EXIT: An experimental art film from David King

Way back in the deep cold month of February 2015 I wrote a blog article on a remarkable piece of film making from Aussie writer/director David King. In truth I found it difficult, albeit enjoyably so, to place it in any recognisable genre as it seemed part science fiction, part cyberpunk, part art house, part schlock horror and at least a dozen other influences lay within the film's consideration about what reality and illusion actually are. Watching Purge was a genuinely unusual experience. If you feel so inclined you can find the link to the article RIGHT HERE.

So it was with genuine interest when a little while ago David emailed me and asked me just how far my interest extends into art films. Did I go all the way to experimental? Or did I fear to go quite that far?

Now putting aside for a moment the minor fact that I've only ever been asked those questions in a court of law, well you should know me by now........ No! I'm not talking about that other matter! I'm currently bound by some pesky little legality apparently so I'm not allowed to talk about it. Besides which, how was I to know 39 emails a day counted as stalking and not a sign of admiration?

No, the thing that you should know about me is that I rarely can resist a challenge, especially when it concerns independent films. So in true 5D jumping before thinking form, I responded with a 'let's do this. Let's get experimental!'..... Or words to that effect. 

Exit is David King's latest offering and certainly shares some of Purge's theme of the notion of what constitutes human reality and the concept of illusion. However that is where the comparison ends because this film has thrown aside any conventional mainstream movie luggage and taken a one-way trip aboard the experimental train on it's journey to the fabled city of deconstructed narrative and abstract imagery. 

The synopsis of the story (and I use the term 'story' in the loosest sense) is thus;

"Y is immortal and lives in paradise. Or so he believes.

When paradise starts coming apart around him and he begins receiving messages from his dead wife, he realises he's either losing his mind........or nothing is what it seems."

I think it is fair to say that I haven't seen anything quite like EXIT for quite some some time. I also think that it is fair to say that it is an experience that will divide opinion of those who see it, something I could quite understand depending on what preconceptions a person may have beforehand. By 'preconceptions' I mean the notion of what should constitute as a film experience. The problem is that in this modern world of studio executive and audience focus group led cinema there is little room for ambitiously ambiguous narrative in film making. Every stage of mainstream movie making has to be neatly packaged with the requisite narrative arc together with it's neatly satisfying ending and thus accessible to the lowest common denominator. In other words, experimentation to the studios and consequently to many of the movie going public, is a definite no-no.

EXIT follows no linear trajectory in its 27 minute narrative, but instead relies on a series of connecting images and sounds that continually assault the viewers senses whilst simultaneously examining a plethora of philosophical ideas and questions of immortality, love and reality in the spaces in between.

But please don't be put off by such concepts as 'philosophical' and 'experimental'. I have watched the film twice now and in all honesty I'm still little the wiser about the answers to some of the questions raised, or whether in fact there are even any any answers or questions in the first place. 

On both occasions of viewing the film I've broken off to do something else and returned a little while later to watch a new segment of intensive psychedelic and philosophical imagery. This isn't meant as a sign of criticism, on the contrary it should be regarded as a strength of the film. In other words, the choice is yours; you can either be swept along an existential journey of contemplation about what you are watching and hearing; or you can simply sit back and taking in the mind bending array of images and sounds as your senses real from the impact. You can watch it in one glorious mind goggling stretch, or you can take the assault on the senses piece by piece.

Whether you want to take a message from EXIT or simply enjoy the film for the visceral experience that it is is entirely up to you. What is clear is that there is still room in this audience focus group driven movie world to be given the chance to appreciate someone who wants to be bold and take chances with their art. You may not like or understand EXIT, but you certainly won't forget it. It is not David's intention to make this film for a mass audience, he knows full well that there will be many who do not want to to watch something as this. Instead he wanted to make a work of moving visual art intended for a smaller more select audience. Well this part of that niche audience loved it.

EXIT has been entered into a number of film festivals so watch this space for further news of when it may be seen. However, anyone interested in experimental film can contact David at his email address below to preview the film and purchase it from him directly if they wish. It is anticipated that the film will be available on Amazon in three - four months' time. Anyone who buys before it goes to Amazon will get the preview edition, but only a small number of DVDs will be printed at this price.

