Hot Picks
|
|
|
The Beta Test
USA / UK 2021
produced by Natalie Metzger, Matt Miller, Benjamin Wiessner, Douglas Choi (executive), John Jeffrey Martin (executive), Jake Orthwein (executive), Alex C. Rudolph (executive), Matthew A. Stewart (executive) for Vanishing Angle, DiffeRant Productions, Sons of Rigor Films
directed by Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe
starring Jim Cummings, Virginia Newcomb, PJ McCabe, Kevin Changaris, Olivia Grace Applegate, Jessie Barr, Christian Hillborg, Malin Barr, Jacqueline Doke, Wilky Lau, Ammar Aldieri, Raji Maroun Ayac, Ivan Bernal, Sam Breen, Meredith Casey, Bryan Casserly, Ray Chao, Monroe Cline, Laura Coover, Courtney Courter, Luciana Faulhaber, Dustin Hahn, Evan Haigh, Jackie Johnson, Chen Chen Julian, Sandy Khanzode, Chris Lee, John Philip Loof, Will Madden, Jeffrey Markle, John Jeffrey Martin, Boni Mata, Jadene Meyer, Ryan Nilsen, Maggie Noble, Scott Parkin, Keith Powell, Brayden Reeves, Misha Reeves, Ashley Denise Robinson, Grant Rosenmeyer, Bridge Stuart, Joy Sunday, Julio Trinidad, Ambre Rose Trujillo, Mark Wind, Lya Yanne
written by Jim Cummings, PJ McCabe, music by Jeffrey Campbell Binner, Ben Lovett
review by Mike Haberfelner
|
|
Available on DVD! To buy, click on link(s) below and help keep this site afloat (commissions earned) |
Always make sure of DVD-compatibility!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Jordan (Jim Cummings) is a Hollywood agent about to get married to his
girlfriend Caroline (Virginia Newcomb) - and with the wedding only weeks
away, he gets an invitation to a blind sex date, which he accepts after
some hesitation. And the "blind" part of the date is to be taken
literally, as he and the woman wear blindfolds throughout. It's only after
the fact that Jordan starts to panic, and he tries to find out who
arranged all of this and who he had sex with, because ... there's no real
reason, he's not blackmailed, it's highly unlikely that he has fallen in
love with the woman he had only had sex with, never actually seen let
alone talked to, and he's way too paranoid for sheer curiosity. Oh, and
murders happen around him that might have to do with similar blind date
situations - but then again, maybe not. After barking up one too many
trees, Jordan actually finds the blackmailer and pays him a visit - but
he's really not sure what to do once he has cornered him ... To
say something positive up front, Jim Cummings is great in the lead. Now
it's not that he comes across as particularly relatable let alone
likeable, but that's the point of his character, he's a lying and
deceiving bastard trying to make his way through the city of lies that
Hollywood (or at least the satire-steeped version the film shows as
Hollywood) is. Unfortunately, that character navigates through a film that
lacks a central conflict, doesn't afford its lead too much motivation, and
has a satirical edge to it that's not really fleshed out while also
playing with horror motives that just lead to nowhere (despite a very
impressive setpiece opening the movie). It's really a shame that the film
doesn't fall together, as again, Cummings' performance is great, and there
are some other good parts in this, it just never feels as if it went the
distance.
|
|
|
review © by Mike Haberfelner
|
Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned) |
The links below will take you just there!!!
|
|
|
Thanks for watching !!!
|
|
|
Robots and rats,
demons and potholes, cuddly toys and shopping mall Santas,
love and death and everything in between,
Tales to Chill Your Bones to is all of that.
Tales to Chill Your Bones to -
a collection of short stories and mini-plays ranging from the horrific to the darkly humourous,
from the post-apocalyptic to the weirdly romantic,
tales that will give you a chill and maybe a chuckle,
all thought up by the twisted mind of screenwriter and film reviewer Michael Haberfelner.
Tales to Chill Your Bones to
the new anthology by Michael Haberfelner
Out now from Amazon!!! |
|