Author: iank22

On Blu-Ray Oct. 6th, 2014

Jim Mickle’s neo-noir “Cold in July” starts out with a white hot premise that keeps you glued to the edge of your seat for a good 50 minutes or so. Richard Dane (Michael C. Hall) is awoken by his wife, Ann (Vinessa Shaw) in the middle of the night after she hears a strange noise in the house. We can see that Richard isn’t excited about walking down a dark hallway with his gun pointed straight ahead. But right away we get the sense that Richard is a family man who will do whatever he needs to do to protect his family. Protect he does, as he winds up shooting the masked intruder in his living room and leaving a grotesque reminder of the would be thief on his couch and living room wall.

The next day, Richard appears understandably wracked with guilt, and Hall nicely underplays the psychological complexities of a man thrown into his position. From walking around in a haze to ordering a beer at breakfast where the waitress questions “Isn’t it a little early for that?” and Richard growls “Not today,” while staring off into space. Things also seem strained at home, when Richard impulse buys a couch to replace the bloodstained older couch and Ann gets pissed off as he didn’t consult her.

The movie really kicks into high gear though when Richard is confronted in his car by an almost ghostly Russell (Sam Shepard) who appears out of nowhere and delivers an ominous barely veiled threat to Richard’s family. It becomes apparent that Russell is the father of the masked intruder who Richard shot and killed. The tension in the air is palpable and stomach churning and Hall allows us to feel just how queasy it feels to be in those particular cowboy boots. Things get worse and worse for the Dane family when they find an open window in their young son’s bedroom and another time when the boy’s bed is covered in unused bullets. Then, unfortunately almost out of nowhere a second act twist happens (no spoilers here), that completely throws the entire premise we’ve been sold and bought into, nearly away and an all too familiar movie we’ve seen many times before begins playing.

Besides Vinessa Shaw’s competent but largely forgettable thankless wife role, the performances are all strong. Although it’s pretty much Michael C. Hall and Sam Shepard’s show until Don Johnson shows up in the middle of the second act and almost takes it away before turning his “Fixer” character Jim Bob into a cartoonish macho fantasy. Which, in essence is basically what the whole film devolves into – a non-supsenseful actioner driven by cool John Carpenteresque brooding synth music filled with not-so-clever one liners that tough guys say in Hollywood Action movies. “Cold in July” feels less like an Indie Thriller and more like a stylish cash grab that leaves whatever heart it still had left in the colorful neon shoot’em up that the good old boys finish the bad guys off in.

I can imagine another version of the film where if the filmmakers had the courage to stick with the original premise and let it really come to boil, which may have been considered a Texas Crime Drama classic. As it is, it’s just another formerly buzzed about “Indie” minor success story that will be forgotten like any old tumbleweed that blows by.

On BluRay April 29, 2014

This eerie and chilling comedy is shot in B&W and completely illegally at the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, FL. While this may really affect distribution options, director Randy Moore and his movie are already the talk of Sundance, so who knows…maybe that was a very wise move. The film chronicles the final day in a family’s vacation in the Sunshine State at its biggest resort.

The monumental day starts with Dad, played beautifully by Roy Abramsohn, getting a call from his boss that he is being laid off for no particular reason. Not wanting to spoil the fun, Dad doesn’t tell his wife and two young kids, but is clearly immediately affected. The family takes the monorail from their hotel to the Magic Kingdom and engages in a day of surreal rides and amusements. By mid morning, Dad notices two barely legal French girls and becomes increasingly engrossed with them to the point where he starts following them. While the girls weave in and out of the narrative, a host of hallucinations, marriage issues, mistaken identities, scrapes and bruises, and general mayhem start shortly thereafter.

 

Having grown up in Florida, Moore was shaped by the “artificial fantasy” of such family entertainment amusement parks and still has issues with wanting to live in a world that doesn’t really exist. Through clever framing, good story telling, and a slight bit of VFX, Moore makes the actual Disney rides that the family takes feel really creepy and borderline horrific. This is particularly effective as many of us were on these rides many times and kids and didn’t have such an experience. But a horror film this is not, because by making Abramsohn’s character likeable and a inserting a bunch of funny one-liners, Moore he keeps his social commentary firmly cemented as a dark comedy.