David King can be contacted via his email address at davidkingmedia@yahoo.com.au

This article can also be found via the 5D website www.5d-blog.com. There you can find a veritable feast of blog articles, news items, pictures and and other mouth-watering salutations to the gods of the geeks and the nerds. We have now inherited the earth, you know.

There is also a newly launched forum on the website designed for ANYONE involved or interested in the Independent film industry related to genres of Sci-Fi, fantasy and horror. Feel free to register and contribute - Everyone is welcome!

In addition the 5D website now has PayPal Donate button. Any donations kindly made will be fed directly back to help with a podcast materials, competition prizes and other general costs etc. If you wish to contribute to the exciting growth of the website & blog then we here at 5D headquarters would be eternally grateful. If you would like your contribution to be acknowledged publicly then simply send a message via the website’s contact section and we’ll send you some love!

If all that was enough to entice to 5D land, should any of you fine people out there wish to advertise on the 5D website then have a look at the offer below.

Flesh and blood (short film)

This week I was contacted via the 5D website asking whether I'd be interested in covering a new post-apocalyptic short film, FLESH AND BLOOD. In fact, the message went on say that the film is so new that the version I was sent as a super-secret-cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die-if-I-divulge-the-source-death-scenario wasn't quite the finished product. The the edit is fully done and mixed, the only thing that isn't yet completed is the final colour. Now as I'm just a simple blogger and oblivious to the mechanics of filming (as also to most other things in life) and didn't understand a word of what that means, I nevertheless decided to read on.

It seems that the team are currently working around the clock (minus sleep and coffee breaks I assume) in which they're going to finish the whole process before their first festival. As a consequence, they are currently in the last throes of a Kickstarter campaign which is designed to help with the final post-production elements - but more of the crowdfunding campaign in a moment or two.

For those of you out there reading this blog (haven't you anything better to do?......... No, neither do I) you may be feeling a little jaded with the seemingly never-ending production line of post-apocalyptic variations that proliferate movies, TV and magazines. If truth be told, though I personally am not bored as yet with this contemporary obsession for the genre, I do foresee a time in the near future when there will be a feeling of enough is enough and another genre will become the latest flavour of the month. As long as it's not a return to sparkly vampires......

However, when it comes to this film, well my friends there's no need to worry because the genre with FLESH AND BLOOD is in safe hands, adding it's own distinctive layer to the classic zombie apocalypse 'we're all going to go stark raving crazy before we die' scenario.

SYNOPSIS

When an apocalyptic virus threatens to turn her father into a violent monster, 18 year-old Max must lead him and her younger sister, Ellen, through a perilous mountain range in hope of finding a cure on the other side. 

With Max willing to risk it all to save her father, and Ellen willing to do anything to protect herself and Max, the small family finds itself not only struggling for survival against incredible odds, but also being torn apart from within.

I really don't want to anything overly detailed about the plot of a film that runs just short of 18 minutes for the fear of giving to much away. For a start, it simply looks wonderful. There are those who may argue that with a backdrop of the stunning Californian High Sierra and the alta plana and burned forests of the Tehachapi Mountains, it would be difficult to go wrong. However all too often the incredible imagery used in small budget filming can at best simply paper over the cracks of the narrative, or at worst can detract from it completely. It has been the filmmaker's clear ambition to use the backdrop as a way towards setting the film apart from other projects of this scale, here under the directorship of Merlin Camozzi (what a bloody brilliant name), that intention is achieved.

FLESH AND BLOOD is quite simply not your run-of-the-mill zombie film. The intention of the filmmakers has been to try and make a more 'realistic' virus outbreak, in other words, a longer lasting slow building infection rather than the almost instantaneeous explosion of zombie fever that proliferates other films and TV. In essence, reflecting the true horror of a major infection or disease, the knowledge of the horrific consequences and symptoms that are to come, is often the most frightening aspect of the whole experience of any illness.

