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