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The Cook, directed by Gregg Simon, is a pretty successful stab at the horror/comedy genre.  In it the lovely ladies of Lambda Epsilon Zeta (LEZ, get it? Yeesh.) are all going away for the weekend, leaving just a few of them to welcome the new cook, who just so happens to be a homicidal maniac.

The cook (Mark Hengst) is Hungarian, a fact which causes some language barrier problems when bookworm Amy (Makinna Ridgway) takes a shine to him. His harmless naïve quality allows him to easily slip in and assume his duties with an enthusiastic “Okay!” and thumbs up.  The girls go about their normal routines of working out, flirting shamelessly with one another and drinking and drugging like a rock band on tour.

The cook begins thinning the herd almost immediately, taking out the first person to happen upon him in the kitchen, poor Michelle (Stefanie Solano) who makes a pass at the wrong guy and pays the price.

The girls all love the sloppy joes that the cook serves them the next evening, and the chemistry with Amy seems to grow as she spends time with him leafing through a Hungarian to English language guide.  More cannon fodder arrives in the form of tutor Lance (Allen Yates) who has come to help Amy’s roommate Bunny (Kit Paquin) with her math.  The girls stay up late drinking and partying again and the cook continues to kill anyone who wanders down to the kitchen at the wrong time. 

The breakfast item is predictably a meat-themed dish that no one can quite identify, but it tastes great.

The Cook boasts several inspired moments, one in particular that juxtaposes an upstairs drinking game in which someone describes their favorite death sequence in a Friday The 13th film against a very similar kill taking place right under their noses.  The acting and direction are well done for the type of film that they set out to make; the girls are cute and not shy about shedding clothing. Mark Hengst is convincing as the unhinged gourmet working behind the scenes and feeding them their own friends.

The disc includes a lively commentary from writer/executive producer Nicholas Bonomo, as well as actors Mark Hengst, Makinna Ridgway, Kit Paquin, Nina Fehren and Brooke Lenzi all of whom seem to have really enjoyed the experience of making the film.  Other bonus material includes some deleted/gag footage during the end credits, a brief ‘behind the scenes’ montage and Mark Hengst’s audition footage.

The Cook is well worth a look for fans of the horror/comedy, it has decent laughs, never taking itself too seriously and there’s enough of the red stuff to satisfy most horror fans.

Give it a look.

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