BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND (2022)

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Directed By: Trevor Anderson 

Written By: Trevor Anderson and Fish Griwkowsky

Cinematography: Wes Miron

Editor: Justin LaChance

Cast: Vaughn Murrae, Dominic Lippa, Lacey Oake, Shannon Blanchet, Matthew Rankin, Rohan Khane, Jhztyn Contado, Milana Bochiwski, Kaitlyn Haugen, Kristin Johnston

1987: While the other students wonder if new kid Robin is a boy or a girl, Robin forges a complicated bond with the school bully, making increasingly dangerous choices to fit in.

This is a coming-of-age tale involving, what seems to be an ambiguous character. That feels like a film that could have taken place in 1987 as just like the characters it’s awkward and seems a little directionless as far as characters go, but succeeds at building its own world.

The film is open-ended and doesn’t offer many answers, but it leaves you to make up your own mind and figure it out or come up with your own definitions and backstories. 

I give credit more truthful and not having the cookie-cutter kind of happy endings that usually come with this type of film.

The lead character is more of an outcast, because of the questionable sexuality, more than anything, rather than just some random quirk, and that would feel forced. the film feels mysterious, even to itself as it seems to float and its own haze, but presents a clear picture.

Also not the typical one minute and you could be enemies in the next either best of friends, or just plain old getting along 

Especially the contrast, between the main character and the Asian character, kind of discovering an identity of punk, and letting that be the definition to get help him through his alienation and pain, as others make fun of them and him being OK with it.

I also like that kind of delves into the parent’s and adults, life events to show them as characters who might be flawed and have their own problems just as the main character’s father might’ve moved on, but still isn’t ready to necessarily get into a relationship with someone new, and holding it together, is the best he can and then, when he finally does, it might not be the match that he or the audience had hoped for.

it’s a film that seems to keep on building, and by the end, some audience members might not be pleased with where it ends or how it ends but it does feel like a complete story and offers an ending. It’s just that you might want to see what happens after or find out where these characters go after the film has ended.

So not for everyone, there isn’t much I can see that would be offensive or alienating to a general audience.

Which shows to the audience strong, writing, and a strong story, even if led more by emotions than the filmmaking itself.

Grade: B 

DEATH ON THE BEACH (1991)

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Directed By: Enrique Gomez Vadillo

Written By: Enrique Gomez Vadillo and Carlos Valdemar

Cinematography: Santiago Navarrette

Editor: Carlos Puente

Cast: Sonia Infante, Andres Bonfiglio, Rodolfo De Anda, Antonio Eric, Humberto Lobato, Angela Alatriste, Martha Gema, Ileana Higueras 

The son of a wealthy businesswoman returns home from boarding school. His mother, always busy with business and with her ambitious lover, realizes that her son suffers from being a homosexual. Having killed a teacher who abused him, the trauma makes him keep killing.

This film was made in 1991 but watching it it feels older though it totally fits both the 1970s and 1990s as a way of creation as the film is at the heart, a thriller, but also a kind of LGBTQ plus romance of sorts. Definitely more of a cult film.

We are mildly sympathetic to the killer in this film, as it’s not a spoiler, but his character was raped by his teacher at a boarding school, and he secretly enjoyed it, which is how he found out that he was a homosexual, but also is repressed that he can’t readily admit it to his mother But is looking for someone to love and share his life with, but is so repressed that he kills those around him or also gay or threat to him

To try to fool the audience because the opening credits are of the lead female Sonia Infante swimming around her pool and staying in a state of toplessness until a man comes we find out is her soon-to-be husband and basically, they frolic together, and this opening scene and throughout the film that is shot like soft horn Haze

The stepfather seems like a Spanish right, Robert Mitchum. He looks and we don’t really know his deal because at first, it seems like he is a gold digger, but he seems like he does but also odds with the stepson, but the mother keeps trying to deny homosexuality Homosexuality is treated like some kind of disease or mental illness throughout this film. We’re having the main character be a serial killer of sorts doesn’t help.

