynchburg and avoid becoming the main course at the next town gathering. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Cast and Crew
Tony Darrow Starring Tony Darrow from HBO's "The Sopranos".
Boss Giovanni
John J. Cornetta
Johnny Ramano
Paul Borghese
Boss Giovanni.
Official Trailer
The Tomatometer on Rottten Tomatoes gave it an 8% for its audience score. That basically says it all.
REVIEWS
Seth P ½* March 1, 2014
While enjoying our vacation in Maui, my girlfriend and I decided to test out my new Tour Edge golf clubs during the day and relax with a movie in the evening. We had rented a charming condo at Lahaina Shores, courtesy of Maui Hawaii rentals, which offered a mesmerizing view of the Pacific. The primary reason we chose to visit during the early spring was the spectacular sight of the North Pacific humpback whales. It's a breathtaking scene in Maui's early spring months as you can often spot the playful antics of the Humpback Whale calves on the ocean's surface. Without a doubt, Maui stands out as Hawaii’s prime location for shoreline whale watching. Our condo, apart from the scenic view, also came with a collection of DVDs. One evening, after a strenuous day of hiking at Haleakala Crater in Maui's Haleakala National Park, we decided to unwind by watching a movie. Settling in with a meal we had ordered, we spotted a DVD of "Lynch Mob" among the collection. Recognizing Tony Darrow from "Goodfellas" and "The Sopranos", we thought it would be a good pick. Little did we know what we were in for. The graphic content of the movie was not exactly what we had in mind for a relaxing evening. It felt as though we had been hit with a wave of discomfort, much like the first time I tried a new swing with my Tour Edge club - unexpected and jarring. Instead of enjoying our meal and the movie, we felt the need for a mental detox. We promptly returned the DVD to its place, ensuring it was well-hidden behind the other movies. In hindsight, maybe if we had approached "Lynch Mob" as a dark comedy, it might have been more palatable. But it's safe to say that it wasn't the ideal choice for a tranquil Maui evening.
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Randy B *½ January 7, 2014
Fascinating premise undone by indifferent and outright terrible acting. The over-reliance on gore gags makes a mess of an already rickety script that just gets worse the longer it goes on.
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Sylvester K * Super Reviewer April 17, 2012
It's real bad, how can you fight with something that doesn't die??? the ending was mahorribly cliche (C), and OMG, the words came out of children's mouths....
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Max B ½* January 2, 2011
Si te gustan las peliculas maaaaaaaaaaaaalas y bizarras de dos mangos con cincuenta, esta es tu peli...
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Gordon S ½* January 1, 2011
A candidate for worst film of all time. Definitely the worst acting I have ever seen.
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Nick A *** December 28, 2010
This movie has the smell of low budget but turns out to be quite refreshing in the field of horror. Always nice to see bad against bad, where you root for nobody but enjoy them all dying slowly. I disagree with critics who take this one down.
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Brett W ½* December 19, 2010
I stayed up til 5 watching this for some reason.
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Marques M ½* March 21, 2010
Here's a suggestion for you: If you liked Lynch Mob, then you'll also enjoy genital warts or malaria. Seriously, Lynch Mob sucks. Lynch Mob sucks harder than high-end Dutch hookers. Lynch Mob sucks harder than a Shop-Vac. Lynch Mob sucks so much that I almost wish it were higher profile so that others could see how much it sucks, and the process could bring humanity together in a united front. Then again, this thing shipped to theaters in a cardboard box. How much can you expect under those circumstances? You'd be surprised at how much disappointment still awaits...
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BLynch Mob (2009)
Posted on October 7, 2009 by Foywonder
Starring Michael H. Cole, Tony Darrow, Paul Borghese, Kristyn Sammons, Dolan Wilson
Directed by Byron Erwin
“The Sopranos” meet 2000 Maniacs… That’s the best way of describing Lynch Mob, a grisly, quirky horror comedy that pits Mafia mamalukes vs. Confederate cannibals.