This philosophy of a Zombie virus taking it's time to fully transform a living being is what helps the film explore a number of emotional issues that such an experience would have on any group of people. The performances of the three main characters are excellent, with Hannah Telle being particularly good as she plays the young woman carrying the emotional burden of her family on her young shoulders.

I have to say that I enjoyed FLESH AND BLOOD immensely. The story of how this small insular family struggle with the knowledge that one of their number is slowly becoming transformed into something sub-human is extremely satisfying - as is the climax that it slowly builds up to. The atmosphere throughout is suitably ominous and foreboding, which successfully adds to the overall experience. All in all, this production from a young experienced team is well worth looking out for when it hits the festival circuits and beyond in the next few months.

If you don't trust what I say (and who would blame you?!) you can see the trailer right here at https://vimeo.com/166458577. 

The film is about to have its world premiere in the competition section of the 19th annual Dances With Films Festival on June 5 and then they will be at the Comic-con international Film Fest in San Diego in July.   

I mentioned earlier that the Kickstarter campaign cover the final costs of the post production process is now in its final stages. If you have the time and inclination the team would love you to check out the kickstarter link, read some of the extra nuggets of information behind the concept of the film and then if you're feeling inspired to maybe contribute to the campaign. You'll find a whole range of goodies and rewards for parting with your well-earned cash. This is a low risk project as the film has already been shot. At this stage all that remains is finishing post and getting the film out to festivals and beyond.

The link for for the kickstarter is here at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1854322141/flesh-and-blood-0 .

The Facebook page for FLESH AND BLOOD is available here: https://www.facebook.com/FleshAndBloodShortFilm .



This article can also be found via the 5D website www.5d-blog.com. There you can find a veritable feast of blog articles, news items, pictures and other mouth-watering salutations to the gods of the geeks and the nerds. We have now inherited the earth, you know. 

Orient City: Ronin & The Princess - The Kickstarter for this animated film.

A couple of days ago news of a brand Kickstarter campaign landed on the desk of 5D headquarters. Now I don't want to sound all big-headed and conceited like, I really don't, however I do get quite a number of press releases and invites each week for a range of projects. Unfortunately, time being such the precious commodity that it is, I simply don't have the capability to do them them all. 

So occasionally, when two or three requests simultaneously come to me as they did just a couple of days ago, the decision has to be relatively quick - and in the case of this article, the subject matter was decided upon in just a few moments after a small number of choice words leapt off the press release;

'Samurai', 'Spaghetti' and 'Western' were the first of them, oh and three others that seemed to go together just wonderfully well; 'ultra violent animation'. Well that was me hooked in then. Because anybody who knows me knows of my eternal obsession with Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns and the Samurai films of Akira Kurosawa et al.

Not only did this speedy press release perusal result in some hugely enjoyable research, it spawned an equally enjoyable interview with one of the film's creators, as well as the next 'legendary' 5D Website competition - but more of that last point later.

The Kickstarter launch in question was from acclaimed graphic novel, R.E.M creators Ryan Colucci and Zsombor Huszka who were proudly announcing the launch of their hand-drawn animated film, Orient City: Ronin & The Princess.

Ahh, already I can here some of you asking just what is the plot of this animated film? Well let me tell you........

"Orient City: Ronin & The Princess is a samurai spaghetti western that mixes the characteristics of the American Wild West and Feudal Asia. 

An unforgiving place, Orient City is a vertical tangle of rock and skyscrapers interconnected with waterways and cable cars. The poor, quite literally, dwell at the bottom. 

At the center of it all is Boshi, a fallen samurai who has sworn to protect a young girl whose family has been assassinated. Together they head to Orient City for one thing… revenge."

The team launched its campaign just this week to bring the striking 2D animation to life, and is already on their way toward their overall crowd-funding goal of $30,000 to help cover the total cost of the film. The link for their Kickstarter page can be found RIGHT HERE. 

