Movie Review: John Schneider's 4:GO (2017)

4:GO (2017) - USA (Louisiana) - Action Thriller - Not Rated (Mature)

Written & Directed by John Schneider

Starring Kerry Cahill, Dean Cain, Marcus Bagwell, Jason Kirkpatrick, Johnny Lee, Billy Slaughter, Eddie Love, Jody Mullins, Don Shanks, Harrison St. John, Mickey Gilley, John Schneider

Keeps the viewer on their toes between bouts of falling down laughing in a fast moving mix of action, horror and comedy.

Four murderers escape from a maximum security prison with a hostage in tow as they head for the woods. Misjudging their hostage is only the first sign of their bumbling, matched only by the ineptitude of the posse trying to catch them. But they're not alone in the woods on this Halloween, and they will wish they had stayed in solitary confinement.

John Schneider is time and again proving himself to not only be a diverse actor and director, but also one of the top writer/directors of black comedy. In a genre that is easy to do, but difficult to do well, he does it very well taking the dark and tragic and approaching it with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

4:GO takes no prisoners (bwhahahaha) in bursting out of the gate at full gallop and not letting up on the pace. It begins with a mystery teaser of just audio that sounds like a couple and their child having a play day then moving straight into its story. It may seem confusing at first compared to some of things going on, but that's intentional as John Schneider uses bits and pieces of mystery to up the tension. Additionally he makes good use of the briefest of interstices, being he also edited this, which flash here and there, and though they seem to confuse in actuality he has creatively spiked the pace of the film with them. And before you know it, an 88 minute movie is over and you're like "wow, that didn't seem that long."

There feels like an occasional stumble, but this as much can be because of keeping the audience guessing and with its expeditious pace it is easy to get out of sync at one point or another, plus some ambiguity, but it does fall into place anyway. For me there's a point where it feels morose, losing its humor, but that does not affect the structure of the film, just the mood, as the film continues to move along as before.

Kerry Cahill, Johnny Lee and Jason Kirkpatrick shine is this. Cahill brings character to her performance with choice dialogue and spot-on delivery. Jason Kirkpatrick has his character of Forest nailed down providing humor in every moment he occupies. Johnny Lee is simply fantastic just being in this movie as he is a character unto himself and that adds to the fun. Eddie Love is a great foil for Lee's character often delivering some of the funniest lines. Special mention goes to John Schneider.. er.. I mean Harrison St. John who not only reminds one of a young John Schneider but his character is named Bo; well played.

The movie itself invokes that classic 70s revenge film motif as Schneider injects lots of humor, action, and bits of mystery. 4:GO is a fun movie to watch that has energy and abounds in laughs, and yes gruesome at times, but not too much. Though I watched it solo I'm betting this would be even more fun with several friends over for a movie night. Too bad my local drive-in has closed because this would be perfect for a fun night at the drive-in.

My Rating: 4 Fingers


You can rent or buy 4:GO on Vimeo

Get John Schneider music, movies and merchandise on his Official Website

Movie Review: Demons (2017)

Demons (2017) - USA - Horror - Unrated (R)

Written & Directed by Miles Doleac

Starring Miles Doleac, Lindsay Anne Williams, Kristina Emerson,  Andrew Divoff, Steven Brand, Jessica Harthcock, John Schneider, Gary Grubbs, Caroline Baggerly, Yohance Myles, Megan Few

A tautly directed thriller brings together a talented cast and excellent writing that takes us on a journey of the underbelly of the human soul and like its namesake... Demons gets under your skin.

"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you". - Friedrich Nietzsche

Pending nuptials bring together six people for a wedding the following morning. Two of these people are Colin Hampstead, a now successful author of the book Demons, and his wife Kayleigh. But it seems a seventh guest is present, harking back nine years ago to when Colin and Kayleigh first met, as he was the priest attending to her sister's exorcism.

When considering screeners up for review, this being when you have several available, some things stand out which influence your selection rather than my usual and unoriginal method of just going left to right or top to bottom. Demons stood out to me because of several of the cast:

Miles Doleac - A recognizable face, which I was first introduced to him in Miami Magma, one of many signs I watch wayyy too many disaster movies, brings success to a too often unsuccessful venture in film. That would be writing, directing, and starring in your own movie.

