I’m not even sure where to begin with this movie. Likewise, I wasn’t sure where to start with this review. At face value, Karen the Beauty Queen Butcher isn’t a good movie. It’s bad. I mean, really bad. The story doesn’t make much sense, and AI is used throughout nearly the entire film. Let’s just say AI seems to think humans are water balloons filled with blood-colored gravy and that a butcher knife can turn a face into something resembling a clove of garlic meeting a Slap Chop.
At first, I was thinking, “WTF is this mess?” But the more I watched, the more I started to wonder if there was some satire at work here. Or at least I hope there was.
Meet Zachary Snygg
Before I dive into reviewing the movie itself, let’s take a look at its director, Zachary Snygg.
If you’re unfamiliar with Snygg, you’re probably not alone, as I wasn’t familiar with his work either. Based on his biography, he is a veteran independent filmmaker whose career has been built in the world of low-budget horror, exploitation cinema, and B-movie filmmaking.
Working alongside his brother Spencer as The Snygg Brothers, Snygg has been writing, directing, producing, and shooting films since the mid-1990s.
His work embraces camp, absurdity, and grindhouse sensibilities. I will admit that all three are on full display in Karen the Beauty Queen Butcher.
His résumé includes oddities such as Beaster Day: Here Comes Peter Cottonhell, numerous parody films released under pseudonyms such as John Bacchus, and the horror anthology Monsters in the Closet, a project that survived both a fire and COVID-related delays.
A graduate of New York University, Snygg’s experience extends beyond independent features. Through his production company, Purgatory Blues LLC, he has distributed films through major retailers and streaming platforms while also working as a cinematographer on commercials, television productions, and music projects. Earlier in his career, he worked for Troma Entertainment, helping distribute films from emerging filmmakers.
That background helps explain Karen the Beauty Queen Butcher. At least for me, it does.
Intentionally Abrasive
When viewing the film through that lens, I start to see more of the human element despite the constant use of AI.
So what’s the deal with Karen the Beauty Queen Butcher? First, it is available to stream on Prime Video. The runtime is a beefy 1 hour and 42 minutes. It stars Jasmin Flores as the titular Karen, Scott Bolger as her husband Ted, and a cast of regulars who have appeared in several of Snygg’s other productions alongside several New York-based actors.
The synopsis is simple: Karen, an unhappily married woman, enters a series of beauty contests in hopes of becoming famous and adored by strangers. As she continues to lose competition after competition, contestants begin turning up dead one by one. As we follow Karen’s journey, we eventually discover who the killer is and the true motivations behind the murders.
Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat. None of the characters are likable, but I think that is the point. The use of AI is largely confined to the effects, backgrounds, and, I suspect, some of the establishing shots. So it’s used a lot. SWAT team members walk on air. People work out in bizarre and laughable ways. At one point, three people appear to be running on the same treadmill, but in reality, only one is. An army of NYPD officers mobilizes for a murder investigation multiple times. It’s absolutely absurd.
Once Karen starts gaining notoriety, swarms of paparazzi begin following her. Some are aiming their lenses at the new starlet, while others appear to be photographing anything but her. There are more examples, but I feel like the proverbial horse has already been beaten.
It’s ridiculously blatant, but I think that’s the point.
If you yearn for the days of Sci-Fi Channel movies from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, when fledgling uses of CGI were proudly on display, this movie is right in your wheelhouse. It feels like the 21st-century equivalent, only with AI at the FX helm instead of CGI You know, or maybe you don’t know, classics like Python, Frankenfish (2004) and Mansquito, to name a few. While these beauties utilized a combination of practical and CGI effects, Karen the Beauty Queen Butcher primarily on AI-generated effects.
For Better or Worse, Karen the Beauty Queen Butcher Has Its Own Weird Charm
This film isn’t going to win awards. It isn’t going to astound you with its storytelling or acting. It may gross you out with its gore, which is certainly visceral, but it’s rarely believable.
The only gore sequence that made me say, “Nah, bro,” was a scene depicting a character taking their own life. I don’t think it was handled particularly well or shown with much care. Trust me, the irony of discussing good taste in a movie like this is not lost on me. I just think some care is needed when dealing with that topic, and I don’t believe it was handled correctly. That’s my opinion, so take it for what it’s worth.
I watched this movie three times, so believe me when I say I gave it a chance. I watched it twice by myself and once with a fellow horror hound. It was definitely more enjoyable with company, as most films are, especially horror movies. We definitely laughed at the absurdity of what was happening, and it was much more enjoyable because of it.
The final verdict? Well, that depends on a few things. This movie isn’t good. It’s bad. It also isn’t one of those movies that are so bad they become good. However, I think there are people out there who will appreciate it for its camp, absurdity, and grindhouse sensibilities. I like movies that are considered bad. I like filmmakers who get the job done despite obstacles, limitations, and, quite possibly, a lack of funding. For every success story like Halloween or The Evil Dead, there are countless films like Karen the Beauty Queen Butcher. Those movies can find an audience, too.
While it didn’t make that connection with me, maybe you’re that audience.