If my advice is worth anything at all I would recommend going to the page straight away, if nothing else to watch the info video clip which includes a quite frankly breathtaking opening shot from the film - it looks stunning! Of course, on the crowdfunding page you can also see the plethora of rich information about the film itself, the perks available for contributing and further examples of the incredible storyline created by Ryan Colucci and the stunning artwork from Zsombor Huszka.

So, as I mentioned earlier, I was lucky enough to arrange not only a fascinating interview with Ryan Colucci, but in addition Ryan kindly agreed to offer up a beautiful original art print drawn by Zsombor. The competition question can be found at the end of this interview and it, together with further details on how to enter can be found on the competition page of the 5D Website at www.5d-blog.com. 

So without further ado - the interview bit with Ryan Colucci.........

Q) Before we get into the specifics of your latest project - c'mon, tell us about yourself.... You know, influences, inspirations etc etc! 

I grew up as a child of the 80s, so the Star Wars films basically defined my childhood. I love new and interesting worlds, and I love world-building. But the biggest overall influences on me were the things that I was repeatedly watching everyday. TMNT cartoons, Muppet Babies, Ducktales, Saved by the Bell, Charles in Charge, etc… It has cultivated this odd 80s sensibility and outlook on the world. I also spent a lot of time just sitting on the floor in the living room while my dad watched old westerns. That has left an indelible mark on me.

Since my current project is hand-drawn animation, we are definitely influenced by Miyazaki, specifically for me Princess Mononoke. But I guess Ghost in the Shell is the one that stands out the most. It was the first time I saw an animated film that was definitely not for children. It wasn’t until then that I realized I wasn’t alone in the world. It transcends animation – it’s one of my favorite films, period.

Q) So Orient seems to have a plethora of flavours;  samurai spaghetti western that mixes the characteristics of the American Wild West and Feudal Asia! So how did the story begin in your mind & how long has it been evolving?

Like I said, I love world-building. There’s a difference writing a story or movie that exists in our world and seeing it come to life and creating a unique world that exists somewhere other than my head. And that has always been my dream – to see that come to life.

I didn’t specifically have this world in mind – that didn’t happen until Zsombor Huszka and I were on the road hitting as many conventions as we could to promote our graphic novel R.E.M. You have a lot of down time in the car and at a convention table, so he was always sketching. We both love samurais, and he loves to draw samurais, so he sketched a samurai Batman (which we finished as an art print) and then we started spit-balling ideas… And Orient City was born.

We were both interested in making an animated film that isn’t necessarily for children and we wanted the world to have this epic, grand scale… beautiful but ultra-violent at the same time.

Q) The animation work of your collaborator, Zsombor Huszka is stunning. Tell us about him & how you work together.

He is based out Budapest and was actually a member of the Hungarian national fencing team. He’s also a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt.  So he’s not your traditional artist.   

Even though we are a world apart, we have a short-hand working together. It started during R.E.M. and continues today. We spend a lot of time going back and forth on design work. Once that is done, bringing it to life is more about labor and small tweaks.  

For Orient City, the most important guideline to keep in mind is that everything from the smallest details to the choreography of a fight scene has to have both Western and Asian movie elements in it. If Zsombor creates a typical western wanted flyer, he makes it a scroll and puts it on rice paper with faded Kanji symbols on it. 

Q) The Kickstarter campaign has a couple of weeks to go as yet. How's the campaign going?

The response to the hand-drawn animation has been very kind to say the least. Let’s hope my script lives up to that.

This thing is going to very, very violent… while also being quite stunning to look at.

Q) Tell us about some of the stunning perks for contributors to the campaign (I especially like the scroll print).

Thanks… I can’t take credit for that one. It was all Zsombor. The opening shot of the film is rather epic. Our city stretches vertically, and we start at the bottom and boom up until we arrive at a saloon. Zsombor wanted a print that showed the entirety of that opening shot – and since our film is obviously inspired by Asian-culture/themes, doing a scroll print just made sense.  

Besides the film itself, which you can get as a digital download, DVD or Bluray, most of the rewards are based around the artwork. We have a series of art prints that reflect samurai or wild west culture. My favorite is probably The Dark Ronin (Batman as a Samurai) – which is actually the start of this whole world.

