OhDavidMyCaptain Reviews

Behemoth (2021)

Could have been better...

[5/10 · 2 August 2021]

...but could have been much, much worse, considering the supposed budget of $65,000 for a movie like this.

The story manages to be captivating enough even if it isn't completely original. The mystery element is compelling enough even if it seems simple by the end. The effects they managed to pull off on this kind of budget are beyond impressive.

The movie has its faults but the only thing that really seems to drag it downward is the acting. Our leading man is by far the worst but there isn't much acting here that I would call adequate. With some better actors this could have been a 6, maybe even a 7, but the amateur hour was nonsense. I understand that it is difficult to find the best actors on such a low budget but surely there was SOMEBODY better out there.

Anyway, this director shows promise and I look forward to seeing where he goes from here.

Altered Hours (2016)

Mind-bending low budget sci-fi

[7/10 · 21 June 2021]

Director Bruce Wemple has achieved an impressive feat. He has created a solid, mind-bending sci-fi film and done so one what is apparently a rather modest budget. The story twists and turns but never leaves you hanging as everything is wrapped up as it should be. The acting can be hit or miss at time (and honestly the miss is what brings the score down from a 8 for me) but the lead is convincing enough in his complex role.

It's difficult to give this movie an in depth review without spoiling it completely but go in knowing that this is low budget movie making done the right way. It reminds me of Primer or maybe even some early Nolan movies and I say that as a compliment. It may not be perfect, but it certainly does what it set out to do and showcases Bruce Wemple as a director to look out for in the future.

Potter's Ground (2021)

A decent Western

[6/10 · 8 June 2021]

Potter's Ground is one of the more interesting indies I've viewed lately and I think that its deserving of attention. The story is a simple one, which works for it as much as it works against it but it undoubtedly manages to deliver on the fun.

With a cast of mostly unknown actors and a crew of people you have never heard of, we should all appreciate that something was put out that is clearly punching above its weight class. The action works when it wants to, the jokes mostly land, and the movie flows at a mostly even pace that makes it fly by and never bores.

My only complaint would be the idea of the monsters in the world. They are alluded to on more that one occasion when referencing a supposedly terrifying location that they must travel to and you even get to catch a glimpse one or two times in the movie, but they are lacking everywhere else. This isn't necessarily a big problem, but it feels at times like Potter's Ground would like to be a monster movie but is scared to give in, ultimately building excitement for something that never comes. If not for this minor disappointment I would probably rate the movie 8.

Either way it isn't a bad find on Amazon and is worth the rental if you find yourself in search of easy entertainment.

Copper Bill (2020)

Could have been worse

[4/10 · 7 June 2021]

Good, fun performances from Thom Hallum, Dustin Rhodes, Katherine Harris, and Tom Zembrod make this more watchable than it probably should have. Unintentionally convoluted nonsense with an out of left field twist ending that had me laughing harder than I would think the director would want me to. The director shows potential but seemed lost here. The cinematography goes back and forth but overall I would say it managed to impress.

Even with all the negative things I have to say about the movie, I won't deny that there were a few moments that managed to keep me going for the long haul. Every time I felt that the movie would never end and I was getting ready to shut it off something would happen that made me wait it out.

At the end of the day, this is a poorly made movie from almost every angle but there is enough to keep you entertained through the runtime. Don't expect a masterpiece but if you're easily entertained this might be worth it.

Trunkfish (2021)

Not American Beauty

[4/10 · 18 February 2021]

Its everything that made American Beauty creepy without anything that made it redeemable. Poor script leads to poor ending that I'm not sure what I'm supposed to think about leads to a poor movie. Poor acting by most involved, but Dennis and Katherine do good jobs and I guess you can say that if anything makes this movie worth watching its them.

I like finding indies to watch and a lot of the time they turn out really great but other than a couple of decent moments this was silly and a bit of a letdown after seeing the user reviews.

The Pale Door (2020)

From Dusk Till Yawn

[2/10 · 16 February 2021]

The Pale Door desperately wants to be From Dusk Till Dawn, and it almost manages to pull it off....without the interesting characters, strong performances, or captivating scenarios or aesthetics. I know this is indie but give me something to work with here. Maybe an interesting story arc? Maybe just one character to root for, or even against, as long as I care at all.

If it wasn't for some neat design on the witches themselves and the ONE good scene in the movie where they first attack then I would probably give this a one. As it is....

Midnight Devils (2019)

Oh wow!

[1/10 · 16 February 2021]

I can say with a fair amount of confidence that this is in the top ten worst movies I have ever seen in my life. I've seen a few others with the name ITN in front of it and they tend to fall in the middle but this is a disgrace to movies everywhere.

Bad acting. Bad writing if they even had a script. Bad effects. Bad music. It looks bad. Anything else I forgot to mention? If I did then just trust me. It's bad.

Malcolm & Marie (2021)

Strong premise. Flawed execution.

[6/10 · 16 February 2021]

Malcolm and Marie is one of those movies that you're happy you watched out of sheer curiosity if nothing else.

The premise is a strong one that doesn't seem to go anywhere important, but that isn't to say that it doesn't have a moment or two sprinkled throughout its runtime. It's certainly a glorious film to look at and the performances of Zendaya and Malcolm Washington are so captivating that I almost forgot that what I was watching was pretty much pointless.

Watch it cautiously. It isn't a complete waste of time but I'm sure there's better things to find while scrolling.

Absentia (I) (2011)

Awesome!

[10/10 · 13 July 2020]

If you are a horror fan then you are more than likely a fan of Mike Flanagan, but if you are not then you have at least heard the name. He is currently making some of the better horror movies of the times and this is the one that started it all. I am happy that I finally got to watch it because it is fun to see where a talented director got his start.

The cinematography is really good considering the low budget and Flanagan managed to pull nice performances from unknown actors. I am really happy that this movie got the attention that it deserved and started a great career for a great director.

If you have skipped this one over the years, give it a shot. You will not be disappointed if you are a fan of indie horror.

Silhouette (II) (2019)

I watched it twice!!

[10/10 · 13 July 2020]

But it is a perfect indie movie.

When it comes to something like this I'm not sure what else you can ask for. The performances are amazing, the script is extremely well put together, the music is beautifully dark, and the look is gritty but still sleek. The first time I watched it I was left a little bit confused but when I watched it for a second time it was more clear. The pieces of the puzzle are there for the ones who are willing to pay attention.

I will say that it is not an easy watch. Actually it can be pretty rough at times because there isn't a single moment of the movie that isn't upsetting. But again, all the things that are needed to sell it are there and it is worth the time to get to know it.

I love indie horror, and this is right there with some of the best of them.

The Dinner Party (2020)

The right kind of horror

[9/10 · 4 July 2020]

This is the kind of horror that gets the blood pumping through my veins. This is horror that is dialogue and character driven up to a point until it finally gets a little crazy and the gore floods in.

Everything about this horror gem was well designed, from the tight script to the well done cinematography to the acting to the characterization. Without a good story and character buildup horror films bore me so kudos to these guys.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. This is one effective little movie. Happy to have watched it. Give it a look yourself.