John Schneider - I swears I'm not stalking him. I swears I'm not. He just keeps showing up in everything. It's always a pleasure to see John in a film. Even if he's being disgusting he always brings integrity to playing his roles.

Andrew Divoff - What can you say about Divoff that is not said by his performances? He brings a powerful presence to every scene he is in. His deep voice and the intensity of his look demand attention. His presence is so powerful on the screen that when he makes characters on the screen uncomfortable, you just hope he doesn't look your way.

Gary Grubbs - One of my favorite character actors. Like John, it is always a pleasure to see Gary in a role. He just simply brings something special to the screen.

Jessica Harthcock - My main reason for picking this first. Having seen her performance in Fighting Belle, I was impressed with what a natural she is. She is seemingly effortless in her performances as she doesn't act her characters, but becomes them. I personally think she is a rising star, and certainly someone to keep on your 'pay attention to' list.

Demons is outright a haunting film. Part horror, part exorcism movie, part ghost story, all psychological thriller. Doleac has painted a portrait using a dynamic and fluid camera, with cinematography by Ben McBurnett, in hues ranging from ethereal to gut-wrenching.

Out of the starting gate I feel it stumbles a bit. The narrative is told is parallel, the story intersecting past and present. It begins at a point nine years ago, post-exorcism, then leaps into the present. As events happen in the present a chronological timeline of memories lead up to that very point in the past where the movie started. And might I say thank you Miles for having the distinction of the beard to make the transitions easier to follow. Of course the priest outfit helps too, but I am at times dense in that way.

Once the movie gets its footing things fall into place and it moves forward with elegance. Doleac's direction in akin to Tobe Hooper's direction in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in not putting the grotesque on screen as so many horror movies would do, but imbuing it within the story. The end result is more horrifying than any superficial treatment can accomplish.

Demons challenges preconceived notions, stripping away the vestments of conformity and brings the viewer raw into the uncomfortable. The last half hour is so tension filled that it grabs you by the throat and won't let go. The story is ugly, yes, yet so beautifully rendered that you may find yourself wanting to turn away, but you can't.

This is not your average horror movie. Demons will demand your attention. This is a story both subtle and unyielding. At times deceptively surrealist in its overt frankness. Dismiss nothing along the way, for eventually it will all fall into place.

My Rating: 4 Fingers


Check out the Demons movie website or follow them on Facebook or Twitter

You can buy or rent the movie on Amazon Video

Movie Review: Anderson Bench (2016)

Anderson Bench (2016) - USA (Louisiana) - Black Comedy - Unrated (mature themes)

Directed by John Schneider

Starring Jordan Salloum, Maddie Nichols, Brande Roderick, Dane Rhodes, Chasen Joseph Schneider, Phil Redrow, Duke Davis Roberts, Ann Dalrymple, Steven Esteb, John Schneider

A twisted plebeian morality play, minus the morality, takes an excursion into the theater of the absurd in a most wickedly delightful way that will have you laughing inappropriately, and slapping yourself because you did.

Anderson Bench is stuck in a road trip of life that has no off-ramp. He follows the rules having a pothead for a boss to whom comprehension is a myth, a nagging shrew for a wife he maintains yet keeps his heart locked away, and only finds a soulmate in a mouse. Then he meets Bethany, a brash girl several years his junior who not only has the contradictory quality of a deliberate spontaneity, but a homicidal tendency to go with it. Ahead is the road to hedonism, but its off-ramp is a dead end.

Black comedy is a double-edged sword in theater: it is simultaneously easy to do, and difficult to do well. Anderson Bench is black comedy done well. Its humor is a surreal escapism thoroughly drenched in hedonism. Throw your mores out the window while viewing this or you may find yourself offended; and if you're not offended...the shame, the shame!

I love independent films. I've watched several big budget movies in a row and been disappointed with every one of them; it obviously wasn't a good week. I rarely don't like an independent film, for the reason that they are not cut and paste but somebody doing their own thing. Anderson Bench is definitely its own thing; you haven't seen this before. Elements of the film, yes, but not crafted and told like this. I get the impression that some seeds of this were sown in a youth spent at Saturday matinees in the 70s.