We also have personal commissions. Something cool that relates back to the film is drawing someone as an ink-washed avatar. Because the film is traditional animation, we thought it appropriate to offer animated cels. You select a frame (out of 8 from the final film) and we are going to print each layer of animation on a cel – which is going to look very cool once framed.  

Then we have some traditional things like the Orient City T-Shirt and two versions of a full-sized movie poster.  

Q) I know this isn't your first Kickstarter campaign. Tell us a little about what planning goes into a successful campaign (without giving too much away!)

It’s extremely hard to plan for what people want.  If we knew that I wouldn’t be so stressed. So we put as much as we can into it in terms of information and artwork… trying to make what would traditionally be black text on a white background to better represent our project. We are artists, so it’s the one thing we can do to spruce up the campaign.  

I learned a lot from R.E.M. in terms of what rewards were working or not working, both in terms of how hard they were to deliver and what people were responding to. In large part, I put way too many rewards on that one and watered it down. I fear that maybe I did that here too. I don’t have some great answer because I’m still learning as I go. And a movie and a graphic novel are different animals.

The truth is, my friends and family don’t necessarily like the same things I do… which means my reach isn’t that great.  So I’ve put a lot of time into social media.  But it’s a very fluid thing, I don’t know what posts will get traction. I try to post a lot of quotes from filmmakers or actors I respect, or movies I love. It’s not easy to find 350 quotes, most of them I have put on an image… and I can’t really say if that has made a difference. However, it has been fun interacting with like-minded people. I spent so much time alone working, it’s good to have a conversation – even if it is taking place over social media instead of in-person.

Q) What is the current climate like for crowdfunding campaigns, graphic novels and animated films?

I’m sort of in the thick of it, so I don’t have a full grasp yet.  We had a lot of great feedback and success with R.E.M. – but Orient City is still early in the process.  I can only work my butt off and hope for the best. I can tell you that we are going to kill ourselves on the film. We want every frame to be something you could pull out, make a print out of and be proud to hang on your wall.

Q) So the Kickstarter campaign will hopefully be a success. What is the timeframe for the completion and release of Orient?

I hope you are right! We will be done with everything by December 1. That gives us time to not only finish the animation itself, but we have scheduled enough time plus a pad to put together/create all of the rewards.

Q) What are the other future plans of Ryan Colucci?

Right now the main focus is on Orient City: Ronin & The Princess. 

Last year I directed my first live-action film, Suburban Cowboy. It’s a small film… a gritty thriller that is being sold right now, so I try and keep myself busy and not freak out about that.

We actually did hand-drawn animated titles for that and they were nominated for an Excellence in Title Design at this year’s SXSW festival, against massive films like Spectre and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Q) Oh, and I almost forgot. You've graciously agreed to offer a prize of The Dark Ronin 11x17 Art Print on the 5D completion page of the website. What is your question for the entrants to answer?

A Fistful of Dollars is an unofficial remake of this samurai film?

The Prize - The Dark Ronin 11x17 Art Print
To win go to the competition page at
www.5d-blog.com

This article can also be found via the 5D website www.5d-blog.com. There you can find a veritable feast of blog articles, news items, pictures and other mouth-watering salutations to the gods of the geeks and the nerds. We have now inherited the earth, you know.

A little whisper about 5D, Blasting News & Game of Thrones.

It was with great pleasure that 5D last week agreed to contribute a series of news articles for the social media phenomenon that is Blasting News.

There may indeed be some of you who don't know what's happening with those fab and groovy hipster kids on the street, Daddy-O (I think that's the modern vernacular). Well Blasting News is a fully independent online magazine based on the principle of social journalism and powered by the voices of thousands of people called Blasters. So now 5D is, apart from being quite possibly the finest Scifi/fantasy & horror website on the planet, now a blaster. I know I've been called worse.

