Review: All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)

All The Boys Love Mandy Lane

IMDB rate: 5,7
Genre: Slasher

So I finally got around watching this movie. I heard a lot of good things about it, but to be honest.. I was a bit disappointed. But I also have to admit, that my predictions about the killer were wrong. You see, there is quite an interesting plot twist at the ending, so that was quite surprising. I figured it would be a cliche horror movie, and it was a bit cliche, but the plot twist made it a whole lot better. It was a bit hard choosing fitting pictures for this movie, because I was scared that certain pictures would spoil the movie, so that's why I choose for some boring pictures, without any slashing or anything. Hey, at least you can enjoy Amber Heard now huh ;).

The orphan Mandy Lane (Amber Heard) is a beautiful, virgin and pure teenage raised by her aunt, desired by her schoolmates and a close friend of the outcast Emmet. After the death of their high school mate in a pool party, Mandy befriends Chloe, Marlin, Red, Bird and Jake. Red invites the group for a weekend party in the isolated ranch of his family, with all the boys disputing who would succeed in having sex with Mandy Lane. They meet the henchman Garth that takes care of the rand and he asks the group to go east on the drugs and booze. In the middle of the night, a stranger wearing a hood attacks Marlin in the barn; when Jake seeks her out, he faces the killer, beginning a night of bloodshed and terror.

The story was kinda slow, and it was hard to keep your focus. Because it also starts of with what seems the typical cliche horror, it was even harder to focus.  Because the story takes place in a isolated ranch, you're gonna expect the typical teenage slaughter movie, but this is not the case. But don't expect a Cabin in the Woods story either ;). 

The acting in this movie is average, not to excellent, but also not that bad that it get's annoying. Amber Heard is the main character in this movie, but she doesn't talk a lot, so in that case she succeeded in being the shy and mysterious girl. The group seems like a real close group of friends, but Mandy Lane falls a bit apart with her being the shy girl, while the rest is getting drunk, stoned or getting laid. You keep wondering why she is with them, because she is so different. 

(May contain minor spoilers)

Some parts where a bit unbelievable. From the moment that Marlin doesn't return, nobody seems to care or wanting to take any action. When somebody finally does it's the same case, because nobody goes looking for him when he didn't return. Also they heard a few gunshots, and they didn't even seem to care. Yes, the guy took a gun with him, but he could have easily killed somebody or himself, instead of random shooting around, like what the others think. Also, it might have been a possibility that he got shot by somebody, but nobody seems to care, even though the two are already gone for a long time. 

When the 'slashing' finally begins it seemed to be taken really lightly. The Henchman got shot, Mandy Lane helps him, and the other two are going to get the car (which they left a few miles away from the ranch). Of course, the two are running and of course, the girl gets tired and says she can't run anymore. This is while their friends are in danger, and a killer is somewhere outside. Oh and of course, they have to kiss each other first, before getting the car. This is where it all goes wrong, understandably. 

Mean while, at the ranch, Mandy Lane is going to get the keys from the Henchman's house, but she shouldn't have a clue where the killer is, right? Well, she doesn't care and just crosses the grass between the two houses, without looking if there might be somebody there, and while at the Henchman's house, she freely is looking around if there is something interesting to look at.

Another thing that bothered me was the ending, because I didn't understand it. When I watch a movie I need an explanation for things that happen, and in this movie, there was not given any. Which I find very frustrating. Some points I could understand, but other not. This might have been my own fault.

As I already said, the movie was average. The plot twist was nice, it made the movie a lot better. But if it wasn't in there I don't think I would have liked it, at all. The acting was reasonable, the camera work was nice and the script was also reasonable. I heard that most parts were improvised, so there's not much to say about that. 

If you're into slasher movies, this might be something you will like. As I said, many people liked this movie, so it's really a personal opinion. I didn't think it was a bad movie, but I also wouldn't watch this very soon again. 

My personal rate: 6/10