PIECES
Juan Piquer Simón (1982)
3.5 STARS
The horror genre, in particular the slasher sub-genre, has been labelled many things, in Britain it was ‘video nasties’, in the U.S. it was ‘harmful to children’, and Pieces is a prime example of why. Misogynistic, gory and exploitative to say the least, this film simultaneously evokes scrutinisation and requires to be taken lightly.
Taking inspiration from the Giallo genre, Pieces utilises tropes that evolved to be staples of the modern slasher. A shadowy killer using hand held weapons in gory kills, are the spine of this film, and combine in such a theatrical way so as to make Pieces stand out, for better or worse.
Packed full of scenes that feel utterly out of place, a ludicrous tennis sequence and a random scene with Bruce Lee impersonator Bruce Le, this film requires its audience to laugh, even if the film takes itself incredibly seriously.
It is important to be aware of the dangerous stereotypes that Pieces perpetuates. The male gaze, misogyny and racism cannot be taken lightly. However, if you’re able to bear this in mind and look further, this film can be an incredibly fun watch. It is ridiculous, quotable and succeeds in developing a suspenseful mystery. Watch with a light heart, a group of friends, and a big bowl of popcorn and you’ll have a blast.