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Reviews
Repatriation (2017)
Well done
Nice to see an independent movie taking on this kind of subject matter.
You don't see many of these dealing with the conflict of war and the outcomes.
I really enjoyed the journey that they took you on. Great cast and dialogue...definitely worth a look!
Spent (2017)
Worth giving a chance
Solid indie fun with this one. I'm a big fan of indie movies. This had a Coen Brothers feel to it. And what a fantastic use of color and cinematography to cap off this quirky, dark comedy.
Really fun the way everything winds up coming together.
Nice bit of writing!
It Lives in the Attic (2016)
Here's how to know if you'll like it or not.
It's a great movie for the right audience.
Here's a good way to know if you will like it or not.
If you like movies like Pulp Fiction, Blue Velvet, Eyes Wide Shut, Memento, and A Clockwork Orange, you will probably like this a lot.
If you hate those movies, this one probably won't work for you.
Einstein's God Model (2016)
Indie Sci Fi!
I always like to start out reviews of Independent films by stating that I'm a fan of Indie. Not everyone is, but I am. I'm personally tired of the same old formula movies that Hollywood cranks out again and again and again. So with that in mind this is refreshing. Most lower budget movies don't take on a Science Fiction Genre. I applaud them for even attempting it. Nice job. Worth checking out!
Marriage (2016)
Marriage
This is a nice extended music video. It opens with two married ladies having a leisurely conversation about their thoughts on marriage. It then kicks over into a full fledged music video that focuses on a newly wed couple. The video spends time within the wedding reception, where song writer and performer Neal Rosner is the lead band member. We then get a glimpse into the young newlyweds life, both the positive and the negative which encompasses "marriage". The song is very fun and upbeat. Kind of has a similar feel to it as Billy Joel's "The Longest Time" - This music video can be found on youtube. I would encourage people to search for it and give it a watch. It's fun.
What is God?/Seed of Abraham (2014)
Thought Provoking
This is a fantastic concept and very interesting to watch. Much like Neal Rosner's more recent music video "Marriage" this is an extended music video. This one is more complex as we see interview portions from several different people, each who follow a different religion. It's very interesting to see the similarities, differences and general thoughts each person has as they explore "what is God?" At the end of the interviews, the actual music video begins and we hear the song "What is God/Seed of Abraham, which is a very catchy tune! You can find this on youtube by searching What is God?/Seed of Abraham. It's definitely worth checking out.
Stagrassle Paranormal (2015)
Humorous Paranormal
This is a comedic take on a paranormal investigative show like Ghost Hunters or Ghost adventures...just not so serious :) There are a lot of fun characters in this with, each seeming to have their own set of unique quirks which adds to the humor of it all. The comedy is a bit of the broad variety, so I can see where it might not be for everyone, but if you like paranormal type television shows and broad humor, I can see where you'd likely get a kick out of this. Even though it's told in a documentary style reminiscent of "the office" or "parks & recreation" it still has it's share of nice cinematography in parts. This is done as a pilot type episode for a longer show, so it will be interesting to see how future episodes play out.
Earthrise (2014)
Sci Fi Indie
Definitely not your typical indie film. First of all, I applaud the filmmakers for tackling the sci fi genre Indie Style! Not a lot of people would do that. Although it's not special effects heavy, the special effects in the movie were impressive. Interesting story line and some surprises along the way. The movie takes it's time in letting the story unfold, and that's a positive thing that helps build momentum later on. It also helps to create the sense of isolation that these characters are experience. Definitely different and worth giving a chance to. Again, I give the filmmakers a lot of kudos. Small cast in a sci fi genre type movie is tough to pull off.
A Legacy of Whining (2016)
Indie Gem
This is a nice indie gem. It's listed as a comedy, but don't expect a farce here. This story is deeper than that. It's interesting to see these characters meet up after thirty years for a high school reunion only to have found they have either changed a lot, or actually not much at all. The two main characters play off of each other well. There is some good exploration of "mid life crisis" in funny ways. Some of it kind of off beat or dark humor. But the movie has a sense of charm as well. There are a few scenes that seem like they go on a little bit longer than they should, but stick with it, it gets fun. It's definitely what one would describe as a "character driven" film. If you're into indie films, it's worth giving a try.
Rebound (2014)
Indie Thriller
I always seek out Indie Films because I'm through with the type of "movies" Hollywood churns out. This is an indie film made on a low budget (so what?) and we very well done. I thought it looked nice photography wise and the story was surprising. At first I thought it might be the same old thing I've seen many times before, but it isn't. This movie some twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I don't consider it horror. It's more of a thriller. It starts out slow, but hang in there, it picks up. It's important that the mood is set right with a movie like this, so be patient. This movie is worth giving a chance.
Everlasting (2016)
Non-Linear Thriller
I like non linear storytelling so that automatically makes this movie right up my alley. I would definitely call it more of a thriller than a horror movie, so if you're looking for out and out blood and guts, this is not that kind of movie. But so what? The story is what's important and that's the big plus with this movie. I like that they take their time and don't allow the audience to get ahead of the movie. The story tells enough visually that some of the dialogue wasn't necessary, but that's speaks more positively about the visual effectiveness of this movie as opposed to saying something negative about the dialogue. All and all an enjoyable indie film!
Flytrap (2015)
Support Indie Film
I always like to mention in my reviews that I am a fan of independent films, of which this is.
If you need big Hollywood budgets and well known actors and actresses in order to enjoy a movie, this may not be for you. But for those of you who are interested in something different, this is worth giving a chance.
