Scalper 2023 Movie Review | Unmasking the Brutality

The press release Mother of Movies received described the title “Scalper” as a spine-tingling thriller. However, on further inspection and hindsight, director Chad Ferrin is more of a pushing-the-boundaries type of guy. Previous work includes Pig Killer, which to be frank is exploitation horror and would be, to most, in bad taste.

A sequel to Ferrin’s 2021 film, Night Caller, Scalper picks up where the previous film left off, and re-introduces psychic Clementine Carter (Susan Priver) appearing as a guest on a local radio station.

The title opens with a rather grisly murder of a homeless man. When I say grisly, I mean jaw-droppingly brutal and also a little off-putting. After diving right into something so graphic, it switches gears and concentrates on the backstory and history of the serial killer known as The Scalper.

In Night Caller, Clementine’s father kills the notorious slicer of the living. While on air, they call Jade (Bai Ling) and she is creatively killed by the masked man causing Clementine to spring into psychic action in a bid to figure out who’s responsible and stop them. It can’t be Andrew Lubitz who was unmasked as the original villain, he’s dead.

Scalper, A Sequel to Night Caller

Priver’s portrayal of a campy over-the-top expert in otherworldly things creates a humorous atmosphere instead of a more serious tone. Her visions make her faint frequently and at inopportune times. As the film wore on, the fainting spells became more and more like a running gag. Tonally, the hugely visceral title feels maladjusted, however, this realm of campy performances combined with over-the-top visceral brutality, could be cited as Ferrin’s directorial stamp.

Scalper 2023 applies practical effects with a liberal brush, mostly effective but generally less able to make your heart pump in fear than expected.

Ferrin’s script is a rollercoaster of slasher-style murders, with the killer starting his spree with what looks like a thick stocking over his face and dressed like Michael Myers. Further fueling similarities to the slow-moving horror icon,

The Scalper wears blue overalls and later goes on to wear Jade’s face after he scalps her. Again this forces more humor into an otherwise humorless scenario. A scene of the face-wearing killer driving a car projected a few giggles rather than dread. It all feels wrong.

Ferrin stirs the pot with police investigations, ghostly visitors, and some lengthy conversations between Clementine and the spirit realm. It’s recommended by various fans of Ferrin’s work to at least watch the horror movie’s predecessor Night Caller if the title isn’t making much sense. However, even if it doesn’t there is no denying the unwavering conviction in his work. If anything, Scalper is a unique title to watch, but only if you haven’t turned it off after the opening act.

The cast of Scalper 2023: Susan Priver, Jake Busey, Bai Ling, Kate Patel, Scott Vogel, Jon Budinoff, and Robert Miano.
Director/Screenplay/Producer – Chad Ferrin.
Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/SKATD.
Scalper release date: VOD & Digital Jan 16th, 2024.

Scalper Trailer – Greenband

Not sure if you really want to watch this title or perhaps you’ve seen it and need a reminder. Check out the Scalper 2024 trailer and decide for yourself.

Where to Watch

You can watch this title in various regions like the USA and Canada as a rental. Check JustWatch.com for more ways to see this extremely violent horror movie. Mother of Movies recommends caution when watching Scalper 2024 due to the visceral nature of many of the murders that occur on screen.

Scalper Meaning

Often films aim for a dual meaning when creating a title for their film. Be under no illusion that the literal meaning of the word is applied in the Scalper movie. A scalper is someone who removes a person’s scalp, often with the hair attached and commonly as a trophy.