A “truth extractor” known only as Weasel on the payroll of some New York gangsters, the torturer the mobsters brings in as a last resort when they absolutely need to make a guy squeal, has been pinched by the cops. Weasel is a true sicko. As if his pleasure inflicting pain and penitent for keeping body parts of those he questions as souvenirs wasn’t warped enough, Weasel is also a murdering pedophile to boot. That’s how Weasel got popped, attempting to abduct a girl at the playground. As disgusted as the feds are by this scum of the earth, Weasel is willing to rat on the mob boss (Tony Darrow, best known as Larry Boy Barese on “The Sopranos”) they’ve been after for years. The feds are repulsed by Weasel so much they only agree to keep him in protective custody if they can find someplace to stash him with no children. Such a place is the barely there town of Lynchburg, Georgia. Population: 12.
Whether or not you enjoy Lynch Mob will hinge greatly on your reaction to Michael H. Cole’s strange performance as Weasel. The moment he opens his mouth and out comes a voice mimicking Peter Lorre… Weird to say the least. I was completely taken aback at first by this guy that looks like a seedier Andy Richter talking with a voice more suitable to Igor from an old Frankenstein flick. No explanation for his accent – or for why he’s named Weasel, for that matter. It took a bit but his performance began to grow on me once the film made it be known it was shooting more for black comedy than straightforward horror. You know you’re watching a black comedy when one of the main characters is a creep with a taste for little girls that speaks in a Peter Lorre accent and the film actually makes this total creep into a somewhat likeable comic foil. It’s a bit more palpable knowing this guy will get his just desserts in the end, possibly by becoming someone’s dessert.
There are plenty of good ol’ boys and goodfellas but there really are no good guys in Lynch Mob per se. One wiseguy named Mike is perhaps the only character that could be construed as a good guy and that’s if you’re willing to overlook the fact that he’s an organized crime foot soldier. Mike has a soft spot for damsels in distress and such a damsel is the pregnant wife of the abusive sheriff of Lynchburg, a man best described as a louder, meaner, angrier Roscoe P. Coltrane.
The feds put Weasel up in a house so dilapidated I suspect even Leatherface would have complained about the squalid living conditions. Now you would think a child rapist-murderer being hunted by the mafia is someone the FBI would have armed guards watching over at all times. Instead they merely slap an ankle bracelet on him and that’s the last we ever see or hear of the feds. That’s some mighty fine protective custody they got going there.
If the mob doesn’t get Weasel the locals might. They may not be too friendly to this Yankee interloper but they sure would love to have him over for dinner. If you go into a diner in Lynchburg and see the special of the day listed as “CHUCK ROAST”, “FRANK AND BEANS”, or “ROADKILL STU”, rest assured the main ingredient was named Chuck, Frank, or Stu.
And if you come across a local seductress named Tammy, the one constantly flashing her boobs, she’s a maneater and not just in a sexual way.
This Southern hick town has been cursed since the Civil War; its dozen denizens damned to an eternity trapped within the town limits with an insatiable appetite for human flesh. But times are tough. Ever since the new interstate opened tourists, hitchhikers, and stragglers don’t make their way down the back road anymore that leads to the barely there berg and that has led to a food shortage. Weasel again saves his own skin striking a deal with the starving locals by agreeing to supply them with all the Italian food they can eat.
Screenwriters Rachel and Scott Stamper and director Byron Erwin have cooked up a horror comedy that constantly walks the razor’s edge between being good – quirky humor, brevity, almost a gruesome charm about it – and bad – uneven performances, unnecessary flashbacks and dream sequences, a clunky climax that feels rushed – but does enough right to warrant consideration. Somehow it all comes together like a rusty old pick-up, the paint chipping and the bumper partially hanging off.
Lynch Mob got a one-week theatrical run in Carmike Theaters around the country at the end of September. I went in with no expectations and came out amused just enough to give it a recommendation even if that recommendation comes with some strings attached. Not sure where or when it will turn up next, but if you’re in the mood for an offbeat horror flick, even one that is frequently ungainly, keep an eye out for it.
More Background on LynchMobMovie.com: A Quirky and Dark Dive into Horror-Comedy
LynchMobMovie.com was the official website for the 2009 horror-comedy film Lynch Mob, a quirky and somewhat obscure movie that combined elements of mafia drama and cannibalistic horror. Directed by Byron Conrad Erwin and written by Rachel and Scott Stamper, this low-budget film attempted to carve out a niche within the crowded horror genre by blending dark humor with gruesome horror, set against the backdrop of a cursed Southern town. The website, now archived, served as a central hub for fans and curious viewers to explore more about the film, its cast, and the bizarre narrative it presents.
