Mohawk

Ted "WE ARE STILL HERE" Geoghegan has another film out and ready to enjoy. I enjoyed MOHAWK immensely. While not a horror film like STILL HERE, there are some horrific moments for sure.

The story involves Oak and Calvin Two Rivers of the Mohawk tribe and Joshua Pinsmail, a British officer, late in the war of 1812. The officer is trying to recruit the Mohawks to help fight on the side of the British, but plans are hampered by the actions of Calvin putting the American enemy on their trail deep in the woods.

This is an action adventure with dramatic undertones. The balance struck by Ted Geoghegan is fantastic.

The strength of the film is really in the characterization, story, and the fact that you actually care about the characters and their actions. There are no obvious computer effects or bombastic scenes, yet I found myself riveted to the screen after the first five minutes.

The story is super tight and intense. It's not a big story - not in the slightest, but it's a powerful one. Native American involvement in the war of 1812 is very interesting indeed (some more on that can be found here) and this film is a small segment of that story talking about the Mohawk, the British, and the American's and how war tore them all to pieces. There's also a small, supernatural element that plays a part in the story, but don't walk into this thinking you're going to see a lot of that aspect. This is really a story about people and what they do to each other. The horror of war.

I guess the American's are the more horrid of the group, though Calvin does some rather bad things as well. I love the fact that the wrongs are rather balanced. There are no sides here that are "pure as the driven snow" - everyone has something they've done wrong.

The acting is frigging amazing across the board. Everyone give their all here - most likely pleased to be working with a talent like Geoghegan and a great script by him and Grady Hendrix. The fact that actual Native American people were playing Native American's made me very, very happy as well.

Hezekiah Holt

Man...I want to call out each actor here. They are all amazing. Ezra Buzzington's fantastic, driven American officer Hezekiah Holt is a definite stand out as is the giant, pro wrestler Jon Huber as Lachlan Allsopp. They are American's fighting for their country, but their actions are also driven by hate and disgust for the people they are fighting and anyone that helps them. It's a sad reflection on aspects of today's climate for sure.

Oak

But, I was in awe over Eamon Farren's British officer Joshua Pinsmail and the amazing and haunting Kaniehtiio Horn as Oak. They were fantastic on screen. The way they interacted with each other was grand as well. Believable and intense. I was hanging on every move and phrase they'd utter. And talk about powerful female leads! Oak is an amazing character - strong and majestic.

Now, there are some real moments of violence in here as well, horror lovers. Never gratuitous,  but some of them had me cringing for sure.

Am I gushing over this film too much? I hope not, but I just loved it.

This film is a must see. Period. 

Calvin Two Tivers

Lake Bodom

Well well well...what a mean spirited, nasty little film we have here. hehehehe  I'm going to keep this super short for fear of saying too much.

The film is based in the real world location of several murders that occurred in 1960 at Bodominjärvi Lakeis located in Uusimaa, Espoo.

From WIKI
The Bodominjärvi Murders are the most famous homicide cases in Finnish criminal history. On June 5, 1960, at Bodominsky Lake, 15-year-old females, Leo Irmeli Björklund and Anja Tuulikki Mäki, and 18-year-old male, Seppo Antero Boisman, were killed while sleeping inside a tent by blunt force trauma to their heads from a stone. The fourth youth, then 18-years-old, Nils Wilhelm Gustafsson, who was in the excursion, was found outside of the tent badly injured. The perpetrator remained at the time uncovered despite extensive investigations, and various types of theories were presented on the killer. Gustafsson was arrested unexpectedly on suspicion of murder in 2004, but he was released the following year. The identity of Bodominjärvi's murders has not been discovered.

So, it's obvious that this would be a fantastic spot to go exploring around, right? At night? With no one aware of where you are?

Four teens think so.

The mesmerizing Nelly Hirst-Gee :::swoon::: stars alongside Mimosa Willamo, Mikael Gabriel, and Santeri Helinheimo Mäntylä and, as the story unfolds I was left with many, "Wait a minute...what's going on here?" moments - but in a good way, not bad.



It's always interesting when a film is mean spirited and brutal, but it comes off as well done and planned instead of lazy. It's easy to set up a bunch of campers to be slain, but hard to do it and remain an interesting and engaging film. This is partially due to the writing in Lake Bodom which gives us a solid story and partially due to some solid acting.

Taneli Mustonen's directing is fantastic as well. (He and Aleksi Hyvärinen wrote the film) It's kinetic, but easy to follow. There's a lot going on in the film, but it never felt disjointed. I need to see more movies from Finland and Sweden. I'm currently watching Jordskott - an TV series offering from Sweden - and I love it as well.

Lake Bodom (also known as BODOM) is well worth a viddy for sure. It's currently available on the WONDROUS AND MOST AWSOME SHUDDER...at the time of this posting.

Man, I love Shudder! :)

The Passion of Paul Ross

I watched THE PASSION OF PAUL ROSS and, while it is not straight up horror, it has elements that were definitely horrific and strange enough to cause some flashback movie visuals through the evening. I think that counts for something for sure. 






