Movie Review: Paura Tutto (2014)

Paura Tutto (2014) - USA - Horror Comedy - Not Rated

Independent Short Subject - Mordacious Films - 11 minutes

Directed by Mykee Morettini

Written by Peter Dorman and Mykee Morettini

Starring Mykee Morettini, Kelli Alden, Peter Dorman, Matt Kormanik, Mia Morettini, Rae Erin Walsh, Jagar Davis


A different animal for sure (the film) Morettini succeeds in bringing our worst nightmare to life... resurrecting the 80s.

It's 1985 as a high school outcast teams up with a psychic with no name (I believe there was a song about her) to track down a physical manifestation of fear that is killing off the senior class in alphabetical order.

Paura Tutto is its own original animal. It tells a story, but not in the usual fashion. Parodying Italian horror movies of the 80s, complete with made-up screen credits to fit the theme, it proceeds as an extended trailer, as though for some lost film of the time, yet tells its story via the parts and narration of the trailer ..err, film ...err, trailer ...err, something.

True to its roots Paura Tutto is presented complete with film grain and deterioration. Washed out frames abound, as does out of sync dialogue. And bad fashion trends? Oh yeah, it's got it too. If you were to view it without any knowledge this is a contemporary parody you would probably think this was the genuine article from the 1980s.

Through its stylizing it is not the most coherent presentation of a story, humorously that is very much inline with the very films it mocks. From an opening scene that sounds like it fell out of Doctor Butcher M.D. to headbands, boomboxes, and gaudy gore effects, the 80s are alive and well... but not for long. ;)

Being its own unique animal it's not easy to rate a film like this. Certainly there's no contextualization for comparison. The only way really to rate it is in looking at what it aims to accomplish and how well it did at that. Paura Tutto does have the advantage, in the way Morettini has done this, of anything that could be perceived as a failure or weakness on the part of the film could just as much be intentional as it certainly would fit with its subject matter. Complete it is, even though it its presented as a promotional piece for a film. Any lows it falls to are also its high points. In that respect it accomplishes apparently what it set out to do... confuse the hell out of a movie reviewer trying to rate it. So I'll give it an extra notch for that.

My Rating: 4 Fingers

Watch Paura Tutto on YouTube

Find Mykee Morettini on Facebook and Twitter

Movie Review: Beyond Repair (2017)

Beyond Repair (2017) - USA - Horror - Not Rated

Independent Short Subject - Robbie Barnes - 8 Mins

Written and Directed by Robbie Barnes

Starring Kinsley Funari, Jesse Dillon Sorrells, Ember Burns, Christopher Kyriakides, George Tutie, Robbie Barnes

Connects at the most modest level of the everyday to magnificently bring to the screen a story with the power to become an indelible fable in our collective media consciousness.

It happens billions of times a day; somebody has to go to the bathroom. When it hits and you are traveling the choices are random, and tonight's random stop for Jorah won't exactly have her flushed with excitement.

The movie starts off with a premise most any of us are familiar with, and that is traveling and having to pull over somewhere to use the bathroom. Certainly Kinsley Funari's anxious dance as she holds it in will hit home with all of us. As well what hits home is how that overwhelming feeling to go can prioritize itself over any rudimentary sense of caution.

Driving down the road, a graduation tassel hangs on the rear-view mirror as the car radio plays. This could be any one of us and a strength with Beyond Repair is that oh so common connection it sets up from the start. The viewer can certainly sympathize with the situation Jorah is in, and without knowing anything about her, her occupation, what she likes, what she doesn't like, we don't need to know any of that because the situation transcends the unfamiliar and instantly acquiesces us into a "what would I do" frame of mind.

One thing that popped into my head watching this was a segment from the film Body Bags that takes place at a service station; of course you know the protagonist is in trouble when Wes Craven himself makes an appearance. One of the problems with that film and a problem with many anthology films and TV series of the 80s, 90s, and hence who took their inspiration from The Twilight Zone was in getting the look down, but not the spirit of The Twilight Zone.

Beyond Repair has certainly captured that spirit, not in copying The Twilight Zone mind you but in knowing that it is what is at the heart of the story that is important, not the trappings of the story. In a similar way to The Twilight Zone episode The Hitch-Hiker the mechanics of how and why things happen in relation to the mundane are unimportant; it's the story and that's where Beyond Repair shines is in telling its story. Beyond Repair has the heart and soul of Twilight Zone and the new car smell of modern filmmaking.

Robbie Barnes' story and direction is intuitive with its subject and drawing the viewer into the protagonist's world to bring the viewer into sympathizing with the main character. Rather than focusing on a rationalization of the elements of the story instead those very elements become the palette from which she paints onto a cinematic canvas a picture of ghoulish deluge.

At the heart of any story is the protagonist who either draws us into the story, or puts us off of it. That responsibility ultimately rests on the shoulders of Kinsley Funari. Physically, with an adorable sweetness to her face and girl next door looks, she is an ideal choice. Ultimately though appearance is just the tip of the iceberg and the rest of that iceberg brings a real person to the screen who gives you good reason to feel for her character.

Supporting performances from Jesse Dillon Sorrells and Ember Burns add to the overall fright with Sorrells pumping a thick eeriness into the already haunting atmosphere and Burns lavishes ever so lovingly in the gruesomeness of her role. 

