The Fantasia International Film Festival lineup included the international premiere of the Estonian horror comedy musical, Chainsaws Were Singing. This unexpected indie film was written and directed by Sander Maran (Monsterland), seeming to take inspiration from films including The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. In the film, a chainsaw-wielding killer takes a man’s new girlfriend in rural Estonia. The man and a random passerby must become the unlikeliest of heroes to save her from a family of cannibalistic maniacs.

Campy horror films typically fall into two categories: those that are intentionally campy and those that are not. Chainsaws Were Singing falls firmly into the former category. Every time you think the film can’t get any more absurd, it does. Maran begins with a relatively simple premise of a woman taken by a deranged killer. From there, the audience is introduced to all sorts of bizarre characters, comedically graphic violence, and plenty of singing. It takes a simple idea and adds layer after layer of hilarious subplots and oddball origin stories, which adds to the laughs. Often times the plot goes far beyond the realm of reality. This lends to the humor and adds a certain sense of whimsy to the carnage. It’s the kind of film that definitely won’t appeal to all audiences, but those who can sit back and let that foolishness wash over them are sure to get a kick out of this unique film.

To match the outrageous energy of the film, Chainsaws Were Singing has a number of laugh-out-loud performances that are intentionally overacted. Karl Ilves makes his feature-film debut as Tom. Going from depressed, to hopeless romantic, to surprise hero, Ilves makes Tom a lovable goofball for audiences to root for. Laura Niils (Revenge Office) plays Maria, Tom’s new girlfriend. Niils delivers one of the more grounded performances of the film as she braves the horrors inflicted upon Maria, which makes her comedic moments that much funnier. Janno Puusepp (Reaalsus) plays Jaan, a kind stranger who decides to help Tom save Maria. Jaan is certainly one of the more ludicrous characters, ever the optimist, and Puusepp is wonderful at bringing the character to life. Other standout performances come from Martin Ruus and Rita Rätsepp (Bande).

The sights and sounds of Chainsaws Were Singing are a comedic delight. From the opening frame, audiences will be struck by the the grainy texture of the film, giving it that classic, 70’s slasher film appearance. Adding both to the humor and the carnage are plenty of practical effects and gore. There is certainly no shortage of blood spray and severed limbs among the countless victims, some looking surprisingly realistic, while others are sure to get some chuckles from viewers. The death and mayhem is punctuated by a number of wacky musical numbers, injecting gleeful camp into the excessive slaughter. Whether a gore hound or a musical theater kid, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Chainsaws Were Singing is a farcical journey of bloodshed, mayhem, and song that tickles the funny bone. Maran created a film that is self-aware, bringing plenty of camp to the genre-bending story. The over-the-top performances add to the humor, along with the hilarious musical numbers. Even the gore, of which there is plenty, lends to the comedy by creating kills that are as bloody as they are ridiculous. The silliness won’t appeal to everyone, but Chainsaws Were Singing is sure to garner a devoted fan base.

OVERALL RATING: 7/10