DVD Review: Convent, The (B+)

The Convent (2000)
Directed by Mike Mendez
Starring Adrienne Barbeau, Joanna Canton, Dax Miller, Coolio and Renee Graham
MPAA: R
Grade: B+

Review by Bobby Nashville

Without going down the Scary Movie path, Mike Mendez skillfully mixes horror with comedy and comes out with a nice little B movie in The Convent.

From the opening scene (with a young school girl murdering several nuns, accompanied by the classic 50's song "You Don't Own Me") I was hooked. A group of teens decide to break into an abandoned Convent to party (and investigate) rumors that its haunted. They encounter goth kids that take themselves way too seriously and police officers that appear to have walked out of a comic strip. In between they get a steady dose of blood, rock music and freaky neon colored liquid (don't ask).

The teens in The Convent act like they walked straight out of Heathers (another fave of mine). More dark comedy than straight up horror, this is a strange film that doesn't take itself too seriously. If you like teen comedies or horror films with a twist, you ought to give this one a look.

A comedy with murder, nuns, and Coolio? Somehow this one worked for me. The Convent is silly, stupid and very childish. It's also pretty damn funny.

Buy The Convent On DVD