Do not try to rationalize the story. Rationalization is its own defense mechanism; we try to talk away the things that scare us. If you do find yourself trying to rationalize it, then it scared you more than you thought it did... or are willing to admit.

My Rating: 5 Fingers; I give it a high five!

You can find Robbie Barnes on Twitter and Facebook

Movie Review: Check Please! (2017)

Check Please! (2017) - USA - Comedy - Not Rated (Adult Humor)

Independent Short Subject - MaxiMeise Productions - 4 Mins

Directed by Chad Meisenheimer

Cinematography by Niklas Berggren

Starring Shane Ryan, Chad Meisenheimer

In space no one can hear Shane Ryan cringe but thanks to Chad Meisenheimer we can all see and enjoy it.

Adam and Steve get together at a restaurant the morning following first meeting on a blind date. Apparently things went well on the date but Steve has a revelation that just may change the way Adam looks at blind dates again.

If the premise of two men meeting at a restaurant for a love interest strikes you as a meeting midway between My Dinner with Andre and Making Love...

...think again.

Though Chad Meisenheimer has been making headway as a horror director with his ongoing trilogy of retro horror shorts, including the 80s entry Nite Nite, making its way in festivals now, and his 90s in the works project Little Girl in White, his roots have been comedy, and of course if you've ever followed him on social media you would have no doubts about this. In the midst of establishing himself as a horror director he has hearkened back to his roots as writer and director of the comedy short Check Please!

Inline with his off-the-wall and unapologetic style of humor guaranteed to get your attention, if not your ire too, Chad takes aim at a setup involving a hookup between gay men. His partner in crime... err... I mean cinema is fellow filmmaker and friend Shane Ryan (Caged Lesbos A-Go-Go, Faces of Snuff) who is no stranger to pushing the envelope in film.

With Chad directing and Niklas Berggren on board as cinematographer they keep it dynamic by changing up the shots. This is important as it's all too easy with an under four minute short to keep a camera stationary when you only have two actors sitting at a table. Constantly changing the perspective to accentuate each actor's expressions adds to the pace and allows the viewer to focus on the dialogue more while the occasional framing shot of both actors keeps the viewer in check with the setting.

I have a feeling with Shane being friends with Chad he has become a master of the facepalm and annoyed look. He plays well a reactionary sounding board for Chad's humor. And speaking of Chad, probably something you don't want to find yourself doing too often, he is buoyant in delivering his lines and I suspect relishing the opportunity to torture Shane.

If this sounds a lot like friends having fun doing a comedy skit, well that's exactly what it is and they successfully translate that to film. The story is complete and Chad has certainly filled it with his WTF juice... wait, ewww! The end result at a basic level is a good and entertaining film that benefits extra from its directing and cinematography.

My Rating: 3 Fingers Plus

Movie Review: Spent (2017)

Spent (2017) - USA - Comedy/Drama/Noir - Not Rated (PG)

Written & Directed by Lisa Mikitarian

Starring Connie Lamothe, Darren Barzegar, Nick Nerangis, Madeline Mikitarian, Tony Villa, Janna Livingston, Anna Grace Padgett

Full of story and style with a mix of elements from various genres from film noir to comedy Spent becomes its own unique experience culminating in a cinematic high.

Poor Herbert. Dying of a brain tumor. His family will miss him. As a matter of fact, they can't wait to miss him. You see, Herbert has been a tightwad his whole life, but now all that penny-pinching has paid off, or will pay off to his family once he is gone and they will be able to do all those things they couldn't  while he was alive. But sometimes fate has a tendency to throw a wrench in the gears and complicate things.

In the very opening of this film I was in a timewarp. A woman is using a Compaq Portable III* computer (so jealous and in such pristine shape) while a young man prances about his room looking like it was furnished in the 80s or before, then when he is at the movie theater the movies on the marquee are relatively recent. What?

As it turns out the family has literally been living in the past. Herbert, being the penny-pincher he is has not updated their lifestyle in over 25 years and with an antique car, an analog cell phone and vintage applliances around the house the viewer is attuned to the timewarp the family must feel.

*For nitpickers, the Compaq Portable III is not a color computer nor even capable of the things it does in this film, but that's missing the point as it is present to show how long Herbert hangs onto stuff to keep from spending money.

Though the family lives an austere lifestyle, and the small town in which they live in many ways is just as atavistic as they are, there is an entrenched elegance in the film from an exquisite display of baubles of plenty to the simple charm of a little girl selling root beer on a hot summer day. And how something as seemingly innocuous as the latter becomes a plot element is part of the special chemistry of this film.

Initially I felt the pace was a little slow as the film lingers a bit on its settings but ultimately it accomplishes pulling the viewer into its world effaced of much of the familiarity of the postmodern condition. Using this technique better transitions the viewer than if they were simply thrust into it pell-mell as a fish out of water.

The art direction is full in this. This may seem a contradiction with the simplicity of the lifestyle depicted but that contradiction allows the adornments of antiquity to shine through the ascetic means of the characters. An important discovery at work in this story is not treating the bereft comforts of the protagonists lives as emptiness by focusing on that part but instead allowing the characters themselves to shine through as the important elements in a strongly character driven plot.

