The last week in the life of the great American poet and master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, is illustrated in this fascinating independent film. Anyone who has studied the details of Poe's death knows what a contentious and controversial subject it has become. There are many theories for his demise ranging from alcohol and drug abuse to assault and even rabies! Interestingly, writer/director Mark Redfield, who also provides a compelling performance as the doomed poet himself, gives the first explanation to Rufus Griswold, a newspaper editor and enemy of Poe's whose lurid and mean-spirited obituary did much to destroy the man's reputation for nearly a century. The rest of the film, which could more accurately described as a fevered dream-within-a-dream than a straight forward biography, ultimately gives a more rounded and plausible explanation for Poe's untimely demise. The film also offers Poe's life as a template of the universal struggle of the artist to fund his work and reach his audience.
The film features an intriguing mix of color and black and white images, and a moody and effective score by Jennifer Rouse, who also plays the wife of the last doctor to treat Poe. Kevin Shinnick gives a fine performance as Poe's last doctor, and George Stover, a veteran of many John Waters and Don Dohler films, gives perhaps his best performance as twin brothers Poe seeks out as investors.
Well worth checking out!
The film features an intriguing mix of color and black and white images, and a moody and effective score by Jennifer Rouse, who also plays the wife of the last doctor to treat Poe. Kevin Shinnick gives a fine performance as Poe's last doctor, and George Stover, a veteran of many John Waters and Don Dohler films, gives perhaps his best performance as twin brothers Poe seeks out as investors.
Well worth checking out!
