Teenagers have plenty of problems. There's school, dating, boredom, and trying to figure out what to do with your life. For Anton Tobias, the main character in Idle Hands, things take a considerably darker turn when his right hand becomes possessed by an evil force and starts murdering people. Suddenly, spending the afternoon watching television doesn't seem like such a bad idea.
Released in 1999, this horror comedy stars Devon Sawa as Anton, a lazy teenager whose greatest accomplishments involve avoiding responsibility and spending time getting high with his two best friends, Mick (Seth Green) and Pnub (Elden Henson). Anton lives with his parents in a quiet suburban neighborhood, where a series of mysterious murders eventually reveals that something seriously wrong is happening inside his house.
Unfortunately, Anton discovers that the problem is attached to his own body. His right hand has become possessed by a demonic force, and it has developed an unfortunate habit of killing anyone who gets too close. After his parents become victims, Anton realizes that simply keeping his hand occupied isn't going to solve the problem.
The situation gets even more ridiculous when Mick and Pnub return as zombies after becoming two more victims of Anton's possessed appendage. Rather than disappearing from the story, the pair stick around as undead companions, providing plenty of comic relief while Anton attempts to regain control of his life. Apparently, death isn't enough to get these two to stop hanging out.
Devon Sawa is perfectly cast as Anton. He plays the character with just the right mixture of cluelessness, panic, and teenage laziness. Sawa had already established himself as a recognizable young actor through films like Casper and Little Giants, but Idle Hands gave him an opportunity to explore a much darker and more comedic role.
Seth Green and Elden Henson are terrific as Mick and Pnub. Their chemistry gives the movie some of its funniest moments, particularly once they're wandering around as decomposing zombies who seem more interested in getting high than dealing with their own deaths. Green's sarcastic delivery is especially entertaining, and the two characters bring a ridiculous buddy-comedy element to the horror.
Jessica Alba plays Molly, Anton's love interest and the one person who might actually motivate him to get his life together. Unfortunately, romance becomes somewhat difficult when your boyfriend's hand is trying to murder everyone in the neighborhood. Vivica A. Fox also appears as a mysterious woman who understands the supernatural situation considerably better than Anton does.
Director Rodman Flender embraces the movie's absurd premise, mixing slasher-style violence with slapstick comedy and supernatural horror. The practical effects are wonderfully over-the-top, and the movie never seems particularly concerned with maintaining realism. There are severed limbs, exploding heads, and enough blood to make a neighborhood cleanup crew consider changing careers.
The soundtrack is another highlight, featuring late-'90s alternative and rock acts that help establish the film's youthful personality. The movie also captures the era's fascination with horror-comedy, arriving during a period when films were increasingly comfortable mixing genuine scares with outrageous humor.
Unfortunately, Idle Hands didn't perform particularly well at the box office, and its humor can be hit-or-miss. The story is fairly thin, and some of the jokes rely heavily on gross-out comedy. But the cast's enthusiasm and the movie's willingness to embrace complete stupidity make it an entertaining cult favorite.
Final Verdict: 7/10
Idle Hands is a ridiculous late-'90s horror comedy that delivers exactly what its premise promises. Devon Sawa makes a likable lead, Seth Green and Elden Henson steal plenty of scenes, and the practical effects provide some wonderfully gruesome entertainment. It's not particularly intelligent, but that's hardly the point. Sometimes you just want a movie about a lazy teenager whose hand turns evil and starts killing people. And apparently, keeping your hands busy really is important.
Released in 1999, this horror comedy stars Devon Sawa as Anton, a lazy teenager whose greatest accomplishments involve avoiding responsibility and spending time getting high with his two best friends, Mick (Seth Green) and Pnub (Elden Henson). Anton lives with his parents in a quiet suburban neighborhood, where a series of mysterious murders eventually reveals that something seriously wrong is happening inside his house.
Unfortunately, Anton discovers that the problem is attached to his own body. His right hand has become possessed by a demonic force, and it has developed an unfortunate habit of killing anyone who gets too close. After his parents become victims, Anton realizes that simply keeping his hand occupied isn't going to solve the problem.
The situation gets even more ridiculous when Mick and Pnub return as zombies after becoming two more victims of Anton's possessed appendage. Rather than disappearing from the story, the pair stick around as undead companions, providing plenty of comic relief while Anton attempts to regain control of his life. Apparently, death isn't enough to get these two to stop hanging out.
Devon Sawa is perfectly cast as Anton. He plays the character with just the right mixture of cluelessness, panic, and teenage laziness. Sawa had already established himself as a recognizable young actor through films like Casper and Little Giants, but Idle Hands gave him an opportunity to explore a much darker and more comedic role.
Seth Green and Elden Henson are terrific as Mick and Pnub. Their chemistry gives the movie some of its funniest moments, particularly once they're wandering around as decomposing zombies who seem more interested in getting high than dealing with their own deaths. Green's sarcastic delivery is especially entertaining, and the two characters bring a ridiculous buddy-comedy element to the horror.
Jessica Alba plays Molly, Anton's love interest and the one person who might actually motivate him to get his life together. Unfortunately, romance becomes somewhat difficult when your boyfriend's hand is trying to murder everyone in the neighborhood. Vivica A. Fox also appears as a mysterious woman who understands the supernatural situation considerably better than Anton does.
Director Rodman Flender embraces the movie's absurd premise, mixing slasher-style violence with slapstick comedy and supernatural horror. The practical effects are wonderfully over-the-top, and the movie never seems particularly concerned with maintaining realism. There are severed limbs, exploding heads, and enough blood to make a neighborhood cleanup crew consider changing careers.
The soundtrack is another highlight, featuring late-'90s alternative and rock acts that help establish the film's youthful personality. The movie also captures the era's fascination with horror-comedy, arriving during a period when films were increasingly comfortable mixing genuine scares with outrageous humor.
Unfortunately, Idle Hands didn't perform particularly well at the box office, and its humor can be hit-or-miss. The story is fairly thin, and some of the jokes rely heavily on gross-out comedy. But the cast's enthusiasm and the movie's willingness to embrace complete stupidity make it an entertaining cult favorite.
Final Verdict: 7/10
Idle Hands is a ridiculous late-'90s horror comedy that delivers exactly what its premise promises. Devon Sawa makes a likable lead, Seth Green and Elden Henson steal plenty of scenes, and the practical effects provide some wonderfully gruesome entertainment. It's not particularly intelligent, but that's hardly the point. Sometimes you just want a movie about a lazy teenager whose hand turns evil and starts killing people. And apparently, keeping your hands busy really is important.
Review posted
November 10, 2026