Mixing elements from film noir and comedy Spent unfolds a story that is both farcical and interpersonal. It is a fun and emotional roller coaster ride that is likely to have you laughing hysterically through your tears. From the beginning it may seem like it is obvious where this story is going, but that changes quickly. As I said before it is a character driven story and those characters, amazingly in only two days of story time, discover, evolve and effect the plot through their interactions in what is a funny and beautifully woven tale of family, greed, rat poison and squirrels.

There are problems in this, though very few. At times some of the acting is a little wooden, but competent enough. And a boon to the cast is the wonderful performance by Nick Nerangis who puts so much zest and feeling into every scene he occupies, and with his natural expressiveness and facial features he is a photographer's and filmmaker's dream come true. The conclusion of the film, more properly a coda, does not have the same strength as the rest of the film, but it is short and does fill in some gaps.

What Spent does accomplish though is a unique piece of cinema that lavishes in its style, wafting from color to black & white to enhance the mood, and its storytelling in allowing the characters to lead the plot, changing up the story constantly keeping it fresh. It builds to a bittersweet apogee of tears and laughs in a cinematic high of intensity as such I felt as though I was riding in a taxi being driven by Harry Chapin. And in the end its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses and what Lisa Mikitarian has accomplished as a writer and director is quite possibly the best movie I have seen all year.

My Rating: 5 Fingers; I give it a high five!

You can get Spent on Amazon Video. Watch it for free with Prime.

More information is available on the Spent Twitter and Facebook pages.

Movie Review: Night Job (2017)

Night Job (2017) - USA (NYC) - Comedy - Not Rated (PG)

Written & Directed by J. Antonio

Starring Jason Torres, Greg Kritikos, Lester Greene, Timothy J. Cox, Bettina Skye, Hardy Calderon, Sofiane Madi, Laeticia De Valer, Stacey Weckstein, Monikha Reyes, Una Petrovic

*I will update the cast list as I have time because it is a large cast in this film.

Though an at times slow moving film it ultimately succeeds in the wealth of characterization it offers the viewer with many memorable performances and plenty to take home in a doggy bag from this feast.

The regular doorman is out sick for the night and a temp, James, has been called in for his first night on the job. Night means nothing in the city other than having to turn on a light. Nicknamed "the city that never sleeps" James will come to wish it did as he will have to deal with all sorts of characters and their mishaps from feuding couples to an exorcism before this night is over.

Within this microcosm of New York City with which our protagonist James has to contend is a relevant diapason of the city's character. J. Antonio has brought together a diverse cast to play the quirky malcontents who inhabit a New York City high-rise apartment building (think The Jeffersons meets Hot L Baltimore) and who will display with diligent gratification the ingredients that turn a promising and optimistic young man into a bitter and pessimistic old man.

The core of this narrative is singular in perspective, but it is third person as we as the audience are observers of James' trek through this night. The apartment complex, and thus James momentary thrust into insanity, is occupied by many characters, i.e. the cast is huge, and rather than trying to break down the cast and characters, which I feel would be counterproductive to the viewing experience anyway, I will select a few of the more notable performances.

Timothy J. Cox - It's always a pleasure to see Timothy J. Cox show up in a film because, summed up, not only is it going to be good but it's also not going to be a repeat of any other performance he has done as, from what I have seen, he always brings something fresh to every role. Cox plays Mr. Jones and certainly brings his comic flair to the role. An at times slow paced film gets a few ticks up in its pace whenever Cox is present.

Bettina Skye - Anybody who has ever worked as a doorman or night security has met her: the talkative elderly woman. She talks about the past, the present, what a wonderful young man you are, and of course not to get old. Skye brings perfection to this role; subdued in its humor yet rich in subtle farce.

Greg Kritikos - Romeo, oh Romeo... where the hell are you? Yep, we've met him too; the slob complacent in his job who is never around when needed, always busy when he's not, yet completely handy when there's a tip to be earned. Kritikos maturates in this role bringing sarcastic life to Romeo and delivering just the right amount of humor to the viewer, and inspiration to take a scalding hot shower afterwards.

Lester Greene - This is another character we've met; the smilin' Jack street vendor. Despite just trying to make a buck he always seems genuine and he's your friend, who always has a special deal just for you. Even before Greene speaks you've seen this character coming, and that speaks volumes to the aura he evokes as his character. He's so good in this role I want to buy a DVD from him.

Monikha Reyes - Though not a named character, 'Young Woman' in the credits, Reyes is a beautiful young woman who makes an impact as an engaging character and certainly lifts the scene with her presence and has such sexy eyes.

Una Petrovic - Just because she is soooo effing hot! Tight, short white dress and thank you, thank you, thank you!

Jason Torres - And of course what would a film be without our protagonist, the reason we give a damn, and the glue that holds it all together. Torres' strength is in his natural reactiveness. His body language and expressions give credence to every scene. He is our tour guide through the movie. Each scene might be akin to a site along the tour, but his presence gives us the highlights of the tour and makes it that much more worthwhile.

J. Antonio has a lot of stories to tell with his film. Some more interesting than others, but the key here is that's entirely by perspective. Everybody is going to align to something different, have favorite characters that are different than mine, and react differently. Night Job is a smorgasbord offering plenty from which to choose. If your tastes lean more one way you may not connect with the plethora of choices available, but that doesn't mean the person behind you won't.

