Masters Of Horror: Right To Die

Though one might question the legitimacy of director Rob Schmidt being named a Master of Horror after his previous effort, the odious Wrong Turn, with Right to Die he turns in a watchable episode for the horror anthology series that combines the standard hardcore gore with a dose of social commentary. Indie stalwart Martin Donovan is top-billed as a philandering dentist whose wife is left disfigured and near death after a fiery car wreck. As a debate rages between Donovan, his wife's family, and various factions of the "right to life" community, the wife's spirit wreaks gruesome vengeance on those seek to exploit her agony for their own purposes. Exceptionally gruesome at times, and well-played by Donovan and Corbin Bernsen as his shady lawyer, Right to Die is one of the more ambitious episodes from MoH's second season, and if its mix of chills and politics isn't as satisfying as Joe Dante's first season episode, Homecoming, it still aims higher than most mainstream genre efforts. The DVD includes commentary by Schmidt, featurettes on the episode and its grisly special effects, and the shooting script in DVD-ROM format. -- Paul Gaita