Reviews

Remo Street is a former wrestling champion who spends his days job searching and forces himself to train at night whenever and however he can. It seems his life long dream of becoming a professional MMA fighter escapes him until one night when a door is opened and he is given the opportunity of a lifetime.

The film is definitely great for its budget and the quality is that of many digital features out there. It's amazing what they can do these days in film and STREET is a great example of being resourceful with your knowledge with skilled actors and crew. It's an action packed non stop film that you really shouldn't pass up.

The Heart of a Tiger is a documentary short by Oscar winning filmmaker Malcom Clarke about WWII pilot Glen Beneda, who was shot down behind enemy lines during a secret mission. The Flying Tigers were an elite squadron recruited by the president to secretly help the Chinese resist the Japanese forces during WWII.

Glen, with the help of some villagers traveled over 400 miles with almost no food and water to safety. The short film is a narrative about this brave pilot's journey to freedom and his return after many years to thank those that helped him escape to safety in his youth.

This is the kind of story that I want to tell my children that has all the best stuff; heroism, a struggle to freedom, to look darkness in the face and move to the light. Glen made a sacrifice to help others and in return was guided through the same kindness to reach his freedom. This a definitely a must see for aviation fans, WWII history buffs and anyone who wants to just hear a good story.

This film is a silent piece written by director Neysan Sobhani. The story is about two brothers who try to come to terms with a traumatic family loss that prevents them from moving on with their lives. The rich and vivid imagery that the director takes is quite simple, yet the picture says a thousand different words. It is not a black and white film and there is some beautiful soundtrack that only emphasizes the actions without words.

The added subtitles are not a distraction but guide the audience through the painful journey the two brothers are undertaking.

This is definitely a pieces worth taking the time to experience. You can watch it for free for a limited time on their website.

Set Me Free is the story of freeing oneself from the bonds of social, verbal and physical oppression. Four young African American men have aspirations to "get out of the hood" and elevate themselves into a "better place". Each of these men all endure hardships, but they are not all of the same flavor. They all represent different types of people that the audience can relate to. All of them do have one thing: determination. If you like movies like Menace To Society and New Jack City, you will be able to relate to this type of hardship drama. The environment in which the story is set hits an inner city crowd but the struggle of the underdog is real in this movie.

Most of the credit has to be given to the director/writer who really captured the dialog of the streets. Each of the characters' voices are distinct and the actors have translated the script well. Keith is a rapper who uses his music to escape his current situation. Kevin sells drugs to help him get out of his situation. Both Keith and Kevin are complete opposites; one wants to get out in an honest way and the other doesn't care how he does it. Marcus Spencer plays Kenny; the young man who seeks education and knowledge to help him get out ot the ghetto. Korey is the last character who seems to be the person everyone takes their frustrations out on.

This movie is worth the watch and a modern look at an age old problem. It will be released on DVD in July so don't miss it.

chronic philanderer falls victim to an extortion scheme when he is abducted by four masked strangers demanding retribution for his sins.

The Badger Game opens with two females in a room bantering back and forth about their "friendship" and a proposal to help each other out with a giant pay day. The scene's backdrop is reminiscent of the crime films with a low consistent base strumming in the background while the plot is revealed.

The film is a refreshing look not at the victims and the result of the caper but the culprits themselves. We get to see the mentality behind what would cause a person to do things that may or may not be in their normal scope of behavior. The movie has a dark comedic tone that was executed by the leads Augie Duke, Jillian Leigh and Patrick Cronen and usually those performance are unexpected at this level. All the characters were quite memorable and relatable to the audience in some way.

The Badger Game has its roots in popular crime thrillers such as Oceans 11, The Italian Job and Blood Simple. The story was definitely well written and the cast was definitely up to snuff with the material. If you can get past some of the low budget technical issues, the story is definitely a fun ride and not something to be missed.

This movie is very simple; a man goes after his younger brother who is lost in a territory that has been mysteriously quarantined in an area that is desolate. Everything has been abandoned saved for a creature that has been killing humans and leaving their bodies to rot. Brian, our hero is tracking his brother Sam, who has been leaving clues as to whereabouts. These creatures in the area are going after Sam, who has been studying them, tracking them and learning their weaknesses. They are unable to detect you if you are around dead bodies or if you are covered with the remains of the dead (ashes). They are attracted to electricity and they can be seen with infrared. All these creatures nuances have been meticulously detailed in a book and left for Brian by Sam. The story progresses in delightful twists and turns, encapsulating the audience with the frantic chase between hunter and prey.