This may sound strange, but I sometimes find beauty in the abject. In the opening scenes of Anderson Bench we are introduced to the surroundings, of dilapidated motels, rustic corner stores, a road we know does not lead to prosperity. The beauty is not in the poverty but in the sustenance of the people. As a child I grew up in some of these communities, communities like them, in the south. I found the brief tour reminiscent, and appropriate. Like Anderson Bench the exteriors are wearing away; Anderson Bench finds no beauty in his abject world.

Anderson Bench is an experience, or experiment if you will. If you're looking for straight lines from A to B with no detours, you won't find it here. What you will find are moments where you question why you are laughing at something. In John Schneider's cameo scene I found myself roaring, and questioning why because it's so disgusting, and yet I'm still laughing. That's one scene out of many that may have you questioning how well you know yourself.

The music is wonderful. In an unusual use of music it plays continuously throughout the movie, save for a stark silence to emphasize a statement. At times I did find the music to be overplaying the dialogue. I was using headphones though and that can happen with headphones, so open speakers would likely be a better option.

All performances in this movie are great, with an obviously talented cast having fun with their roles. Jordan Salloum and Maddie Nichols have excellent chemistry together with Jordan bringing to fore the frustration of Anderson Bench and his rapture he finds in Bethany played so excitingly and even frighteningly unpredictable by Maddie.

I do want to call out Brande Roderick for her wonderful performance. I had no idea that was her, as her face is not revealed until later. I like that John Schneider chose to do her character this way as I found myself focusing on the behavior of the character, and surely did not expect her to look like that. It's also a good lesson for the whole of the movie: make no assumptions.

My Rating: 4 Fingers

You can get it on DVD or as a download at John Schneider Studios.

Find out more about his films and music at John Schneider's Official Website.

You can also watch the trailer and/or rent the movie on Vimeo

Toxic Fletch

Movie Review: Night of the Twisters (1996)

Night of the Twisters (1996) - USA - Drama/Disaster Movie - TV Movie

Directed by Timothy Bond

Starring Devon Sawa, Amos Crawley, John Schneider, Lori Hallier, Laura Bertram, Jhene Erwin, David Ferry, Helen Hughes

A standard plot for a tornado movie, tornadoes lay waste to a small town, is brought up a level by focusing on the characters of the story rather than special effects and creating tense storm scenes.

A storm chaser for the weather service tracks a supercell storm behaving erratically through rural Nebraska (I know, that's redundant). On a hunch he goes to the town of Blainsworth. The Hatch family lives in Blainsworth, and on this night the mother is working at the diner, the father is checking on his mother while the son is at home taking care of his baby brother when twisters strike. Survival, fear and chaos are all on order for this evening as families that are separated try to reconnect while the massive storm sits stationary and threatening with more twisters before this night is over.

What separates Night of the Twisters from other twister movies is in creating scenes which accentuate the storm effects surrounding the characters in the story. The main character, a teenage boy, is home with his best friend watching his baby brother until one of his parents get home. With the storm siren going off then failing they are in the dark whether it is real or not. The sounds increase outside the house. Is this a twister or not? The viewer is just as blind to what is approaching as the characters on the screen and feels the tension building as a result. An added bonus is the after effects of the storm are just messy, making it seem like a real storm has been through this town.

What I did not care for with this movie is the pretense given to this storm being some freak of nature working contrary to the laws of nature, with the storm chaser saying (paraphrased) that in 20 years of doing this he has never seen such a storm behave in this way, yet this mystery is never resolved. I can see it as a tension building element by painting the storm as unpredictable, but in the end I was still left hanging about that. 

Additionally I didn't feel John Schneider was given much to work with as an actor. He is a more than competent actor from whom I have seen some wonderful performances, but he seems stuck in a singular mood. It is certainly not his acting capability, I just don't feel he was given that breadth in this as the main character is his character's son, and he is more affective to that main character. It is probably just knowing what he is capable of I found myself disappointed is his role, not in him.

Night of the Twisters is somewhat based on the book of the same name, which in turn is a fictionalized account of the Grand Island, Nebraska tornado outbreak on June 3, 1980 which produced a total of 7 confirmed tornadoes in the Grand Island area, from a slow moving supercell, ranging in strength from F1 to F4.

My Rating: 3 Fingers Plus. Though I had some disappointments with parts of the movie, overall it creates an effective tension better than other movies of its kind.

Night of the Twisters is available on DVD but it, as of this writing, is expensive. I found mine in a YouTube search.

Toxic Fletch