It’s so hard to believe that the stepfather is the one who suspects him of it while also setting up a house fall who is meant for more things than he is presented with at the beginning 

In all of this, the sun finally finds a companion to confide in who has a girlfriend who I guess has always been straight most of his life but being a European he’s sexually the son is his friend and has treated him so well and this is his honeymoon to a certain extent or least bachelor party to get all his players and king out an intense romance between the two

The film has full frontal nudity of men and women, thing is that it represents a negative stereotype of homosexuals, but it also makes them the main character and gives representation at a time when it wasn’t really shown also the movie is a bee movie that is so ridiculous that you cannot believe The sun is getting away with all these murders, except for the fact that his mother is rich, but she even believes all of his excuses of all these deaths around ridiculous, especially when the murders are so blatant and done at the drop of a hat without any real thought or planning?

That is the beauty of the film is that it is such a bee movie and so ridiculously over the top, but for the most part, seriously it achieves the true beauty of being self-aware and not at the same time with questionable politics and motives that make the film, if not troubling at times And wondering how takes this film that it is obvious yet comic 

In the end, this is a fun yet bad film that has a ridiculous. The third act and ending despite it being bananas from the beginning Harkins back to a certain time no offer representation of good and bad. 

watching the film, you could tell that this was a bit homophobic and going into certain stereotypes while trying to have an open mind, though villainizing and having sympathy but also gives a backstory and understanding, even though throughout the film pretty much there is no set. Everything is said out of the open and no one seems to have, a sensor when it comes to their thoughts and saying them. it seems a vision of a homosexual story through a straight male gaze. 

Grade: C 

MONICA (2022)

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Directed By: Andrea Pallaoro

Written By: Andrea Pallaoro and Orlando Tirado

Cinematography: Katelin Arizmendi 

Editor: Paola Freddi

Cast: Trace Lysette, Patricia Clarkson, Joshua Close, Adriana Barraza, Emily Browning, Bobby Easley

The intimate portrait of a woman who returns home to care for her dying mother. A delicate and nuanced story of a fractured family, the story explores universal themes of abandonment, aging, acceptance, and redemption.

This is a slow, strong, subtle-moving film. 

As we watch the pain, the main character goes through taking care of a mother who doesn’t remember who she is especially after she changes her sex. 

There is a lot said in the silence of this film that we are left to read into, guess, and infer. No, they clearly speak loud and clear even when subtle.

There are a lot of close-ups that reflect a familiar distance between the characters that keeps them apart or at a certain length as we can quite see them fully and framed, in quite a few scenes.

Most of the characters are seen at odd angles and revealed slowly and only important to the character of Monica and the story

Trace Lysette as the title character is the only one always in focus and fully framed. She is beautiful and penetrating in a powerful performance, full of anger, sadness, and ultimately confidence.

I will admit, I have followed Trace Lysette career for a while, and online, and admit, I am a fan so getting to see her starring in a film and knock it out of the park. Also getting to be luminous brave strong, a little romantic at first victim, standing her ground and becoming a winner.

We see the pain of her having to watch her mother deteriorate and also lavish, loving feelings on her brother about family and how it’s important hello even though her mother gave her up to a certain extent. While she is there and not recognized and is being treated like a stranger, which seems to be a special kind of torture, especially when caring for a loved one. 

Helping support is a kind of adversary that she keeps trying to please or find a connection with or hopes to start reconnecting with. Revealing herself to a family and a new identity, but with the same old history between them.

Like the title, the film stays tightly focused on her never really allowing that much room for other characters or quite a bigger picture.

It seems that throughout this film. When it rains it pours before Monica as bad things just keep seeming to happen one after the other. 

Rejected by an ex Who constantly keeps trying to reach out to she’s desperate to find connections when her family seems not able to. She even has a one-night stand with a rather random male just to feel some pleasure and have someone care and desire her. The character is not sexless. 