As for the movie visuals, it was shot against the beautiful backdrop of Austrailia, with familiar landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House. The visuals capture the beautiful layout of the continent and simple shots add so much more to the story and the feeling of emptiness that amplify the story that there are only two beings on the entire continent.

This character driven piece keeps you involved at all times. When you think that the scene will drag, something comes out of the dark and pulls you through an emotional roller coaster for a few seconds, then you are back again. This particular filmmaker is no stranger to making pieces on a low budget with superior casting and storyline and this specific film is no exception to his track record. How To Save Us is a great independent piece and should not be missed!

Ragnarock's Cabin is a campy comedy that is about a newlywed couple that go to a romantic cabin getaway, only to have their honeymoon interrupted by some uninvited "guests". The worst thing about this is that among these guests, a killer is on the loose and there are no authorities around to help catch the culprit. Each one of them is a target and bodies are just being found all over the place. The film keeps a good pace;like most campy b movies there seems to be plot devices or filler to move the story along. People who love to watch this type of film genre will be delighted by the characters in the story; each one having their own unique traits and the comedy reminds you of the funny horror flicks like scary movie and not another scary movie. There was decent production value for this low budget film but if they had taken a little bit more time on the editing this would have been a 9.

I was only able to view the trailer but from what I saw it is a heartfelt story that I wanted to learn more about. It is a clever way as it looks like the film was shot documentary style to give more of a feeling of realism and relate-ability to the family who's life was certainly centered around their abducted daughter and when the possibility of not having her around set in, the empty nest syndrome drives the couple apart. I love how resourceful the production was with a low budget and how they made the film work.

I can not wait to see the full feature when it is released publicly. Even though the actors are not well known they have done a great job in the trailer.

Pretty Rosebud is not your typical relationship drama. The story unfolds as the lead character is a product of a marriage of two cultures; one more prominent than the other. It shows the influences of the old country and the clashing of the new ways of their offspring. Claire also has the troubles of a broken marriage and tries to pick up the pieces and drown herself in her work as most workaholics do.

The story is very relatable to the first born children of immigrants in the US and the story is all too real. The actors did a phenomenal job of taking the dialog and made this story come to life. I was compelled to see what happens next. Each scene was beautifully shot and the production value was close to some indie studio productions.

This indie darling and festival award winner is definitely worth the watch. I'd keep an eye out for this one.

The Booker is a short about Jeff Cahill's life booking bands on The Sunset Strip. Jeff Cahill has had a history of booking bands for many iconic venues in Las Angeles The Viper Room and The Key Club. Jeff settled down at the Roxy Theatre at On The Rox, a dark stylish lounge with a small stage and cutting edge music. Jeff was hired onto the club in Jan 2010, and booked bands at On The Rox up until his death in Jan 2013. He was a risk taker with an eye for talent. He focused on local artists and created an empowering environment for musicians. He brought the club to a new standard as the place to go for the hottest music and the Hollywood elite.

The documentary is beautifully shot and very real. Everything is relative to the industry that this film surrounds. The film was a winner in the LA independent film festival and with no surprise as it was very well put together. Each of the interviews were pertinent to the story and you really get a sense of what Jeff does and how his work influences the community. This filmmaker shows some promise and I am looking forward to seeing more work from him.

Warhol is the filmmaker's depiction of today's instant gratification generation and how far will one go for their 15 minutes of fame. Corey Johnson does a superb job of portraying narcissistic shock jock Dave Dawson who bends all the rules for ratings. He says and does what he pleases until one night, a mysterious caller changes the rules of the game. The film is a great social commentary on the influence of media and social media exchanges. Sometimes we go too far and there's no coming back. I can't rave enough about this short film. In 20 minutes the filmmaker achieves the point of a cathartic release for an audience that leaves them baffled in the end. The story is fantastically written leaving very little questions to be answered. The cinematography is well done and although simple, each shot brings something to the story.

This beautifully done low budget independent film has a real story to tell about a journey of a young man trying to find himself and his pulled many different ways by family, responsibilities, etc. He feels he lacks motivation and feels he is lost. Even his friends wonder where he is and are concerned about his welfare. He meets a girl in a club by the name of Deniz and a new path is carved for him to find out what is inside and what he truly wants.

