The Mangler Reborn

REVIEW
Not being familiar with any of the previous entries in this horror franchise (Mangler, Mangler 2) I can only assume that there was some kind of merit to them that necessitated a third film. However, after sitting through this lackluster, low-budget piece of garbage, I am at a loss. The original was based on a short story by Stephen King and must have done well enough to call for two sequels, but if it was in any way as terrible and monotonous as Mangler Reborn, then the filmmakers really should have quit while they were ahead.

Chubby repairman Hadley restores an antique washing machine (yes, washing machine) that is, in fact, demonically possessed (yes, a demonically possessed washing machine) and taking control over his psyche. It then compels the poor schmuck to offer up human sacrifices to machine in order to keep it running. And so our crazed villain proceeds to whack victims over the head with a mallet and serve them up to his master — the evil washing machine from hell. (Someone should tell this guy it would be much simpler if he just got a roll of quarters and hit up the local laundromat).

Mangler Reborn comes up especially short on story, and the performances are at best bland and at worst appalling. The majority of the film takes place in a two-story house and consists of this wretched oaf chasing around his prey as they try to escape his clutches and deadly little hammer. Very early on, it becomes painfully apparent that there was not much of a budget involved in the creation of this mess, or for that matter a script. The chase scenes are monotonous and unoriginal, the attempts at building suspense are dismal and the pacing is excruciating. That being said, the final minutes of the film, when the Mangler machine finally comes to life, are surprisingly well executed and actually provide some overdue excitement to an otherwise mediocre slasher (or smasher) flick. This, coupled with the few instants of genuinely funny dark humor, almost make up for the nonsense that is Mangler Reborn... almost.