Patricia Clarkson plays the slowly dying mother, and she is good here as she’s always been a good actress but never gets enough credit or work.

The second half is more like all the characters getting to know each other and the family more.

For some reason, the film reminds me of a Bon Iver album, peaceful with some sharp notes with a certain calm that occasionally gets disrupted by reality and time. Though for the most part stays in Its own place.  Does the film never feel like it’s a conventional movie or like anyone is truly acting.

The film dives into the depths of the agony of losing a parent, especially the second time as the first time you were banished and abandoned.

The film ends up being a character about facing the past and informing the present. As you fall in love with the family as well as her the character who is quite the bombshell, but whose emotions or emotional landscape might seem closed at first, but is always open. I can’t say this is enough Ms. Lysette is definitely a star.

 this film is quite personal in its material and effective 

Grade: B

MUTT (2023)

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Written & Directed By: Vuk Lungulov-Klotz

Cinematography: Matthew Pothier

Editor: Adam Dicterow

Cast: Lio Mehiel, Cole Doman, Mimi Ryder, Alejandro Goic, Jasai Chase Owens, Jari Jones, Ben Groh, Sarah Herrman 

Over the course of a single hectic day in New York City, three people from Feña’s past are thrust back into his life: his foreign father, his straight ex-boyfriend, and his 13-year-old half-sister. Having lost touch since transitioning from female to male, Feña must navigate the new dynamics of these old relationships while tackling the day-to-day challenges that come with living a life in between.

I’m gonna speak from the heart as this film is not necessarily raw, but enough to make an impact.

Though it reminds me of it. It’s Not quite the independent film of the 1990s maybe as it was when I was younger I felt things differently. I might’ve been a bit more naive to get deeper into a film and its subjects.

I didn’t know the world as much. So to me, the art or artist Seemed more sincere didn’t seem like we had seen it all, and definitely didn’t notice all the influences.

Though the films all came from the same place of Earnestness, and honesty, no matter the subject matter and storytelling in cinema they just knew how to make it look bigger not to mention the strength of visuals that one can admire.

In my younger years, I would’ve been all over this film rooting for it talking about it, and supporting it. Needless to say, I’m a fan as the film brings me back to my independent cinema of New York City days when I was all over the latest and newest releases. 

As one, I’m always interested in different in the different outsiders experimental, humanized, and delving into the cultures that I am not naturally privileged to be in.

In this film, in each section or act, we get to see the lead character’s experience with someone close from their past as well as a snapshot of their current relationship and lifestyle. So that it is a film of reveals. A coming of age story and a coming-out story.

This is a film that offers some understanding and hope and is not trauma-inducing, even with its constant hardships for the character. the only brutality on screen truly is the emotional ones

The character isn’t perfect, but is trying to be themselves, and why the world makes it so hard for them to achieve. While trying to make up for their past and be a better person.

Grade: B+

MAKING LOVE (1982)

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Directed By: Arthur Hiller

Written By: Barry Sandler

Story By: A. Scott Berg

Cinematography: David M. Walsh 

Editor: William Reynolds 

Cast: Harry Hamlin, Michael Ontkean, Kate Jackson, Terry Kiser, Wendy Hiller, Arthur Hill, Nancy Olson, John Dukakis, Dennis Howard, Asher Brauner

Follows a young, idealistic married couple, Zach and Claire. They seem to be the perfect couple: college sweethearts with similar tastes and opinions, they are each very intelligent, sensitive, and caring individuals who can be both fun-loving and serious, in turn. Zach and Claire like one another as people as well as lovers. Each one is rising in his/her career and they talk about having kids someday; Claire, especially, wants them to have a boy and name him Rupert. When Zach meets a guy named Bart, Zach has a very personal human crisis: Is he happy?

This movie is a dramatic romance from each point of view in an unknowing love triangle. 