This story is very relate-able worldwide with the millions of young adults going to college and exploring their existence and what their true calling in life is or even what do they really want to do. This wonderfully shot story takes the audience through the different phases in this journey. Although I do not speak the film's native language, I can understand the actors making their way to the final goal and watching their journey rather than the subtitles, was very enjoyable.

This short film exemplifies a well written 3 act structure that is character driven in its simplest form. Fighter Jerry Gallagher has one last shot at the title and everyone is supportive of his efforts including a gorgeous new girlfriend. Manager and best friend Joe has been suspicious of the new love of Jerry's life and sees the impact that she has on him. With a title fight on the horizon and only a few weeks to train, will Joe have the courage to transcend the friendship and help his best buddy out? The film is well written and in a few short minutes you are engrossed in the character and his dilemma. The acting is well done from the lead (played by Duncan Airlie James) all the way down to the villainous female Lyndsay (played by Elanor Miller). The touching interaction and breakdown by Duncan and John in the gym encapsulates the audience in a scene that is so raw. There are certain production issues that reveal the films low budget, such as the low budget sets, but unless you are a nit picky cinephile, the strength of the acting, story and cinematography make up for it.

Whoever said you need millions of dollars to make a film has really never tried to create before. There are countless artists who are able to achieve their concepts with very little money. Independent filmmakers are resourceful and a true artist is able to craft that particular work of art to match up exactly. Mark Wright has been able to put together a solid film that pays homage to the Noir genre through the screenplay as well as the music composition and cinematography. Dan Garland plays an escapee from the local army medical hospital referred to as case 223. The county is alerted of the potential danger that storekeeper Peggy would be involved in, as case 223 is wandering aimlessly through the aisles. The acting is okay with some of the participants being a little stiff but Garland plays the role of the "psycho-killer" with the finesse of a finely skilled surgeon. A combination of these elements makes it a good short and I would be interested in seeing the career of Mark blossom as he continues on his path as an independent filmmaker. Maybe a feature could be in the works.

The Angel Inn is a great story driven drama about three friends returning home because a mutual friend had passed away. In his will, Stan Winston (Matt Gonzalez), Pete Miller (Daniel Kelly), and Janet Sloan (Carla Albi) co-inherit their friend's bar to their surprise. There are many memories that came to mind to the three and each of them has their own ideas of what was to become of that place. The question is, who's decision will reign supreme of the three. And will they be able to reconcile the past that haunts them when they return to their small rural town.

This low budget independent movie has great story driven content. The audience is driven to the relationships between the actors and how the conflict of their past drives them. Matthew Gonzales, who plays Stan Winston really drives that guy you love to hate character home. Bent on profiting for his future gain, he tries to manipulate the other two to see it his way. Contrary to popular belief, playing a villain isn't as easy as you think. The antagonist is basically the guy who sees he is in the right just like the heroes in the film. Sometimes it is the opposite of an actor's core values so to be believable in that role takes some time and preparation and Matthew does it well. I'd keep watch for all these actors as they did a fantastic job in the film.

The cinematography adds to that small sleepy independent feel and all this wraps up into one nice package. It makes one reflect after seeing the movie about how the past would influence you and when you return to a place after all these years, would you reconcile with people you just lost touch with. An inspiring movie and worth a watch.

My Son is a film that is part of a growing number of faith based movies that have begun to flood the market. Some of these films are very strong in their messages yet lack the quality of a cinematic masterpiece. Jarod O'Flaherty's film comes pretty close and definitely is worth taking a look at despite it's "R" rating from the MPAA.

My Son is a story about a family that was torn apart when a court ordered their son to be taken away. Devastated by the decision, Cadon, the boy's father, takes drastic measures to reunite the family that he cherished dearly.

As part of the growing movement of Christian films, My Son stands out due to it's realistic feel and grittiness that brings modern interpretations to life. Although it still contains many teachings of the Christian faith, it does not paint them in a pretty picture that is easily spoon-fed to audiences. You will experience the hurtful emotions, drug use, and violence that encapsulates this family and their world. It is not "perfect" as most films seem to be and the light at the end of the tunnel is not so easily obtained. The cinematography is raw; although filmed with a skilled hand, there are places where certain effects like the shaky hand camera, work for this film. The acting is above average for films of this genre; Restin Burke reminds me of a young Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers). There is a considerable amount of action in this film and nothing is left to chance. Even the antagonist played by Micheal Willbanks added to the chemistry of this not so ordinary film.

One of the great things about this film is that it tries to look like a mainstream action film and you would believe that this would be shown in indie theaters. Also the R rating is not deserved compared to such films as Passion of the Christ, My Son does not achieve such horrific violence or shock value. My Son is a movie worth watching from this independent production company.