The film is a strange mix of visuals, scenes, and character interactions. It tells the story of the titular Paul Ross and his strange, metaphysical journey. It's packed with dream logic and jarring visuals that really sunk it's claws into me and didn't let me look away from the screen. 


To quote the site: 
An aging artist discovers that his seemingly perfect suburban life is actually a prison conjured by unknown forces.


And, while it is definitely that, it's much more. 



Like Bryan Enk's other feature THE MOOSE HEAD OVER THE MANTEL   which I loved, the film has a feel of a play. I love the presentation. That play-like quality feels more present and in person which added to the intensity for me. That combined with the Twilight Zone / Twin Peaks vibe made me very happy. I choose these to get a general feeling only - this film is very much a unique creature, but the visuals are very Peaks in tone.

The other part of this film that made me happy is that it never fell into...how to say it? Pothead babble film plot? You know - that, "Duuuuuuude....what if you were in a prison...but it was like...the prison of your own....miiiiiind. heh! Whoooooaaaa...."   I've seen far too many films with their heads wedged firmly up their own arses when it came to a more philosophical plot. 

The Passion of Paul Ross avoids all that fakery and provides a storyline that not only makes you think hard about various things like spirituality (No...this isn't a Christian film. At least it doesn't come off that way if it is :) )   , but also tosses in some interesting elements that I have not seen in a film in a long while - subtle ghost overtones. Operative word here being subtle. No "beyond the veil" mist filled rooms or Darth Maul-esque demons. It's simplicity allows for the viewer to really sink into the tale being told. 

And now...the downsides. Just a few, really. 

Yes, this is a micro-budget film. ($15,000 USD ) Don't hate.  Enk was the writer, Director, Producer, light tech and many other things on here without question. He did what he needed to do to get the film made and not only got it made, but made it highly entertaining and solid. 

There are some hinky sound moments and a point where I thought the camera was going to be blown over, but non of that took away from my viewing experience. It does need to be called out, however. I know some horror fans are delicate flowers that have a tough time watching films that aren't tossing jump scares and digital blood at them from time to time. ::::grin::::

There is also a set piece at the beginning that goes on for a bit, but it has a point. You may start watching and think, "Is this a music video?"  Hang in there - it makes sense. Just enjoy the lovely tones of Amy Beth Coup - she a great singer! 

And...that's about it for negatives, honestly.  Very minor!

I've seen quite a few screeners of late and I've had to pass on writing reviews for about 75% of them just because...well...they made me angry, actually. This film was the polar opposite. I enjoyed it and immediately thought about a re-watch that very day to go back and pick up on the subtleties! 


Lastly, the acting was a lot of fun. Steve Bishop and Becky Byers are so much fun to watch on screen and run through every emotion in the book with a grace that I found to be very pleasing.

The aforementioned Amy Beth Coup's delightful singing voice was grand.

Hell, the whole cast was pitch perfect for the tone of the film and  looked like they had a ton of fun making it. Their commitment to the oddness really sold the feature and added to the overall feeling of unease and dream-like bizarreness.

Do yourself a favor and seek this film out. It's a lot of fun!   I'll post details about how and when to get the film as soon as I learn more.


The Passion of Paul Ross (2017) - Official Teaser from Third Lows Productions on Vimeo.

• Bryan Enk

  Director

  The Moose Head Over the Mantel, The Big Bad
• 
  
• 
  
• Bryan Enk

  Writer

  They Will Outlive Us All
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• 
  
• Bryan Enk

  Producer

  The Moose Head Over the Mantel, The Big Bad
• 
  
• 
  
• Steve Bishop

  Producer
• 
  
• Steve Bishop

  Key Cast

  “Paul Ross ”

  Scarlett Mecca and the Pentagram Girl
• 
  
• 
  
• Becky Byers

  Key Cast

  “Amity”

  Play Hooky
• 
  
• 
  
• Matthew Gretzinger

  Key Cast

  “Wilson Shand ”
• 
  
• Amy Beth Coup

  Key Cast

  “Natalie Lord ”
• 
  
• Kim Long

  Key Cast

  “Light-Haired Woman”
• 
  
• Jason Hugh Smith

  Key Cast

  “The Intruder ”
• 
  
• Gregory Bobak

  Key Cast

  “Bartender ”
• 
  
• Julie Konrad

  Key Cast

  “Johanna”
• 
  
• Aaron Sinclair

  Key Cast

  “Party Man ”
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• Maggie McKeon Vendely

  Key Cast

  “Party Woman ”
• 
  
• Joshua Detamore

  Key Cast

  “Gerry”
• 
  
• Keenan MacRitchie

  Key Cast

  “Terry”
• 
  
• Brendan Coomes

  Key Cast

  “Barry”
• 
  
• Bob Dawson

  Key Cast

  “Brad”
• 
  
• C.C. Snyder

  Key Cast

  “Joe ”
• 
  
• Dirk Manning

  Key Cast

  “Suburban Man ”
• Yuri Lowenthal

  Key Cast

  “voice of Radio DJ ”