This is one of the first films to show, gay male characters in a loving relationship. And being intimate the development of their relationship from meeting to being charmed to seduction to finally consummating and having feelings for one another. That might be love or might not be.

No, they have great chemistry.

 There are no villains here as each has their reasons for what happens and gets to explain their point of view. Captures great character moments throughout. 

You feel sorry for Kate Jackson as she and Michael Ontkean seem like a perfect couple and truly did love one another.

You can definitely feel the love story and dynamics. It’s simple and plain yet has its own clean-cut basic style. That offers a no-frills and conventional film. which leads to some blandness at times. Which makes it come across as a television movie material. That was directed by Arthur Hiller who also directed the movie LOVE STORY might be one of the reasons why it feels this way.

Also brings you back to a time when if you had a big enough budget star and offered a hook that material could still make it to movie theaters even if it seemed like a controversial subject which was a selling point.

The movie goes along with Kate Jackson’s character gaining success as her relationship deteriorates, though that is not what drives her husband into an affair. Even before happy times to flirt with homosexual feelings, though it seemed like it was more out of frustration. With his lover, can’t seem to get it up with her. As it seems he’s a romantic, and he can only be intimate like the one who intrigues him or where his heart or attraction lies.

Kate Jackson is a powerhouse in her role going through so many emotions and situations and she is so fetchingly beautiful throughout.

This was something new and different to general audiences and offered some representation of a community. It’s not all lovey-dovey so much but offers real communication and emotions that take their time with the material.

In particular, I was taken by the character’s love of movies and references throughout On a Roof as a constant reference and character working in the entertainment business.

This is actually the best role. The two male leads have come and they come off as more natural than anything. 

There are some strange twists in the film, like one of the characters’ reluctance, and afraid of being emotionally available. His lover has admitted his truth and love virtually destroying his marriage, which seems to scare Harry Hamlin’s character, the single writer off, especially when we learn of his past that might have damaged him. 

The psychobabble at the end, manages to let out the feelings, but feels a bit of an overkill as it explains too much rather than ambiguous and lets us make our own decisions and information. It offers an explanation.

Didn’t expect it to be more meaningful.  it’s not a true romance or love story. As it allows the characters to open up about something allowing each other to be truthful. Even if it gets overly saccharine probably due to a sensitive subject at the time. Also not looking to. Offend offers a too-safe love triangle. Leaving it to be meaningful if not, a grand romantic tale.

The ending is heartbreaking. as her husband ends up being her first love and best friend and you don’t feel like she truly is over him but must go on with her life, Just as he has.

Grade: B 

AM I OK (2022)

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Directed By: Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne 

Written By: Lauren Pomerantz 

Cinematography: Cristina Dunlap

Editor: Kayla Emter and Glen Scantlebury 

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Kiersey Clemons, Jermaine Fowler, Molly Gordon, Sean Hayes, Whitmer Thomas, Tig Notaro, Odessa A’Zion 

Lucy and Jane have been best friends their entire lives. Only when Lucy embarks on a personal journey, will she face a test of her friendship, and her sense of self, on a path she may not be entirely ready to take.

Strangely, this film was delayed as it was finished in 2022 and Dakota Johnson filmed this movie back to back with THE LOST DAUGHTER & CHA-CHA REAL SMOOTH in which she gave acclaimed performances in the two other films here maybe this is where she started to feel fatigued as her performance here seems to falter in comparison to the other two. as this film only became available in 2024 HBO Max, bought it right out of Sundance and then waited two years to finally release it.

This film is pretty simple as you pretty much know what’s going to happen along the way you’re just wondering what kind of presentation you’re going to get.

One can appreciate that it deals with the situation more realistically, Where it takes big decisions, and instead of presenting them as that. It more tackles them a little more subtle and a little more minute detail.