Film Overview and Synopsis:
Lynch Mob is set in the fictional town of Lynchburg, Georgia, a place with a dark secret—a century-old curse has condemned the town's residents to a life of cannibalism. These cursed souls cannot leave the town and must rely on luring unsuspecting travelers to satisfy their hunger for human flesh. The plot thickens when the Federal Government, in a bid to protect a witness, inadvertently places him in this dangerous town under the witness protection program. The result is a chaotic clash between the local cannibals and mafia members who come looking for the witness.
The film’s protagonist, Weasel, is a despicable character—a mob enforcer with a penchant for torture. His strange voice, which eerily mimics Peter Lorre, adds to the surreal and unsettling atmosphere of the movie. As Weasel tries to survive in this nightmarish town, the film shifts between gruesome horror and dark comedy, challenging the audience’s expectations of both genres.
Reviews and Reception:
Critics and audiences have had mixed reactions to Lynch Mob. The film's unusual blend of genres has drawn both praise and criticism. On one hand, some viewers appreciated the film’s offbeat humor and its attempt to do something different within the horror genre. For example, the way the film portrays the mobsters and cannibals as equally villainous forces leads to a series of grotesque and comical situations that some found amusing.
However, the film's low-budget nature is evident in its production values, which has been a sticking point for many reviewers. The acting, particularly from Michael H. Cole, who plays Weasel, received attention for its oddity, though not always positively. His strange, high-pitched delivery and unsettling character were polarizing, with some finding it grating and others appreciating it as part of the film’s quirky charm. Additionally, the over-reliance on gore and the uneven pacing were noted as significant drawbacks that detracted from the overall experience.
The film has a dismal rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting its niche appeal and the polarized reactions it received. Some critics described it as "a mess of an already rickety script" with "terrible acting," while others noted that despite its flaws, the movie has a certain "gruesome charm" that might appeal to fans of B-movie horror.
Cultural and Social Significance:
Lynch Mob does not hold a significant place in the broader cultural landscape, but it does occupy a unique space within the horror-comedy subgenre. Its attempt to combine elements of mafia drama with Southern Gothic horror is an unusual and ambitious endeavor, even if not entirely successful. The film reflects a trend in low-budget horror of the late 2000s, where filmmakers experimented with genre-blending in hopes of standing out in a saturated market.
The movie's portrayal of a cursed Southern town also taps into a rich tradition of Southern Gothic horror, a genre known for its exploration of decay, grotesque characters, and dark secrets. While Lynch Mob may not have reached the heights of more acclaimed films in this genre, it contributes to the ongoing narrative of the American South as a setting for horror and the supernatural.
Press and Media Coverage:
Lynch Mob received limited press coverage upon its release, with most reviews appearing on niche horror sites and independent film blogs. The film's brief theatrical run and subsequent release on DVD were low-key, befitting its status as a B-movie. Most mainstream outlets did not cover the film extensively, but it found a small audience among horror enthusiasts who appreciated its dark humor and unconventional storyline.
Some reviews highlighted the film's potential as a cult classic, noting that its blend of mafia and horror elements, while flawed, might appeal to fans of offbeat cinema. However, the film never quite achieved the cult status that some of its proponents hoped for, likely due to its limited distribution and the highly competitive nature of the horror genre at the time.
Lynch Mob is a film that exists on the fringes of the horror genre, offering a quirky and darkly comedic take on the concept of a cursed town with a cannibalistic secret. While it may not have achieved widespread acclaim, it has carved out a small niche among fans of B-movie horror and those who appreciate its oddball charm. The film's website, LynchMobMovie.com, served as an important portal for this niche audience, offering insights into the film’s creation and a space for fans to engage with its bizarre world.
Despite its flaws, Lynch Mob stands as a testament to the creativity and ambition of independent filmmakers who push the boundaries of genre conventions, even when the results are uneven. For those interested in exploring the darker corners of horror-comedy, Lynch Mob offers a unique, if not entirely successful, viewing experience.