The team shot for 45 days on location and sunlight or practical fixtures is the lighting source for the majority of the film. Moore was very keen on avoiding making a “home movie” and even with the lighting and location restrictions, he and his DP, Lucas Lee Graham, made a cinematic film. The B&W greatly augments the picture as it offers both a layer of surreal and covers several of the technical issues that run and gun shooting creates. Personally, the B&W also offers homage to the zany horror films of the 1950s that feel referenced in some of wacky situations that the family encounters.

Ultimately, the film is more of a mainstream story than some of the ‘insane’ buzz it’s getting at the festival. However, after watching this film, you will look at any family amusement park differently on your next visit.

 

Cast and Credits

Director: Randy Moore

Screenwriter: Randy Moore

Producers: Soojin Chung, Gioia Marchese

Cinematographer: Lucas Lee Graham

Editor: Soojin Chung

Production Designers: Sean Kaysen, Lawrence Kim

Composer: Abel Korzeniowski

Sound Design: Paul André Fonarev, David Lankton

Principal Cast: Roy Abramsohn, Elena Schuber, Katelynn Rodriguez, Annet Mahendru, Danielle Safady, Alison Lees-Taylor

 

Don’t get me wrong – I hate puff pieces. Can’t stand them. And that is certainly not my intention here. However, I can’t help but gush a little on this particular occasion. I recently visited the set of a micro budget Indie called SUN CHOKE. It’s a psychological horror film with a great script and after a recent set visit, I am more than pleased with my decision to become involved in this project. The director, cast and crew are absolutely  working at the top of their game. I cannot believe the caliber of work these guys are pulling off for virtually “no budget.” We’re in an awesome house across the street from Catherine Bigelow and a hop, skip and jump away from Jack’s place (Yes, the Jack) on the famous “Bad Boy Drive” where Nicholson, Warren Beatty and Brando used to live. And also where Polanski had some kind of problem many moons ago.

Anyway, SUN CHOKE tells the story of a mentally unstable young woman, Janie, who has been under a sort of informal house arrest by her lifelong caretaker and former nanny who raised her, Irma, after she tried to harm herself in a mysterious incident that is implied but never really shown. Irma decides that Janie is possibly well enough to leave the house and begins letting her out in small increments. Unfortunately, it seems that Irma was mistaken as Janie begins stalking an attractive young lady, Savannah, who she feels a mysterious yet profound bond with.

Without selling the film too hard (I’m not, I’m just really extremely proud) this movie is super creepy with outstanding performances and unbelievable Von Trier inspired cinematography. The lead role, Janie is played by the lovely Sarah Hagan who is best known for playing “Millie” on FREAKS AND GEEKS. Sarah gives a performance unlike any I have ever scene, equal parts real, honest vulnerability mixed with cold, calculating Patrick Bateman-esque psychosis. The caretaker, Irma, is played by none other than “Scream Queen” Barbara Crampton! Yes, the star of Stuart Gordon’s classic RE-ANIMATOR. Barbara has never played a “bad guy” before and without giving away any spoilers – well, you haven’t seen her like this before. The poor stalked girl and Janie’s main target is played by the sexy Sara Malakul Lane who besides playing Eric Roberts’ daughter in SHARKTOPUS, she just signed on to play the female lead in the upcoming reboot of KICKBOXER starring opposite JCVD!

Anyway, okay – I’m totally gushing. This did turn out to be a puff piece. But really it’s a cool, unique, crazy, creepy horror film that is unlike anything you have ever seen before and that I can’t wait for the world to see it. The women are beautiful, the creep factor is ultra-high and the blood and body count is very generous. And intense. And repulsive. I can’t wait for SUN CHOKE to hit the festival circuit so you can all see what I’m talking about.