Hot Picks
|
|
|
Where Sleeping Dogs Lie
USA 2020
produced by Tony Marsh, Josh Pierson, Courtney Conklin (executive) for Burn Baby Burn Films
directed by Josh Pierson
starring Jesse Janzen, Dustin Miller, Tommy Koponen, David J. Espinosa, Jillian Rohrbach, Brett Rickaby, Atim Udoffia, Bobby Real, Jeanne Young, Courtney Conklin, Tyler McDanniel, Ashley Caudron, Doug O'Neill, Stacey Hall, Dedrich McGee, Brian Barnes, D. Brad St. Cyr, Bunny Stewart
written by Josh Pierson, music by Simply Sonic Studios, special makeup effects by Nick Domanovich
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!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff (Jesse Janzen), who has only recently been released from jail, is
in a bit of a financial bind as he owes a lot of money to lady gangster
Bunny (Atim Udoffia), in fact more than he can hope to get by legal means
on relatively short notice. So he gets together with his cellmate from
prison Tim (Tommy Koponen) and his brother Barry (Dustin Miller), who has
just been fired from his job as used car dealer, and they plan to rob the
house of shady businessman Bob (David J. Espinosa), who is said to have
several thousands in cash lying around just so his wife Tracy (Jillian
Rohrbach), who's about to divorce him, can't get his hands on the money.
It's supposed to be a very easy break-in-and-get-away-with-the-money
operation - until it turns out that against Jeff's intelligence, Bob's at
home. Now he's quickly overcome, but the money's not where it's supposed
to be, and Bob claims there simply is no cash, even under torture. What
Jeff and company do find though is Tracy - all tied up in Bob's trunk as
if made up to be murdered. Now Tracy isn't much of a problem as she
doesn't mind her soon-to-be-ex to be robbed. But things get out of hand
when a neighbour (Jeanne Young) stops by, and while Barry with some
success persuades her that he's the plumber and everything's in perfect
order, she trips and her head hits the floor so hard that her skull splits
open and she dies. Of course, Jeff, Barry and Tim get a bit excited, and
trying to maintain their cool, they only notice that Tracy's about to make
a getaway too late, and eventually Tim accidently shoots and kills her.
And with all their attempts to somehow get out of the situation, our
"heroes" only make things worse and worse ...
This is a fun little thriller with a really cleverly written
screenplay that carefully builds up its story along the lines of Murphy's
law - everything that can go wrong will go wrong - and where every bad
situation only leads to something worse, with oftentimes flashbacks only
emphasizing on the magnitude of the disaster. And while it's not made as a
comedy as such and everybody plays it straight, there's still a darkly
humourous streak to things, also of course mirrored in the often ironic
use of thriller mainstays. And of course, a solid ensemble really helps to
bring this to life, as does a clever directorial effort. Fun for sure!
|
|
|