This movie is of a sci-fi thriller nature. It also has black comedy elements. It's told in non-linear fashion, which is always a plus for me. I hate formula.
It's paced nicely. Moves along well and is a good bit of film making!
Horror Hotel: The Movie (2016)
Are you a fan of Tales from the Darkside?
Some people are fans of horror anthologies. . . . and I'm one of them! So naturally, I was drawn to Horror Hotel, being that this is exactly what it is. I should also note that I'm a fan of low budget indie films as well, so this movie already had 2 things going for it in my book. I've heard some people describe this movie as a modern day take on the Twilight zone, but honestly, I think it compares better to the old "Tales from the Darkside" that was popular in the early to mid 1980's. I would definitely say, if you enjoyed the Tales from the Darkside show, you should check this out. If you didn't enjoy Tales from the Darkside, this may not be for you because it is of that ilk. So, to just double check the score card here......if you like Horror/Suspense anthologies, if you like low budget indies and if you like the old show "Tales from the Darkside", well, then this is just a no brainer for you to check out. Another thing I'd like to point out about the movie is the cinematography. It just looks good! The imagery is very nice to look at. As is the case with most horror anthologies, some of the stories here are better than others. I think they range from quite good to so-so. A lot of this just depends on individual preference and taste, however.
Granny's House (2015)
Has a "Hitchcockian" feel to it
This movie has a "Hitchcokian" feel to it. There's an interesting relationship between "Marion" & "Rebecca" and a rather sick little idea that they come up with and act out on. And then there's some other twists and turns that the movie takes from there. It's also shot in a way that moves the pace along nicely from start to finish. I have to say , a lot of people tend to be "haters" when it comes to Indie films, so I encourage most people to take that into consideration when they see negative reviews of Indie films like this. There's going to be a lot of people who just automatically hate it simply because it's low budget, similar to how some people hate all black & white movies because they're black and white or how some people hate all foreign films because they have subtitles and they just hate subtitles. So that's what is going on with so many indie bashing reviews. Please keep that in mind when browsing through those types of reviews. On the other side of the coin, if you're a fan of indie films, and thankfully there are more and more people becoming as such, this movie is definitely worth checking out. Give it a try. And I don't mean give it 5 minutes. I mean, sit down and give the movie a real chance to develop.
The Eve (2015)
Not your standard Hollywood Formula
First of all, let me start by saying that this movie is shot quiet beautifully! Very nice job on the cinematography. But there's more to it than that. And I want to point out that I disagree with anyone who is saying this is a standard Hollywood type setup. It is not the standard set up. Most Hollywood type films have a group of teenage kids, with no character development, just randomly go off somewhere isolated to drink, party and just be annoying. Then they methodically get picked of one by one. In this movie what the filmmakers focus on are a group of adults. Not kids. And they have purpose and reasoning behind what they are doing. The setup for this movie is nicely done. The filmmakers are not in a rush to get to the dramatic twist and that should be applauded. I'm curious to see what else these filmmakers do in the future.
Mike Case in: The Big Kiss Off (2013)
Good Fun!
Mike Case in: The Big Kiss off. Good, fun stuff! If you like good old fashioned Humphrey Bogart type Private Detective movies, you should definitely watch this. And even if that's not your thing, no problem because it's still worth watching! What this movie does is brings something fresh to that sub genre. This movie has a really great comedic aspect to it. Lots of wit. It has a fun storyline. "The Big Kiss Off" is the type of movie that is extremely engaging right from the get go which is important for this style. And one of the great things about this is that they clearly embraced their independent film making freedom! Something not enough independent film makers do today. This is the kind of movie that really does deserve some attention. It is available on Amazon Prime for anyone who is subscribed to that platform. Give it a chance and see what you think.
Entwinement (2013)
Solid Drama
This is a very solid drama that has a little of everything. One of the strongest things about this movie is the gradual change that shifts from one of the female leads to the other over the course of the movie. Some really great subtle changes along the way. Nice storytelling that tackles some serious subject matter in a legit way. This is certainly not a fluff piece that panders toward a fifteen year old demographic, which shows a lot of respect for it's viewers, in my opinion. Another nice thing about this movie is the fact that so much of the story and focus is upon two strong female characters. They both have strengths and weaknesses that are exemplified as the story moves along. Lots of movies nowadays use their female characters as fillers. Not the case here at all, which is refreshing.
Dead Frequency (2010)
Dark and funny? Yep!
This is very different, which is a great thing. The vampire thing has been done to death, so anytime someone can take on the subject of vampires and manage to tackle it from a unique and original perspective, they deserve a lot of kudos! That is definitely the case here. The focuses on some real life drama such as alcoholism and depression.....but it's funny too! I think you can categorize this as a black comedy of sorts. This sort of thing is very difficult to pull off, but they are able to do it here. Something to note here, even though this is a movie about vampires, don't expect your traditional vampire stylings. Again, this is an original take on things. If you're looking for the same old thing, you'll be disappointed. If you want something different, here you go.
Flowerman (2014)
Good Thriller!
If you like movies with a solid plot and interesting characters that the filmmakers take time to develop, you should probably give this movie a watch. Unlike a lot of movies today, they take their time to form a plot and create real characters that you have feelings about and can relate to. This is lacking in so many movies made today that don't make an investment in their story and characters like this one does. There are also twists in the different perspectives they decide to explore. This isn't a one dimensional movie. What it is, is a really a fresh thriller. One that doesn't take the normal routes you've come to expect. Creepy and dark! This movie packs a good punch!