As I mentioned before, the pacing at times is a little slow. An elegant jazz soundtrack helps it along in places. An opening scene with Kutcha as Julio drones on a bit, but it sets the tone and can be forgiven for that. The choice for a black & white presentation is interesting, and though it may seem like just a creative choice at first there is dream sequence which contrasts with it in such a way to imply a humanist subtext, but I'll leave it at that.

Initially I was leaning toward a 3 Finger Plus rating. Writing out the review and exploring further the characters in the story has advanced a perspective. Though slow in parts the important thing is ultimately it's not lacking. Many of the characters in this have given me plenty to reminisce about, and it's that lingering power of a story that bumps it up.

My Rating: 4 Fingers; that's 8 out of 10 for IMDbers.

Movie Review: Terry Kendall and Orange Green (2011)

Terry Kendall and Orange Green (2011) - USA - Thriller - Not Rated

Independent Short Subject - Meg Skaff - 11 Mins

Written & Directed by Meg Skaff

Starring Brit-Charde' Sellers, Timothy J. Cox, Kimberly David
and Anna Calabrese (narrator)

Entertainingly done, Terry Kendall and Orange Green, the names of the two main characters in this film, me thinks that's just coincidence, most definitely earns a place in the film category of "didn't see that coming".

Terry Kendall is a young, single black woman, wakes every day to shout to the world her enthusiasm and head to work at the grocery store where she is a stocker. You could say she's a positive person... and positive she is being stalked by a strange man who has a habit of showing up everyday at the same time, to the second.

The narration of the story is done in a hep urban female voice which, along with the bizarre plot of the film, is reminiscent, for me, of underground comix of the 70s and 80s. No, not Freak Brothers, Leather Nun or any of a number of others that basically retooled Tijuana Bibles, but there were many stories in those comix with an urban undertone and bizarre if not tragic sense of humor. This is actually the second review in a row where a film has made me think of underground comix... me suspects a conspiracy. 

A critical character in this story, of only three characters, is the Orange Green character played by Timothy J. Cox. It is certainly a different type of role for him compared to what I've seen him play. On the surface it seems like it would be an easy role to play, but that's deceptive as he makes it look effortless, though I'm certain it's no easy task to play a character without giving away his intent in a look or expression. He maintains an uneasy and cold calm throughout making one wonder just what he's up to, and when you do find out, he certainly never gave it away.

Brit-Charde' Sellers is spot on in being annoyed by Timothy J. Cox's character. Initially she plays to exuberance as a pretty young woman ready to not tackle but embrace the world looking forward to every day. Her character's awareness of someone's presence is well played as her body language communicates to the viewer as well as any spoken dialogue would.

As the primary, Brit Charde' Sellers has more to work with, but both roles require subtleties to pull them off, and Sellers and Cox have both accomplished this.

I'm not a fan of ambiguity, but it does actually work in this. The ambiguity is not in the story as the story is complete, but in the rationale; there simply is no rationale. The ambiguity works to a degree like a story you would read in a newspaper or see on the TV news and wonder... well, just "why". It's not a cheap out, but it is a head-scratcher and I don't think it was in any way intended to be rationalized, just experienced.

Interesting storytelling method Meg Skaff puts on the screen. Certainly there's nothing unique about a narrated story, but the personality of the narrator is its charm.

I would give a film just for having a complete story and done in an entertaining way a minimum of 3 Fingers. Up to a point I enjoyed this, then it threw me for a loop and surely got my WTF certification. Though I'm pretty positive I didn't like that part, I'm giving Meg Skaff extra credit for throwing me like he did.

My Rating: 3 Fingers Plus; that's 7 out of 10 for IMDbers.

Friday Night 80s Party is Back on December 15

First of all if you follow me and have never experienced one of my Friday Night 80s Party nights, let me apologize for what I am about to do to your Twitter and Facebook newsfeeds.

Friday Night 80s Party is where I post music videos, links to YouTube, relating to a theme for that particular night, plus nostalgia and trivia as well. I used to run one fairly regularly from 8-9pm EST, but a lack of a very reliable internet connection at the time, and an even more unreliable work schedule, made it difficult to keep it up. Well it's going to return on Friday December 15th with a few changes for a special edition.

#GhostsAndScaryMovies

The special theme for the coming Friday Night 80s Party will be videos, trivia and nostalgia related to ghosts and scary movies. This special edition will run from 8-10pm and will coincide with a fundraiser event to get donations for Chad Meisenheimer's short horror film Little Girl in White which is in the pre-production stages and most importantly needs to get the financing in order before they can start because people do like to be paid.

Little Girl in White

Little Girl in White is going to be the second short film of a trilogy. The first film was Nite Nite and was inspired by 80s horror movies, especially babysitter horror, and was even set in the 80s. Little Girl in White is going to be an Asian style horror film set in the 90s. As you can see each film in the trilogy is a tribute to a different decade in horror movies using a theme and style that was popular during that decade.

They need to put together $6,000 just to get rolling. Compared to a big studio Hollywood film this is not even a drop in the bucket, but for independent filmmakers, people who often work regular jobs like you and me just to pay the bills, this is a lot of money and they are most likely not going to make it back.