That is the thing the film has going for it. The two protagonists, unfortunately, are a bit annoying as the one character by Dakota Johnson can’t seem to make any decisions in her life, and once she makes a big dramatic one she is still so wishy-washy her best friend winningly played by Sonoya Mizuno is the hipster who has a successful career who pretty much has taken care of her most of her life and now that a big changes land to separate the other is jealous. It seems that the other one is leaving and the more successful one finally realizes they don’t necessarily need the other person as they have all these other things going for them the date for the move comes more challenges come her way once she realizes who truly has always been there for her who truly is her friend.

Another aspect, I can appreciate about the film is that while it does deal with a character discovering their homosexuality, the film doesn’t become only about that or you know, finding love and romance, it shows the In and out of dating as a queer person. Also, what looks to be a love match could just be a hookup and Sometimes might just be looking for a good time or experimental.

Along the way, the film throws in quirky characters not so much situations, but weird reactions to situations. That makes it more like a movie or even just a story where little light touches are made to enhance the more dramatic or even comedic storylines.

The characters are supposed to be likable, but at least for this critic, I found them more annoying than anything, by the end. It only enhances that there for one another or one seems more like a mother and the other child, and even when one character comes to realize her sexuality, even then she goes into it so wishy-washy that at first, you believe the film is going to be her realizing she’s in love with her best friend and how her best friend deals with it but instead it’s just they are having midlife crisis, reaching different milestones. Though out of the two I could stand Mizuno’s character the most. When her character experiences a downfall, it is more truly felt and surprising.

the successful one feels more like he could’ve been a gay best friend type character as he seems to be there to drop in and tell a few jokes disappear and only adds drama for one scene when he decides conveniently to tell his girlfriend that he’s probably not going to move with her.

this phone just wasn’t for me. You have to be in the right mood and have the right amount of patience to watch this film, but it’s not horrible. It just wasn’t that great. 

The film does offer some prime California background and locations that all look modern and meditatively beautiful.

Grade: C 

ALL OVER THE GUY (2001)

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Directed By: Julie Davis

Written By: Dan Bucatinsky 

Cinematography: Goran Pavicevic 

Editor: Glenn Garland and Mark Morrisey 

Cast: Dan Bucatinsky, Richard Ruccolo, Adam Goldberg, Sasha Alexander, Lisa Kudrow, Andrea Martin, Joanna Kerns, Christina Ricci, Michael Harris, Doris Roberts

While the flame of Jackie and Brett’s attraction intensifies, Eli and Tom, the unlikely pair they attempt to bring together, appear destined to spiral out of love rather than make any sort of progress toward becoming a genuine couple.

I can remember seeing bits and pieces of this film before I don’t know if I’ve ever watched it from beginning to end, but now that I have watched it from beginning to end, I have quite a few thoughts and things to say

The way this film is edited for some odd reason. The cuts seem to be perfectly made for a TV movie, which shows you how deep the film gets.

This is ironic, considering this is a gay romantic comedy that has a couple in it that I am guessing helps certain audience, members or allies feel a bit more comfortable in the film or seems to want to parity or be irony of how gay relationships are in straight, romantic comedies where they’re given Very little to do except either be support Relief or help set up the main couple and get them back together in general.

Hear the Straights portrayed by Sasha Alexander and Adam Goldberg feels so predictable in their own way and stereotypical playing the straights or the street best friends of the couple at the heart of it seems to be intentional

This film is filled with irony as it either condemns or criticizes, other gay romantic comedies at the time that are more mainstream while itself being kind of light when it comes to the material that at least gets deeper into the characterization and sex lives of its gay characters 

Maybe, because it takes place in Los Angeles major city it seems like none of the films is all that controversial everybody accepts everybody for who they are. There is no prejudice, which is nice as it has a positive supportive message while working that is obviously taking place in the 90s, maybe early 2000s and all of the culture of that time is on full display if it had been made modern-day and at that time it would be accused of over saturation of a time. Because this is totally a time capsule, including the leads and the situation they find themselves in OK because it’s supposed to be a comedy so it works within the perimeters. It doesn’t get too deep, but it is entertaining for what it is.

