Lifechanger

I see a good amount of screeners. Not as many as I would like, but I'm very happy that I got into the "Screener Club" - especially when I get to see films like LIFECHANGER and I'm able to give it some positive press!

Fans of THE HIDDEN and INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS will want to check this film out for sure. This is writer/director Justin McConnell's first feature film and it's a fantastic offering.

And, as usual, no spoilers.

We're told the tale of a creature who is basically a life stealer. It "INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS" up a person's body and memories, then moves on. However, unlike Invasion, the effects of the change are wearing off faster and faster with each change. In years past, it seems like it was months before the creature had to jump bodies. Now, it's hours. But, what's the endgame here?

I loved the film. We have a being who is just trying to stay alive. To be alive. And the "room" is shrinking on it hour by hour. It was a fantastic metaphor for life at times. "I'll just do this to buy myself some time. And this....and this...and this other thing..." all the while you are running around trying to stay afloat. Stay alive. The film nails the feeling and manages to do it in a way that doesn't come off as over emotional or "emo". And that's all because of Justin McConnell's direction, his writing, his actors, and Sasha Moric's cinematography.

The cast does an amazing job playing two roles for the most part - pre-creature and post. However, it's never over the top and "BIG BAD" unlike some of these body swap offerings. The creature here is very human in it's thinking and life seeking. It never comes off as alien or robotic. I think that helps to sell the tale. There are some grand performances in the film. I was entranced. Sad to say, Bill Oberst Jr. was in the film only as a voice. I would have loved to see him as one of the characters.

The film is beautifully shot and the lighting is grand. I'm always thrilled when these films present a great story, with awesome acting, but also manage to nail the cinematography and lighting as well. The results are always winning, in my most humble opinion.



AND PRACTICAL EFFECTS!!!!!!!   Dear LAWD!!! Thank you! hehehehe  

Not only practical, but really good. The balance of story and shocks play together very well. We dip into some dialogue and plot depth, but moments later something really horrid happens and the energy is picked up again. Loved it.



I'm going to wrap up there because I don't want to go to "fan boy" on this film, but suffice it to say you should seek the film out and give it a shot as soon as you can. It's super solid and presents a very interesting perspective on love, life, guilt, and human suffering without being too heady or preachy about it.

WELL worth a viddy.   ON DEMAND JANUARY 1ST, 2019!!!! 

FANTASTIC work from....

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lora Burke ... Julia Wilson
Jack Foley ... Robert
Elitsa Bako ... Emily Roberts
Rachel VanDuzer... Rachel
Steve Kasan ... Detective Freddie Ransone
Sam White ... Sam Richardson
Bill Oberst Jr. ... Drew (voice)
Peter Higginson... Andrew
Adam Buller ... James
Brian Quintero... Tommy
Uche Ama ... Jen
Mark Rainmaker... John
Ry Barrett ... Richard
Michelle D'Alessandro Hatt... Mary Richardson
Daniel Faraldo... Bill

The Night Eats The World

I've been slowing my posts down quite a bit, but I've heard some folks speaking about this film with big negatives and I wanted to get a little love for it out in the world. A podcast I listen to really trashed the film calling it boring and saying it doesn't really bring anything new to the table, but I can not agree with that at all. I think the film brings a lot to the mix and breathes a little...life...into the zombie sub-genre...so to speak.

Anders Danielsen Lie plays Sam and we see him at a party in Paris as he tries to get a few items back from his ex who is now happy with another man. Sam, frustrated by the amount of time it's taking to simply grab a box, dives into one of the back rooms to wait, but falls asleep in the process. And things go to hell while he sleeps. We follow his process as he discovers that zombies have taken over overnight and as he makes an effort to plan out his new life.

Now, the film is a slow burn character study, not an action based zombie horror fest, but there are some really horrific moments for sure. Sam needs to work out what's going on and as he plans out his moves, he has to not only process what's going on, but also needs to plan for what could possibly be a very long time held up in a single apartment building. This won't thrill everyone, but seeing as I've had several conversations with horror fans about this very subject of staying alive in a post-zombie world, I'm sure many people will love seeing this play out.


"Is this place a good place to hold up in a zombie outbreak? No way - look at those windows! And what would you do for food? How long could you wait it out alone?" 

Yeah...so many discussions. :)

The zombies are interesting here as well - silent except for the clicking of their jaws clacking together. The first time we see them really sent a freaky jolt through me, actually. There are some fantastic zombie makeup applications as well. And, yes, all practical with no CGI blood sprays that I noticed! ::::cheers::::




Now, the film does have a 28 Days Later feel and as far as that goes, it's not "new", but the writing and acting really set this film apart. There are some really tense moments in here as well as some genuine thrills.

It's a solo story that does a deep dive into survival and loneliness.  I think it's well worth a viddy!

Directed by 
Dominique Rocher

Writing Credits (in alphabetical order)  
Pit Agarmen ... (novel)
Jérémie Guez ... (screenplay) (adaptation) (dialogue)
Guillaume Lemans ... (screenplay) (adaptation) (dialogue)
Dominique Rocher ... (screenplay) (adaptation) (dialogue)