This is a classic story driven movie where the interaction of the actors is complimented by the stunning cinematography from Paul Emmanuel. This moving piece has the audiences trapped in the emotionally charged relationship of Jack and Maria and how they slowly unravel their troubled pasts. Having a great story isn't enough if the actors can't portray the characters and the delicate interactions between them. Both leads had great chemistry and watching them is like two dancers constantly intertwining and separating with graceful movements. The locations and scenery is beautiful; the English countryside and a perfect place for love to blossom.

These days we act before we think and we don't really weigh the consequences of our actions. In Roadkiller, a slick salesman, played by Philip Davis, is on a long journey to a client's house. He stops at a roadside stand to get some food and is almost run over getting back to his car. He's dropped his only available relief from his hunger and mysteriously the shack from which he had purchased his meal closed. Disgusted, he continues on his way. After a few hours of driving, it's nightfall and he hasn't found anything to eat. He sees an unsuspecting badger crossing the road and runs it over. What ensues after that is a chain of events that make him think about running over the animal.

The cinematography is impeccable in this short film. The drive through the countryside and the evening shots were well done. The subject material is very to the point showing what carelessness and lack of thought can put one into a predicament. Although there was very little dialog, the actors had played their roles well. I would have liked to see more of this material, possible developed into a feature film to learn more about the character's relationships. It's a great short and worth checking into.

irl of Steel is a fan film based on the concept of the character Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl from the DC Universe. The story is a retelling of the destruction of Krypton, also the home planet of Kal-El aka Superman, and the events that happened after the planet had been destroyed. The director and writer, Vincent Tran, has done a marvelous retelling of the story and the short film has some great special effects and choreography. Sarah McCreanor, plays Kara with a smart innocence and helps affirm the story in modern times. based on screening the short there is a definite gold mine for Warner Brothers should they choose to back the team that had created this fan film. Currently the short is screening at select comic conventions. You can get a chance to view and update yourself on all the latest information on the Girl of Steel Facebook fanpage. If you are a big fan of the DC heroines and the lineage of Superman you can't miss this.

man's car breaks down on his way home from work and he finds that he has to walk back home. The road to salvation however is never easy and there are some definite obstacles in his way. How he deals with it is what makes the story.

Actor, writer and director Jim Ford is one creative dude who does some crazy things. It's certain you wont be bored with what you see. In this particular short, you can see less is more with the acting and cinematography. An idea with a skilled cinematographer and actors goes a long way. I wont give away the ending but the short does build the audience up to the very last minute. This beautifully produced short is only a sign of good things to come from this team.

Michael Joiner is Dan Zebrowski, a volatile ex special forces veteran that is tormented by his past and has secluded himself to everything he held close to him. That changes when an act of violence is being performed on his eldest daughter and he must summon the courage and fight the demons to save himself and his family. This is an action packed roller coaster ride of Dan's journey to save and protect what he holds dear with the power and strength of faith that returns and can not be shaken.

This movie is not your typical faith Christian movie that has religious references and spouts out things that just take everything out of context. This is not Highway to Heaven or Heaven is Real. This is a great action packed film showing one man's real struggle in the world to protect what he pushed away because he knows what he did and is not proud of it. Kind of the Man in black or the good guy that wears black. He's not 100 percent a goody two shoes. He's done some things that he's not proud of but is transformed back into the powerful agent he was because he was given a second chance.

The movie is about redemption and that is not just a religious reference. The reason why I liked this movie because it's relatable to everyone, it has a great story and you get wrapped up in it that the moral messages are not the booming overtones. This movie is the excellent package, a great movie with great acting (wonderful chemistry between Michale Joiner and Vanessa Ore. You get wrapped up. If all Christian films were like Broken Faith, we would have many people understanding Christian values without blatant religious overtones.

Paul and Lily are sweethearts who have been in love since high school. They married and moved away to live a life free of rules and boundaries. Lily is studying to be a master chef and is doing remarkably well. However Lily learns some disturbing news as she is home practicing for an exam. She learns that her father has passed away. After the funeral and the devastating blow to Lily that she never got to say goodbye to her father, Paul realizes that the separation has taken a violent effect on her. Paul must come to terms with the death of Lily's father as she brings the urn of her father's cremated remains back home. Strange things occur when Paul realizes the lid to the urn has gone missing and strange things have been happening since the lid's disappearance.