So how can you help?

Every dollar you give to the campaign to fund the film is one dollar closer they are to starting filming. Chad has a crowdfunding page setup on IndieGoGo where you can contribute any amount, and anything at all is helpful.

Visit the Little Girl in White IndieGoGo Page

Friday December 15 8-10pm

You can write it down if you want to, but I will be tweeting about it from now until Friday the 15th. The Friday Night 80s Party will run for 2 hours from 8-10pm EST and include music videos from the 80s as well from the 70s and of course the 90s. Trivia and nostalgia, like commercials, will be tweeted as well. And in between them I will includes links to the Little Girl in White crowdfunding page.

Let's see if we can't get this off the ground for Chad and his crew.

Toxic Fletch

Movie Review: Hex (2017)

Hex (2017) - UK - Historical Thriller/Horror - Not Rated (PG)

Independent Feature Film - Rubicon Films

Directed by George Popov

Co-Directed by Jonathan Russell

Written by Jonathan Russell and George Popov

Starring Daniel Oldroyd, William Young, Suzie Frances Garton, Tony Broadbent

Tediously paced at times it overcomes this with nerve-racking tension in a story though set during the English Civil War is fresh and relevant in today's times.

Two soldiers on opposite sides during the English Civil War (1644) find themselves alone against each other in the forest. But they soon become suspicious they are not the only ones in this forest and that other one is a witch preventing them from getting out of the forest. Trust comes hard but fear and suspicion come easy.

Made for a staggering (wink) £1000, that's just over $1300 for us yanks, what these filmmakers have accomplished on a budget that wouldn't even buy lunch for a Hollywood film crew is simply outstanding. The use of lush woodland scenery, re-enactment period costumes and props, austere ruins and three top of their class actors imbues this film with quality components.

Up front, what doesn't work for Hex is tedium in some of the scenes, especially the nighttime scenes and not being well lit adds to it. It's just my feeling that having trimmed the running time of this could have improved upon it as it is a bit long for what could be an hour long Outer Limits episode.

What does work for the film is tension and story. From the first encounter of the two soldiers culminating in a brutal fight, which makes one wonder if some of the blood might be real, to a cat and mouse game between the soldiers early in the film the viewer's nerves are honed raw. Even as the film progresses reality and fear are often indistinct for the soldiers, as well the viewer. As much the soldiers fear the witch of the forest heightening their paranoia, even beyond that is the unsettling sense they might turn on each other at any moment.

What brings the story freshly into modern times is smartly using the English Civil War as a backdrop: most basically a war between political opposites the Royalists who sought to maintain a 'divine right' in leadership and the Parliamentarians who opposed a monopolistic monarchy and church. Congruency aside, even more germane in the face of xenophobia, building walls and decayed institutions is the rallying of distinct nationalities under a greater fear and hatred of another through a cloud of unknowing.

Despite some slowness in the film at places and dark nighttime scenes overall it is well done. A complete story that works as a whole gets my basic recommendation. But this additionally has rich dialogue, taut direction, beautiful cinematography and some of the best audio capture I've heard that captures every distinct sound, as well what lies beneath the story is thought provoking.

*Update

This is a first for me, at least on this blog, to change my rating of a movie. Some might consider my movie reviewing style to be a bit scopious, but it is for this very reason that it is such. I watch movies twice for a review. Usually I give myself a few days during that time for lingering afterthoughts, and especially to feel what staying power a film has. Usually it takes me several days to a week to review a movie. Being this film was being released on the 17th, I wanted to have it reviewed by the day before and really did not let it take time to sink in.

Yes, the film is tedious in several places as I said and that took it down a notch from 4 Fingers. Yet it has stayed with me. It has magnificent imagery and incredible sound quality where the slightest brush of grass or babble of a brook comes through with clarity; it's a pleasure in and of itself just to listen to this movie. I chose the screencap of Daniel Oldroyd as his expression in it defines the quality of acting in this. Of course there is the story central to the film which draws an allegory using the past as sort of a mirror for our present, and might I say beautifully done.

I've been having a lingering of conscience asking myself if I rated it fairly. Though it may be a fair rating something keeps clawing at me. Within the short time since I've seen this it has become one of my favorite films or 2017 along with Fighting Belle and Night Kaleidoscope. For these various reasons, to me, my rating has to go up a notch from the 3 Fingers Plus I originally gave it.

My Rating: 4 Fingers. That's 8/10 for IMDbers.

You can find out more about Hex on its Twitter and Facebook pages.

You can rent or buy Hex from Amazon Video.

Movie Review: Here Lies Joe (2016)

Here Lies Joe (2016) - USA - Drama - Not Rated (Family)

Independent Short Subject - Sweven Films - 23 Mins

Directed by Mark Battle

Written by Mark Battle and Pamela Conway

Starring Dean Temple, Andi Morrow, Timothy J. Cox, Mary Hronicek, J. P. Valenti, Kristie Stumpf Rork

A tactful approach to a sensitive subject that succeeds in flying high with feel good vibes.

