‘Cement: The Final Brick in the Wall’ Review — A Psychotic Love Story Drenched in Blood and Metal
It’s taken a very long time (well not as long as it actually seems) but Rob Ceus (see The Renegade Splatter Beast: Rob Ceus – A Severed Cinema Interview) the Belgium underground auteur behind Zombies from Sector 9 (see review here), Slime, and a host of segments all over the place, has finally completed his masterpiece — our main course, Cement: The Final Brick in the Wall. Why has it taken so long? Funding mainly. Rob rarely does crowd funding things, depending more on his own cash, plus money from donations by friends. He also gets distracted very easily by other projects.
Cement is nearly upon us all. Currently the DVDs are being prepared (hey, me and my Partner in Gore Willow’s trailer for one of our future projects, Perdita, is going to be part of the extras), so the huge question stands as: was it worth the wait?
In short, definitely yes! We viewed the workprint some months ago and I described it as if GG Alliin had made a film. It’s everything you could want from the underground you love so much. Action, gore, humour, insanity; it’s just the perfect combination! Plus, this dead baby has a fantastic soundtrack which powers everything along at full throttle.
The difference between his Zombies from Sector 9 film and this are genuinely chalk and cheese. For those who may know, imagine getting into later Manic Street Preachers albums (shudder), then going into the shops, finding their earlier The Holy Bible LP, putting it on and being hit by what it contains lyrically. Oh boy, if ya know, ya know!
Now this cannot be seen as a singular Rob Ceus project. His long-term partner, Inge Vanleene, shares directing plus writing duties, bloody FX, and to add a fucking brilliant bonus, they both star as the central murderous cannibal couple. To Hell with Bonnie and Clyde, Johnny and Patricia, Mickey and Mallory, etcetera — Cletus Lee and Annabelle Lee are the new leaders of psychopathic duos!
Cement begins with loads of missing persons on milk cartons as the credits roll. Kids, adults, it’s endless. The finale to this show is a wanted poster showing our two central fun lovin’ criminals. Our first introduction to them is driving down the roads looking cool as fuck with a nude female corpse attached to the bonnet. Annabelle is enjoying the wind in her hair, drifting off to sleep but nightmare flashbacks of her childhood shock her awake (a rapist played by UK actor/wrestler, Tequila Fruitbat, who has paid her grandpa money for the services). To cheer her up, Cletus fucks her across the car whilst she gropes the cadaver.
The endless stabs of thrash, goregrind and other awesome metals made us think about the Traces of Death films, especially 3 and 4 (see Traces of Death III, IV, & V Reviews: Navigating the Grisly Realms of Shockumentary Cinema from Brain Damage Films) which isn’t everyone’s cup of poison, but, ah well, you’re stuck with it so bang your heads!! Back home, they unwind, have a bath, and wonder if they could have been normal if not for the child abuse. “Fuck being normal!” says Cletus.
However, the good times halt as they find out they need weed, beer, and money. Cletus phones around then wrecks the TV, sheepishly telling Annabelle afterwards in a comical moment. A couple of their friends pop over with gear, so they all decide to hit the road and do a quick robbery.
They hit a hairdresser’s and get away clean — almost, only one civilian casualty. Ah well, on their way to a big field party they blow the head off some depressed dude. Cut to the saddest looking outdoor party ever, but somehow, it’s so coolio. One lady certainly relishes the camera way too much, giving it too much attention. Our gang hit the scene, and it picks up a bit. Me and Willow were having so much fun by now. This movie is genuinely on a level by itself ‘cause it’ll shoot the shit out of any other films that try to approach and cosy up. A fight breaks out so they scarper back to the van.
Annabelle lays in bed with two mummified bodies — it’s mom and dad. She tells them all about the day’s events. Cletus and Annabelle decide afterwards to drop acid and have a proper headfuck trip. Morning comes. Annabelle awakens to a dog licking her face. Cletus wakes up covered in vomit beside the toilet with his cock ‘n’ balls out — Rob shaves.
Even more space trippin’ follows. I thought at first that the scenes were out of place but shit, y’ know, whatever. Annabelle dances with a corpse in the garden whilst wearing a gas mask — nuff said, it’s all good.
Is there a story so far? We’re thirty-two minutes in and it doesn’t seem to be any sign of a tale yet. It’s set pieces of gore, death, drugs and music. Cletus does beat down a guy for touching his woman’s ass whilst she carries on dancing in delight.
Aha, now the story begins to piece its mind-stabbing-splinters together. They decide to play a game and choose “Kidnap and murder!” Off they go to grab a lady hitchhiker and bring her back for some Texas Chain Saw Massacre inspired jollies. We must say, the locations, especially their farm are fantastic. There is so much going on visually. Another game is played for their tied-up guest as Rob wears a USA top hat, ala House of a Thousand Corpses, “Welcome to the shit-show! Pick your destiny!” Yeah, she doesn’t pick a good one.
This is followed by a home invasion and… Enough! No more spoilers because it’s really gonna kick off big time. Full on impact.
No one says the word, “Bitch!” quite like Inge, and Rob’s laugh honestly needs to be a ringtone.
Cement: The Final Brick in the Wall is a like a mash up of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, GG Alliin, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Sid and Nancy, with a splash of DIY insanity. What more do you want??!! C’mon!! It’s a beer or after diner movie with your loved ones. Family entertainment all ‘round. You’re in safe hands — even with bumming Clergymen! The action is gritty and totally demented, and the effects are irresistibly goofy in places then jaw dropping in others.
If you, however, want to be a dickhead, thus point out the continuity errors, the slight audio issues here and there, you have two choices — play the Pick your Destiny game, or as Lloyd Kaufman once said, “Make your own damn movie!” Us two? Cement is the reason we adore reviewing underground flicks. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Once the DVDs are ready to go out, I’ll report all on Severed Cinema, or you can contact Rob Ceus on social media for updates.
AKA: Cement
Directed by: Rob Ceus, Inge Vanleene
Written by: Rob Ceus, Inge Vanleene
Produced by: Rob Ceus, Inge Vanleene
Special Effects by: Rob Ceus, Inge Vanleene
Edited by: Inge Vanleene, Rob Ceus
Music by: Various
Cast: Rob Ceus, Inge Vanleene, Wilhelm Muller, Manuel Kamann, Nobody, Tequila Fruitbat
Year: 2025
Country: Belgium
Language: English
Colour: Colour
Runtime: 1h 51min
Distribution: Terrorvision Productions