No color whatsoever like an Ally ship movie it’s written and produced by its star Dan Bucatinsky and a lot of the big-name members seem there to help fill out the cast list, but obviously seem here more for support or doing a favor someone associated with the film because it’s their roles are pretty much cameos as they are not too much to shine in except for maybe Lisa Kudrow And Andrea Martin, who seems to can’t help but be funny when she’s in a film or show, though she has a big role that most of the other big names and she ends up being the most memorable part of the movie. S they get the best material. Especially Doris Roberts’s monologue near the end 

No, I am highly critical of the movie watching it through modernize. I’m sure at the time it made its Mark as it was one of the few mainstream, independent gay romantic films back when that was still considered either controversial taboo or strictly for the art housing oh, how the times come, even though the material feel so basic.

The only depth of the film seems to be in one character’s alcoholism, which is more dealt with in the background, than as a major part of the film.

Not to mention a bit of top culture in the form of the Planet of the apes obsession, which gives it a kind of Tarantino tint, and also just helps the geek culture

What are the problems with this film? Is that one character seems to of course, be the more manly and messed up character from years of alcoholism and his family, and not getting along with his parents, or as the other one more uptight, even though his parents have been nothing but supportive, and this is the usual character type in romantic movies, everybody, obviously everybody has a reason for why they are who they are but yet, once a couple seem to be attracted to each other and their basic personalities or even at their worst, but must go through before they can be happily together, which is probably the truest part of these films. 

look everyone deserves love, but it’s not that interesting watching too such bland characters. Take their time and finally come together and get their issues in order to try and accept love and have a romance. it seems like you’re asking for much with this film and maybe it’s just me. I just really found these characters not that interesting.

The film offers no real surprises, but at least it’s fun

Grade: C+

GIVE ME PITY (2023)

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Written & Directed By: Amanda Kramer

Cinematography: Patrick Meade Jones

Editor: Benjamin Shearn

Cast: Sophie Von Haselberg, Cricket Arrison, Reshma Gajjar 

Sissy St. Claire graces the small screen for her first ever television special, an evening full of music and laughter, glamour, and entertainment. But Sissy’s live event quickly begins to curdle into a psychedelic nightmare.

This film is best not to know anything going in and discover before reading this write-up. As there are spoilers. 

Now this film will probably be compared to the film, LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL, as they are similar somewhat in presentation. Only this film doesn’t show any of the behind-the-scenes action we just see the special as presented with no real backstory before or after. as both films are inspired by movies, such as DEATHWATCH.

this film is hard to exactly explain or identify. it takes place as a live TV special where the film stays in that perimeter for the remainder of the running time and it’s filmed in the same way

Though the special might be haunted or it might just be a collection of errors paired with the star, either overreacting or having a mental breakdown as she might be seeing things or the actual truth as we in the audience, wonder the same thing.

The Songs throughout are funny, but might also be autobiographical for the main character as throughout the special she seems to share a little bit too much with the audience over and overreact in the same way  

The film is brilliant as it is not necessarily quite a thriller or a horror film yet it stays entertaining and is almost a one-woman show for the star played by Sophie Von Haselberg all in front of the camera as she seems to break down.

The lead actress and special is almost a Bette Midler type star Sophie Von Haselberg’s character resembles, but also mixed with Ilana Glazer.

The film gets darker and more unsettling as it goes along, especially when it comes to what are supposed to be skits

The film is an example of how the main character’s past still haunts her, and his manifesting which she talks about early in one of her pieces and one, on ones with the audience

Writer-Director, Amanda Kramer has made another one-of-a-kind film. This one is definitely a classic and not one to ever be forgotten. 

As with most of her films, they are very inspired as she wears her influences on her sleeve, but she managed to make something so original and special with them that you can’t help but be amazed by the end. 

