"Kaw" is a fun and really exciting Sci-Fi Channel Creature Feature.
**SPOILERS**
On his last day of work, Police Chief Wayne Hayborne, (Sean Patrick Flanery) is debating about leaving town with his wife Cynthia, (Kristin Booth) and start up a new job. As the small town he patrols gets ready for the oncoming winter, bus driver Clyde MacKenzie, (Stephen McHattie) grows fearful when a larger than normal flock of ravens start appearing around town, and upon investigating his story, he finds that it's all true. As more and more of the townspeople are killed by the murderous ravens, they race against the town limits to get everyone inside before the ravens devour them all. Once inside, they realize that Clyde had already left town with a school bus full of children to an important event, and race to get them out of danger from the ravens as well.
The Good News: This here wasn't that bad of a flick. One of it's greatest assets is the fact that it's a really fast-moving flick. The first attack happens at the first five minutes, and there's another one quite soon after that. This does move at a fairly rapid pace, and while there isn't a huge amount of attacks in the beginning, there is enough through that part to keep interest high. When it does get on with the attacks, including a really marvelous attack under a bridge and a tense stand-off inside a barn, they really help to make the film more stand-able and the ravens appear to be that much more ravenous. Attacking anyone in sight, the ravens don't care whether you're a child, dog or an old man, these bird's will eat anything. That lack of remorse in the victims is quite refreshing to see, and these take advantage of the victim's proximity very well. In the later half, when the assault on the bus occurs, this especially helps out to make it quite exciting and full of suspense. The dull moments are thus magnified due to the intensity of the ensuing attacks, with the wooded area becoming an constant presence and making this sequence all the better for what it could've been. Once the final attack on the diner occurs, the action and intensity of the ravens is that much better. Starting with the spectacular notion of having the electric wires being put out by the ravens unnoticed by the cast as the path to the diner becomes clear lends untold suspense and anticipation for the scene, as it's bound to happen but at what time for the cast to notice. A marvelous technique, and when the chaos inside erupts with feathers and blood flying everywhere and dead ravens everywhere, it's quite fun and exciting, and the resolution is reached at a logical point in the action. There's some nice gore in here as well, with plenty of deep, throbbing peck wounds, a few scratches and lots of major damage done to the heads, including several who have major portions eaten or pecked away and while there could've been more, it's acceptable. Everything ties together neatly though and it never becomes even remotely confusing, which is quite surprising. All in all, this was a quite surprising and certainly fun Sci-Fi Channel Creature Feature.
The Bad News: There really isn't a whole lot wrong with this one. The real main problem here is that the killer birds in the movie have a tendency to feel quite tame in terms of horror. See, birds can only do so much damage with pecking and it just doesn't feel plausible that people would die from a couple of scratch-marks. This would've made sense had this been genetically-altered ravens, where the damage from souped-up birds would've been more believable, but here, from ordinary birds, a little more damage to the victims would've been a little more believable. This also leads into the final complaint, which, despite being as entertaining as it is, it's just too tame. While we do get a few major pecks and scratches in terms of violence, that's all there is. There's really nothing new, and after the sixth attack or so with the same outcome, it gets a little numbing and doesn't really carry the same weight as before. These are easily acceptable and are pretty hard to be noticed anyway.
The Final Verdict: With only a couple of problems that are not that problematic, this here is a really entertaining and fun Sci-Fi Channel Creature Feature. With a lot to really like about, this is a no-brainer for the hardcore fan of these films, while those who aren't that big into these films might find this as a perfect place to see what these kinds of films are all about.
Rated R: Graphic Violence and Language
**SPOILERS**
On his last day of work, Police Chief Wayne Hayborne, (Sean Patrick Flanery) is debating about leaving town with his wife Cynthia, (Kristin Booth) and start up a new job. As the small town he patrols gets ready for the oncoming winter, bus driver Clyde MacKenzie, (Stephen McHattie) grows fearful when a larger than normal flock of ravens start appearing around town, and upon investigating his story, he finds that it's all true. As more and more of the townspeople are killed by the murderous ravens, they race against the town limits to get everyone inside before the ravens devour them all. Once inside, they realize that Clyde had already left town with a school bus full of children to an important event, and race to get them out of danger from the ravens as well.
The Good News: This here wasn't that bad of a flick. One of it's greatest assets is the fact that it's a really fast-moving flick. The first attack happens at the first five minutes, and there's another one quite soon after that. This does move at a fairly rapid pace, and while there isn't a huge amount of attacks in the beginning, there is enough through that part to keep interest high. When it does get on with the attacks, including a really marvelous attack under a bridge and a tense stand-off inside a barn, they really help to make the film more stand-able and the ravens appear to be that much more ravenous. Attacking anyone in sight, the ravens don't care whether you're a child, dog or an old man, these bird's will eat anything. That lack of remorse in the victims is quite refreshing to see, and these take advantage of the victim's proximity very well. In the later half, when the assault on the bus occurs, this especially helps out to make it quite exciting and full of suspense. The dull moments are thus magnified due to the intensity of the ensuing attacks, with the wooded area becoming an constant presence and making this sequence all the better for what it could've been. Once the final attack on the diner occurs, the action and intensity of the ravens is that much better. Starting with the spectacular notion of having the electric wires being put out by the ravens unnoticed by the cast as the path to the diner becomes clear lends untold suspense and anticipation for the scene, as it's bound to happen but at what time for the cast to notice. A marvelous technique, and when the chaos inside erupts with feathers and blood flying everywhere and dead ravens everywhere, it's quite fun and exciting, and the resolution is reached at a logical point in the action. There's some nice gore in here as well, with plenty of deep, throbbing peck wounds, a few scratches and lots of major damage done to the heads, including several who have major portions eaten or pecked away and while there could've been more, it's acceptable. Everything ties together neatly though and it never becomes even remotely confusing, which is quite surprising. All in all, this was a quite surprising and certainly fun Sci-Fi Channel Creature Feature.
The Bad News: There really isn't a whole lot wrong with this one. The real main problem here is that the killer birds in the movie have a tendency to feel quite tame in terms of horror. See, birds can only do so much damage with pecking and it just doesn't feel plausible that people would die from a couple of scratch-marks. This would've made sense had this been genetically-altered ravens, where the damage from souped-up birds would've been more believable, but here, from ordinary birds, a little more damage to the victims would've been a little more believable. This also leads into the final complaint, which, despite being as entertaining as it is, it's just too tame. While we do get a few major pecks and scratches in terms of violence, that's all there is. There's really nothing new, and after the sixth attack or so with the same outcome, it gets a little numbing and doesn't really carry the same weight as before. These are easily acceptable and are pretty hard to be noticed anyway.
The Final Verdict: With only a couple of problems that are not that problematic, this here is a really entertaining and fun Sci-Fi Channel Creature Feature. With a lot to really like about, this is a no-brainer for the hardcore fan of these films, while those who aren't that big into these films might find this as a perfect place to see what these kinds of films are all about.
Rated R: Graphic Violence and Language