Reviews: Butchers (2020) Movie Review
Genres: Horror, Thriller
Subgenres: Cabin in the Woods, Killer, Slasher, Cannibalism, Dysfunctional Family, Thrill Kill, Torture, Tourists, Wilderness
Our take on Butchers (2020) explores its plot, scares, and horror highlights to help fans decide if it deserves a place on their watchlist.
Butchers (2020) attempts to carve out a place in the backwoods horror and survival horror subgenre, following in the bloody footsteps of films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Wrong Turn (2003), and The Hills Have Eyes (2006). Directed by Adrian Langley, the film delivers on the expected tropes of sad**tic killers, stranded victims, and relentless brutality, but fails to bring anything new to the table.
Butchers (2020) – A Brutal Yet Unoriginal Slasher in the Backwoods Horror Genre
A Familiar Story with Relentless Gore
If you’re a fan of rural horror with gruesome kills and depraved villains, Butchers offers a gritty and violent experience—but don’t expect much depth or originality.
Standard Premise, Predictable Execution
Set in the aftermath of a car breakdown on a remote country road, Butchers follows a group of unfortunate travelers who fall into the hands of a sad**tic family of killers living deep in the woods. The villains—two deranged brothers and their equally twisted mother—see outsiders as little more than livestock to be slaughtered.
As the victims attempt to escape their gruesome fate, the film delivers expected torture sequences, cat-and-mouse chases, and graphic kills. However, there’s little to set it apart from countless other rural horror films that have done it before—and done it better.
Despite some visceral and well-executed gore effects, Butchers never fully capitalizes on its premise, instead relying too heavily on familiar horror clichés without offering memorable characters or surprising twists.
Solid Cinematography and Brutal Violence
One of the film’s strengths lies in its raw and gritty cinematography, which enhances the hopelessness and isolation of the setting. The woodland locations and run-down butcher shop create a visually oppressive atmosphere that fits well within the hillbilly horror aesthetic.
The violence is unflinching and graphic, which should satisfy hardcore gore fans. The practical effects are well done, delivering brutal kills and unsettling imagery. However, the relentless cruelty overshadows any real tension, making the film feel like a string of violent sequences rather than a well-paced horror thriller.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Butchers (2020)
Strengths:
- Gruesome and well-crafted gore effects for hardcore horror fans.
- Gritty cinematography and strong atmosphere, effectively capturing rural isolation.
- Unflinching brutality that aligns with classic backwoods horror.
- Some intense chase sequences and fight scenes add tension.
Weaknesses:
- Extremely generic and predictable story—adds nothing new to the subgenre.
- One-dimensional villains who lack the depth of iconic horror antagonists.
- Weak character development, making it hard to invest in the victims’ survival.
- Repetitive torture sequences that rely on shock rather than suspense.
Final Verdict: 4/10 – Brutal but Forgettable
Butchers (2020) is a serviceable entry into the backwoods horror genre, offering plenty of gore and depravity, but little else to distinguish it from superior films. While it delivers on blood and brutality, its lack of originality, character depth, or engaging storytelling makes it forgettable in a crowded genre.
If you’re looking for an intense, violent horror film with a grim tone, Butchers may satisfy your craving—but for anyone expecting something fresh or inventive, it falls short.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- Butchers Rating Scores
- Our Score: 4/10
- Overall Score: 3.29/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 2.9/10
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