Joe is another man in the walkabout of everyday life. Perhaps he is forgettable to anybody but himself, and those memories he carries with him. You see, Joe simply wants out of life, to end it, but on one day he joins a suicide support group and meets a disruptive young woman only calling herself 'Z'. This seemingly fearless woman with a swaggering pomposity gives Joe pause, not only about himself but about what Z hides beneath that facade.

Suicide is not an easy subject to approach in film, or TV for that matter. Hollywood and the networks are loaded with bad examples of tasteless portrayals of people with suicidal thoughts. One that comes starkly to mind is the short lived, thank goodness, TV show The Powers That Be in which David Hyde Pierce, pre-Frasier, played the suicidal son-in-law of a senator, to comical effect.

Though Here Lies Joe is a serious drama there is plenty of humor, but that humor is in the interaction of two people. These two might be looking for a way out, at first observation, but they just might be looking for an invitation to stay for a while.

Using a wraparound narrative, director Mark Battle begins at an advanced point in the timeline of the story and then goes back to events leading up to that point. Not events which are the cause of it, but events which put it into perspective, as well starting off with this part of the story puts the character of Joe and those few hours into perspective.

The acting in this is spot on. In the early part of the film at the suicide support meeting we are introduced to members of the group. Timothy J. Cox plays the tactful chair of the group as a man who is seemingly well balanced but does not like to have that balance tipped. Mary Hronicek is wonderful as the morose and attention seeking Carol. And of course Dean Temple plays the awkwardly polite Joe and Andi Morrow is simply a show stealer with her performance as Z.

The cinematography keeps the focus in check while blending supportive elements. One thing I want to particularly praise though, as often it is underscored until it is bad, is the excellent audio in this. I often overlook audio issues so long as I can hear the dialogue, but I just want to call out Robert Beal of BB3 Studio and Shawn McHenry for a job beautifully done. The audio on this is clear as a bell and so well balanced.

Here Lies Joe is a story that gives one something to think about in a presentation that is not only well done but is a feel good film. I can't say anything bad about it; hence my rating.

My Rating: 5 Fingers; I give it a High Five!

You can watch Here Lies Joe on Vimeo

Visit the Sweven Films official website.

Movie Review: The Shape Returns (2017)

The Shape Returns (2017) - USA - Horror - Not Rated (PG)

Independent Short Film - 12 Mins

Directed by Tony Crespo and Mykee Morettini

Written by Tony Crespo

Music by Mykee Morettini

Starring Chelsee Chauhan, Rob Sheppard, William Welch King, Desmond Huey

A fun and fitting tribute to the original Halloween film with pastiches of other films in the series worked in.

You know the story, if you're a fan of the Halloween films started by John Carpenter. It's Halloween night and among the trick or treaters is a guy wearing the scariest mask you can think of, William Shatner, as he stalks a teenage girl. Almost makes one think this is the story of a Hollywood producer.

A fan film is a different area for me. Back in the 80s a Halloween inspired fan film was the next slasher movie to show up at the drive-in. Unlike the glut of slasher flicks to hit the big screen in the 80s, the fan film of today is one which openly emulates its source. But perhaps the most important aspect of a fan film, I would think, is staying true to its source and not warping it into something it's not; a lesson Rob Zombie should have taken to heart.

The Shape Returns has the earmarks of a fan's love of the Halloween movie franchise. Taking from the first film the most basic plot of a masked stranger and the teenage girl he stalks for unknown reasons (again, from the first film) is the core plot. What ups the film is the infusion of elements from other films in the series including the post-Carpenter sequels and Halloween III: Season of the Witch.

One of the prime elements working for The Shape Returns is the attention to detail in the mask. Several of the official sequels did a poor job in recreating the mask from the original, and being the mask is like the trademark of the franchise you'd figure it would be important. For The Shape Returns, being the original 1975 Kirk mask, though available, was sold out, Mykee Morettini was left with buying the best Michael Myers mask he could find and modifying it to look like the original. And he certainly succeeded.

For the attention to detail to the original, and especially the mask, the filmmakers have brought the character of Michael Myers into the present. The Halloween theme is naturally present, and Morettini brings some up-tempo to it that makes it feel celebratory. There is a bit of an early 80s feel with the character of Jackie who rocks a Sarah Jessica Parker Square Pegs look, though that's probably just coincidental. The film doesn't break any new ground, as that is not their intention, but is a tribute to the original. In that respect alone I give it 3 Fingers, but because of some extra fun worked into the film from the other sequels I'll take that up a notch.

My Rating: 4 Fingers

You can watch The Shape Returns on YouTube and find them on Facebook

Movie Review: Dark Romance (2013)

Dark Romance (2013) - USA - Dark Thriller - Not Rated (PG)

Independent Short Subject - 8mm Films - 8 Mins

Entrant in 48 Hour Film Project New York City 2013

Directed by Matthew Mahler

Written by Matthew Mahler & Ross Mahler

Starring Timothy J. Cox, Cameron Rankin, Tiffany Browne-Tavarez, Brian Shields

Early work by Matthew Mahler is a dark passage of obsession, even darkly comedic, showing the promise he has as a filmmaker.

Tim Cooper and Cam are modern day mad men developing ad campaigns for clients between their office cubicles and board room. But neither Tim nor Cam are truly the one who is mad as Tim becomes the recipient of a secret admirer's attentions, that start off innocently enough but soon turn dark and obsessive.