The film definitely has a style. not to mention tons of imagination and obvious skill that went into the making and performing in this film.

The film is psychedelic at times before reason and not annoying. It’s as it shows. It has more of an artistic side. Even in its own strangeness.

Grade: B+

PLEASE, BABY, PLEASE (2022)

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Directed By: Amanda Kramer

Written By: Amanda Kramer and Noel David Taylor

Cinematography: Patrick Meade Jones 

Editor: Benjamin Shearn

Cast: Andrea Risenborough, Harry Melling, Demi Moore, Karl Glausman, Ryan Simpkins, Jaz Sinclair, Dana Ashbrook, Mary Lyn Rajskub, Alisa Torres, Cole Escola

Newlyweds Suze and Arthur become the dangerous obsession of a greaser gang that awakens a sleeping quandary into the couple’s sexual and gender identities.

This film is certainly original. It plays like an homage to biker movies of the 1950’s a bit with the gangs of WEST SIDE STORY and THE WILD ONE thrown in. Though the film Dwells on the homoeroticism of the times while being a send-up and satire of them. That offers the characters not as misunderstood but actually very violent and unrepentant.

As the story of the film is a throwback that works. As a kind of lgbtq west Side Story 1950-inspired set. Though supposedly modern. That seems to be more about repression and a bit of fetishization. As well as being free of gender norms. Though showing the hardships of dealing with it in a supposedly repressed society. 

Where everyone seems to be doing it in the shadows themselves. While also seeming to take a look at and send up the time it depicts. Making it more of a camp romp. Though it seems like a farce it tackles these subjects head-on and in a brave and revelatory way. That goes a long way for representation and not as a fetish of any kind. 

We are with a couple who are witnesses to a murder by a street gang. Who seem to invade their lives and territory more and more. It awakens a wanting feminization for the male in the couple and more of an aggressive masochistic side in the female of the couple. 

Demi Moore has an extended cameo that comes out of nowhere but adds to the action. As her character becomes very important overall.

The film is exciting as you watch it. As the audience never knows what is going to show Next. So we are on our toes. The film is campy and avant-garde at the same time. As the film seeks to say something, but the message always seems a bit off. Yet never quite reaches a level of true awe. 

Grade: B-

PAUL DOOD’S DEADLY LUNCH HOUR (2021)

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Directed By: Nick Gillespie

Written By: Nick Gillespie, Matthew White and Brook Driver

Cinematography: Billy J. Jackson 

Editor: Tom Longmore

Cast: Tom Meeten, Katherine Parkinson, Kris Marshall, Kevin Bishop, Johnny Vegas, Mandeep Dhillon, Steve Oram, Alice Lowe, Pippa Haywood

A weedy charity shop worker is set on winning the big national talent show. But when the actions of 5 selfish people cause him to miss his audition, he sets out to seek deathly revenge. It’s 1 lunch break and 5 spectacular murders.

This film comes across more of a comedy of errors with macabre violence.

The film is a crowd-pleaser that gets you to root for the character right from the beginning. He tries to murder the characters but they are usually done by themselves or some mistake they make In fleeing.

The characters are over the top cruel and mean. So you really feel no sympathy for them and the nastier they are the gorier their deaths. That is where the film offers its surprises, in how the deaths happen.

The film ends up strangely heartwarming. That seems to want to comment on the predatory nature of social media. Though the films feel good premise of social media justice feels a bit like bad timing. As more and more mentally ill people commit mass murder. Using it to show their handiwork and try to be immortalized in infamy.

The film comes across as the lead character Simple and sweet. Though with a dark side. The character is pure yet the film is cynical. 

The film offers impressive practical special effects. Which is where it looks like most of the film’s budget comes from.

What seems like it will be a vigilante tale of revenge. As each character seems a bit off, It’s more a tale of karma and justice.

Grade: C+