The movie is beautifully shot and visually looks like studio quality from this critic's standpoint. Precise angles and cutaway's paint a very pretty but scary picture of what is about to happen. Paul begins to lose his mind and images appear and things slowly get worse over time. Paul's guilt over how Lily is handling her father's death is getting to him and the decent into madness is very clear through the depiction by the director. Acting out these kinds of scenes are always difficult as you are transitioning from one state of mind to another. The fear may seem a bit cliché with these kinds of movies but the chemistry between actors Arron Kinser and Marrisa Pistone leaves you always wondering and feeling a bit disjointed. The actors do well to betray the feelings of the audience and its not your normal cheesy scary flick. The dialog is simple but enough things are going on to emphasize the truth of the matter; Paul's guilt and the realization of what Lily's father's death really means. This movie is a virtual roller-coaster that can not be missed!

Jessie is a college student who has to deal with one of the worst situations a guy can ever go through; a breakup by your girl while you are being intimate with her. He decides to deal with it by purchasing a sheet of acid to share with his friends back home in Missouri. Hoping this will eradicate the bad memory of the breakup, he heads home to cleanse himself of his predicament and takes a slight detour to have more time to reflect on the events that have turned his world upside down. When he makes a stop at a gas station, he meets some local folk that give him a bit of trouble. When he gets ready to leave, his engine fails at a forgotten trailer park in Cleveland, Mississippi. What happens next is a journey that just gets weirder but contains a barrel full of laughs for the rest of the film.

This comedy starts as a misadventure into the backwoods culture of a forgotten place in rural Mississippi he becomes immersed in a culture that was just awkward to him. The journey he takes and the encounters he goes through helps him realize his life isn't as bad as he thinks and his ideas about love are on the right path. As he learns a little bit more about himself, he also helps the people he encounters along the way.

The filmmakers say this movie was inspired by true events. The audience can relate to the characters as we have met a version of some of these people one time in our lives. Each of the actors have great chemistry and add to the witty dialog and the director does great things with the remarkable talent. Even as a low budget indie film, the laughs one can pull out of this piece is just something that you can get in most of the studio driven movies these days. The story flows and if you pay attention, you can pull a little bit of a lesson from this film.

This short film was created by the team who put together the short "The Greyness of Autumn". This time, writer Andy S. McEwan has taken the hot seat and directed this film. The story is set in Scotland where two men discover an old trunk in a storage locker. Upon realizing its contents, they ponder upon its real worth and what they would do with the money after they sell it. Their fellow co worker, played by Darren McColl, sees the find and already is trying to participate in reaping the rewards with the other two men. It was decided that the trunk would be locked up and addressed the following Monday. In reality, the two who discovered the locker are plotting ways to leave the third man out of it.

This delightful short is witty and its essence is very much full of the culture in the country it was filmed in. The performances from Steven Patrick John Gaffney and Darren McColl were excellent; commanding well written dialog. Steven played the role of Fraiser, whose level headed point of view always prevails. Tam is played by John Gaffney, who adds that comedic vibe to the mix. The third actor whose performance was brief but added to the chemistry of the piece was Darren McColl. Even though the situation is very simple and the unwise decisions may lead to an unfortunate ending, the chemistry of the actors milk this short piece and bring out a comedic wit that can only be achieved by veterans of this craft. Another victory from this film team.

Danny McGuire is a peculiar person similar to the comic styling of Louie CK. The short film is narrated by him and it progresses through the troubles in his life going from bad to worse. I was expecting to hear the sad tale of a man who no longer fit into society. Much to my surprise I saw a sock puppet with a beak. Then I saw another puppet; a monkey with a particular fetish for cornflakes and soft core porn. Just the addition of these two elements changed the drama to a comedy; a black comedy with a delicious taste of sarcasm. Suddenly the dialogue was different. The comments Danny made about his life although dreary and morose seemed comical. The situations turned from bad to worse; all because of the addition of a puppet. I don't know if it is the stigma of society that when we see a puppet, no matter how depressing things are, there is always a bright side of life.

Such a strong message is portrayed by brilliant writer and director Chris Quick. The integration of cinematic elements and the comedic use of puppets also reminds me of Seth McFarlane's Ted. The comedic genius of the dialog from both Chris Quick and Andy S. McEwan address the social commentary about the human condition and the power of perception. Despite its low budget feel, the laughs contained in the dialog will only have you wanting more. I am looking forward to the next project from this team.