This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

"The Carpenter" is not likely to win many fans from the guts and gore crowd. The carpentry tool killings are so over the top, that they are only going to hold interest for admirers of "black comedy". Throw in at least average acting, a story with some originality for a change, and of course a deranged Wings Hauser. Since my girlfriend didn't leave the room and kept watching, even after arms were being cut off with a circular saw, I can confirm a certain romantic angle that I didn't see coming. Without the presence of Wings, this is completely forgettable. Wings fans will not be disappointed. In good conscience I cannot recommend this as a date movie, but I do recommend "The Carpenter" as a good dark comedy. - MERK

From producer Jack Bravman, a man who worked on such films as "Snuff" and "Zombie Nightmare", comes this goofy but fun horror movie, pretty much the working definition of the word offbeat. Written by Doug Taylor and directed by David Wellington, "The Carpenter" tells the story of poor Alice (Lynne Adams), a woman with an uncaring and unfaithful husband, Martin (Pierre Lenoir), who has a nervous breakdown, and after getting out of the hospital, moves with hubby into a country estate being renovated. She finds that every night after every other worker has gone home, a mysterious carpenter (Wings Hauser) continues to toil away, because after all, a job's not done until it's done. Words to live by. Anyway, she finds herself enticed by this guy, to the point where she looks forward to seeing him all the time. "The Carpenter" is an amusing Canuck horror flick that this viewer wouldn't really consider a slasher, and would concede may not have enough action, gore, or kills for some tastes. And, truthfully, it's a little disappointing that there isn't more gore when The Carpenter is busy eliminating any unpleasant person on the premises using his assorted implements (nail gun, power drill, etc.). But, in the end, what I like about this is how crazy it is as it goes for a more psychological approach. What is The Carpenter to Alice - an angel or a devil? Some moments in this movie are so silly, and so hilarious, it's hard to believe Bravman and company didn't have their tongues in their cheeks, at least to some degree, and it's just too entertaining to see Hauser and Adams indulge in some fairly serious conversations, as Wings waxes poetic on the nature of masculinity and the problem that arises when men get too far removed from good, honest, hard physical labour. Men have to take PRIDE in what they do, damn it! Wings fans can note that he's in fine form, as he plays a somewhat familiar and somewhat unfamiliar character, as he's often stern, sadistic, creepy, likable, and charming all at the same time, as he imparts upon others his own sense of morality. Adams, Lenoir and the other actors are just okay at best; they certainly pale in comparison to the dynamic star of this thing. Ron Lea, however, is a hoot as the jovial local sheriff who provides exposition in a manner that's anything but boring. Filmed at various Quebec locations, "The Carpenter" may eventually end up with a rather conventional finish, but until then it's pretty engaging - and, I dare say, under-rated - stuff. Seven out of 10.

This is a horror film that portrays some chilling ways in which a person can be killed using ordinary carpenter's tools. Those of you who expect gore, will be more than satisfied, as this film highlights some disturbing killings perpetrated by The Carpenter (Wings Hauser). Plot: Martin (Pierre Lenoir) and Alice Jarett (Lynne Adams) move into a new house that has some unfinished construction and repair-work to be done. Martin bought this property and is very happy with it. Alice who is still recovering from a nervous breakdown also takes to the house. She keeps busy doing menial chores while Martin, who is a lecturer is away at work.Unknown to Alice is that the house has a sinister history attached to it. Meanwhile Martin is having an affair with a student of his for sometime. By mistake the student gets pregnant and she tells Martin about it. Martin tells her that the relationship is off and she should get an abortion.In the middle of the night Alice hears some hammering and sawing sounds like someone at work. She goes to investigate and meets The Carpenter (Wings Hauser) for the very first time. They start talking. And both start show an interest in one another. Alice leaves The Carpenter to his work. When morning comes, Alice finds no trace of The Carpenter who has mysteriously vanished. Sheriff J.J. Johnston makes a visit to Alice to welcome her into the community. And it is here that we learn the tale of the former owner of the house....The house belonged to a married man, who wanted to build a house all by himself for his wife. He became obsessed with the house. Meanwhile his wife leaves him and he is devastated. He goes into debt but still wants to finish the house at all cost. Some men are sent to repossess the house but are all killed in gruesome ways. The man is caught and sentenced to death by electrocution. It is the ghost of this man that wonders in the house during the house trying to finish it.See the film to find out what happens next...Excellent acting by all actors in the film. The special effects are good. Background music score is excellent. And overall a rare film to get hold off. I suggest if you see it to buy it for your horror movies collection.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Buying "The Carpenter" was all my fault, and I shouldn't have harbored the expectations that I did. I accept that. I'm not trying to blame anyone else for my misguided foul-ups. I do reserve the right, however, to curse the studio and all it represents for the various cinematic disappointments that are simply inexcusable.The movie seemed interesting enough to me. A mysterious carpenter continues to appear in the, quote, "delirious dead of night," gruesomely eliminating any man or woman that causes the house owner grief. Yeah, yeah, great stuff.The movie delivered, but only on certain levels. Yes, the carpenter showed up. And yes, the night always seemed slightly delirious. And you know what? There were even a number of original, if uninspired, death scenes. Great, great stuff.Upon closer inspection, however, several glaring mistakes made themselves all too real.Firstly, what's the deal with Wings Hauser? You've got one of the greatest character actors ever to grace the screen, and you waste his talent in such a visually lusterless role? Yeah yeah, I know. Wings Hauser sucks. Character actor? He's hardly an actor. The point I'm trying to make is that he needed to be dressed like a ghoul to make this flick a little more aesthetically appealing.Secondly, and perhaps decisively, there's no nudity. I'm sorry, what? That's right, no nudity. There are two or three women in the film, but none strip down like they're supposed to. Several times we're offered some sort of teaser, but they never amount to anything. The very element that could have made this film is completely ignored, and "Carpenter" suffers for it.Because of these simple mistakes, "The Carpenter" dawdles more in the twisted-romantic-drama genre and less in ceaseless, mind-numbing, bad horror like it was meant to. Sad. Very sad.Ah well. Rent it anyway. It seems that if I can get other people to watch this crap, my life seems less desperate and lonely.