Dark Romance was made as part of the 48 Hour Film Project film festival in 2013, New York City location. This festival has filmmakers compete by being given 3 required elements their short film must contain and then having 48 hours to script, shoot, and edit their film. The required elements for this competition were: a character named Cam or Cat Dean who is an advertising executive, a prop of a trophy, and to include the line "when do you expect her?"

IMDb lists this as Matthew Mahler's first directed short film. I can only go on that as I don't know the extent of Mahler's work beyond what is listed on IMDb. There are obvious shortcomings with Dark Romance that are most likely because of what he had available equipment-wise. The sound has a constant hum early in the film, though this does not hamper the dialogue which is actually quite clear. Additionally the handheld camerawork is obvious in places, though most likely necessitated by the space in which they had to work. Though Mahler's creativity does shine through; creativity he will put to even greater use in his masterful To Be Alone, also starring Timothy J. Cox.

Technical issues aside, Dark Romance is well scripted telling a complete story; I make a point of this as in a 48 Hour Film Project a filmmaker has to go with what they have, complete or not. The cinematography makes good use of framing, focus, follow, and mood. The actors in this are excellent in their performances with Timothy J. Cox showing how well he can transition from the light to the dark in a role.

Originally I was leaning toward a rating of 3 Fingers to 3 Fingers Plus for Dark Romance. Writing this review reminds me to count what's most important in the film, that is how well done it is as a whole and not the limitations of what they had to work with. If anything, working with handheld equipment on a budget under $500 and in only 48 hours shows what they overcame to tell a complete story that hits its marks. My rating is therefore based on what they have accomplished in this film, and what they have accomplished is very good.

My Rating: 4 Fingers

You can watch Dark Romance on Vimeo and also check out Mahler's other work.

Movie Review: What Jack Built (2015)

What Jack Built (2015) - USA - Mystery Thriller - Not Rated (Family)

Independent Short Subject - 8mm Films - 11 Mins

Directed by Matthew Mahler

Written by Matthew Mahler and Ross Mahler

Starring Timothy J. Cox

Loud and proud in its score with a hint of pastiche to 80s future noir What Jack Built is an energetic ride with an obsessed driver at the wheel.

*Since the filmmakers don't have a movie poster for this film, I made one. Being the screencap I used belongs to the filmmakers and all I did was add the obvious text, as far as I'm concerned the poster image belongs to them to use as they wish.

Jack has an obsession, with something. He's a packrat with all sorts of goodies scattered about his workshop. Monitors here, keyboards and parts there ...electronics and paint cans and gizmos, oh my! It seems Jack has everything, yet one thing eludes him; and that one thing frightens him too. Jack has a plan to get that one thing, but he has to build something first.

Though this is the first review I am doing of a film starring Timothy J. Cox, I am no stranger to his work as an actor. If you are into indie film you will eventually come across the work of Timothy J. Cox, dubbed 'the hardest working actor in indie film'. I am no stranger to the work of Matthew Mahler either and frankly consider him one of the most artistic and promising directors today.

Cox and Mahler working together is certainly fitting as Mahler drives a narrative of sight and sound, devoid of dialogue. Cox is a wonderful actor and among his strengths is a talent with body language and expression. Mahler and Cox working together is a marriage made in filmmaking heaven

Matthew Mahler has scored this film himself with vibes that hint at 80s sci-fi movies, to me, but is its own original composition. Timothy J. Cox has fun with this role both with spot on moments, and moments of chewing the scenery; and that's talented when you can chew the scenery without uttering a word.

Mahler's composition of scenes is contained. By this I mean his scenes are full and rich, but he does not let that distract from his focus. With Cox's performance, this additionally keeps the focus as it would be hard to not keep your eyes on Cox. I do feel that the story is a bit ambiguous, for me, but some do like that ambiguity of filling in blanks for themselves, and certainly if that's you, you can have a lot of fun with this one.

The music in this is four times louder than it needs to be. Leaving my media player settings at normal and putting on my headphones results in what I call screaming critic syndrome. The volume is not bad if you're using speakers because you can be assured to have room filling sound. But this is a word of caution to those who also might use headphones.

My Rating: 4 Fingers

You can watch What Jack Built and other of Matthew Mahler's work on Vimeo

For more on Timothy J. Cox visit his Official Website

Movie Review: 72 Hours (2016)

72 Hours (2016) - USA - Horror - Not Rated (PG)

Independent Short Subject - Destination Desolation Productions - 9 Mins

Written & Directed by Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc (as Andrea Van Scoyoc)

Starring Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc (as Andrea Van Scoyoc)

A found footage film smartly uses vanguard conveyance of the author's narrative of a lone survivor and succeeds very well.

Many of us have seen, may even have, 72 hour survival kits; as a pre-packaged kit or customized. But what happens after that first 72 hours, like in the event of a zombie apocalypse? Are you prepared for the end of the world as you know it? Can you be? With 9 minutes of power left on her phone, a lone survivor shares her thoughts.

From pen and paper to the typewriter, various forms of audio recorders, film and digital video cameras to smartphones, varied are the technologies from antiquated to avant-garde but shared in common among all of them is the narrative, and therefore what that narrative conveys regardless of the means of transmutation.

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, H. G. Wells and H. P. Lovecraft are among the progenitors of the survival narrative. Telling a story through journal entries or directed first person narrative was formalized in its art form in printed text, moved on to radio with a prime example being Orson Wells' production of War of the Worlds, and advanced into a visual medium with film and eventually digital video. But really, would someone reach for a typewriter (shaddup) or a video camera in their final moments?

The smartphone has become almost an extension of our hands. We break down on the road; smartphone to the rescue. We need to search an item to see if a local store carries it; smartphone to the rescue. We see an index card on the bulletin board at the laundromat that says "for a good time call"; uhm... wait... forget that one ..ahem.

Andrea Van Scoyoc has married these two premises of the sole survivor and the natural extension of the smartphone. She portrays a survivor hunkered down in a room in her home as the chaos still takes place outside. Just her and her thoughts, for what little time she has left on the battery of her smartphone. And her thoughts on this do paint a vivid picture for the viewer to follow.

I have not done a review of a smartphone movie before. The vertical format is obviously different than what I'm used to. And that's an important distinction in art, is not to be confined by limitations but to express oneself in different ways, and Andy succeeds in this very well and the vertical format makes sense. And where do I go in rating this? Actually I approached this from a different direction, starting with my highest rating and asking myself if there is anything that detracts from that rating. And the answer is no.

My Rating: 5 Fingers, I give it a high five!

Watch 72 Hours on YouTube

Follow Andy Van Scoyoc on Twitter

Movie Review: Faithful (2017)

Movie Review: Faithful (2017)

Faithful (2017) - USA - Drama - Not Rated (Family)

Independent Short Subject - (PRE)FORMA-SE Artistic Productions - 13 Mins

Directed by Niklas Berggren

Written by Aleksandra Milanova

Starring Clarissa Hoffmann, Ellis Miller, Cynthia Aileen Strahan, Eve Coquillard, Eddy Lee, Sarah Schulte

A well written story crafted into an impactful drama with tight direction and top notch performances.

Lauren has always been faithful to Ron. Not only as a loving wife whose heart is given only to him, but in sacrifices she makes for his, their, benefit. But is there such as thing as being too faithful?

Up front, Faithful is an amazing short film. Berggren's direction is tight, taking the viewer exactly where he wants them to be for the best vantage point. There is a scene in here that, when I saw the framing, I thought was Kubrick-esque. I was wrong on that as it reveals itself to be something else and you can really appreciate the beauty of his composition in this. His direction is deliberate, not wasting space and yet bringing full composition to scenes.

The actors really put out in this. Clarissa Hoffmann brings an edgy pensiveness to the character of Lauren. Ellis Miller is necessarily detached as Ron feeding Lauren's need to hold on. Cynthia Aileen Strahan brings a duality to Mary-Anne in having a glib bluntness but with sincerity and an open heart. And Eve Coquillard brings a powerful performance as Lauren's mother, hers and Clarissa Hoffman's mastery of expressiveness tendering the fulcrum of the story.

Faithful uses a destructured narrative of fragmentary collusion which crystallizes at its most potent moment. Story, direction and acting combine into a presentation that impacts the viewer like a ton of bricks.

My Rating: 5 Fingers! I give it a high five!


Faithful's Facebook Page

Niklas Berggren's Facebook Page

Movie Review: Nite Nite (2017)

Nite Nite (2017) - USA - Horror - Not Rated (Family)

Independent Short Subject - MaxiMeise Productions - 3 1/2 Mins

Written & Directed by Chad Meisenheimer

Starring Tommie Vegas, Brady Bond, Sarah Rhoades

A flashback to 80s horror movies, Nite Nite hits the spot in having an 80s feel and being spooky fun.

As his parents are out for the evening a young boy is being tucked in by his babysitter after a bedtime story. But things aren't so simple as that, being when his dad tucks him in he always checks for monsters. This night it will be up to the babysitter to make sure there are no monsters lurking.

At under 4 minutes Nite Nite defines the 'short' in short subject. When reviewing such short films, contrary to what one may assume, there is not a lot of difference in it and reviewing a feature film. The same basic questions need to be answered by the reviewer as to if it successfully tells its story and what it accomplishes in doing so. The only difficulty that is presented by a punchline skit such as Nite Nite, with regard to the way I review films, is in not giving away too much in my plot summary while still trying to introduce the plot of the skit.

Nite Nite does successfully tell its story. It additionally, being it is set in 1985, evokes the time period and the feel of the movies from that time period which inspired it. Chad Meisenheimer keeps it compelling with a dynamic camera, and keeps it spooky with tense composition.

Brady Bond (that's Bond, Brady Bond) plays the kid at the center of the story, is a natural and is as good as any actor his age, and being that Nite Nite hinges on his performance is exactly why this works so well. Tommie Lee Vegas (as Tommie Vegas) plays his exasperated babysitter perfectly being ever so subtly annoyed without being overt.

The only shortcoming of Nite Nite is it's obvious where this is going. But in the end that doesn't take away from it, and really it is fitting for its inspiration. It is spooky fun and the type of film you can watch over and over for that very reason, and perfect for the Halloween season.

My Rating: 4 Fingers

This is a post-production review of a film entering the festival stage. I'll update this when it is made available online.