If truth be told I was a little unsure at first what specifically to contribute, because each news article had to be in essence relatively short (no more than 800 words) and punchy. Of course, those poor unfortunates who have regularly read any of my blog articles will know fine well that if there’s anything I particularly struggle with, it’s being short and punchy – waffling and punch drunk is more my style I’m afraid. And to those who muttered that I can add to the list of struggles piffling little things such punctuation, grammar and a reasonable level of interest – well you can leave the room now. No matter how correct you may well be.

So there I was, frantically trying to think of the angle my news pieces should take until I finally stumbled onto what should have been blindingly obvious in the first place. The decision I eventually made was to provide a few select musings each week on a specific TV programme, but not a full review mind you. Because that would imply a level of detail, structure and expert subject knowledge that would be better left to those reviewers who take themselves far more seriously (and rightly so) than I'm capable of. No, the plan would be to put forward to the unsuspecting general public a few musings each week........ But on which programme? 

Well for those of you who took notice I'd this article's title I suppose that it's not exactly a secret. So Game of Thrones it is then. 

I  mentioned earlier my initial reticence about contributing to BlastingNews.com, there was however another reason for that. There is a saying that has developed over the years about life on the Internet that I rather like which goes something like this; There are two steps to causing a major fight on the Internet. 1) State an opinion; 2) Then wait one minute.

Because inevitably, once news articles like this are published the result is a volume of responses such as "I can't believe you didn't mention........!" Or the "are you sure you watched the same program as me??!!! Then there's the age-old classic " I think you'll find your talking absolute bullshit and I hope your dog dies a slow painful death..." - or words to that effect. Well, it's my article, my rules and my own particular take on a show which happens to be just a little bit special to me. But, feel free to disagree and suggest alternatives as much as your hearts desire - after all we're all entitled to our opinions and will probably have a multitude of viewpoints, just don't call me names - I'm delicate you know. In due course there will be a direct link to the 5D Blasting News articles via the 5D website at www.5d-blog.com. 

However for now you can access my pearls of wisdom (sic) via my Blasting News profile RIGHT HERE.

So far the I've managed to 'cover' the 2nd and third episode of season 6, which of course includes the resurrection of a certain man who knows nothing, the return of Bran, Arya being no-one, Tyrion still having the best one-liners and Lena Headey still rocking the gorgeous short hair look as Cersei. Of course much more than that has happened, some of which I've even remembered to talk about in the news article...... I said, 'some'. 

As well as reading the aforementioned selections of attempts at proper type news articles you also have the option of following me on the site - though of course there's  no pressure to do that. I mean, it's not as if it will provide me with all your personal details, online passwords and home address - believe me, I've checked and unfortunately it gives me nothing about you. In all said and done, it's just a bit of fun and essentially yet another medium to enable me to further talk about myself. This of course is what it's all about!

Oh and be warned, because in October when The Walking Dead returns to our screens I'll be doing the same for that series. I know, there's no escaping me.


This article can also be found via the 5D website www.5d-blog.com. There you can find a veritable feast of blog articles, news items, pictures and other mouth-watering salutations to the gods of the geeks and the nerds. We have now inherited the earth, you know.

Dark (2015)

DARK (2015)

Genre: Thriller

Length: 93 min

Director: Nick Basile

Writer: Elias

Executive Producer: Joe Dante

Starring: Whitney Able (Monsters), Alexandra Breckenridge (The Walking Dead), Brendan Sexton III (Boys Don't Cry) and Michael Eklund (The Call)

with Redman (Seed of Chucky)

A few months ago there was a power cut in our part of the North East of Scotland after some of the worst snow storms here in many a year. Up until that point the day had been rather mundane, I was away at my day job, it was the middle of the week so therefore I was fast losing the will to live. It was approaching 4pm when the power went off in our office. The lights went out, the computers went silent and perhaps the most frightening aspect of all, the coffee machine stopped working. I won't say that there was panic, but the thought of no coffee was enough to send some of us into an ever-increasing feeling of apprehension. 

It became clear within the hour from a radio announcement that this was going to be one of those rare extended power outages, so the powers that be decided to let us go home to the relative safety and comfort of our homes...... well at least that was the intention because when I eventually reached my house about an hour later, well lets just say that I now know my place in the hierarchy of survival in my family. The thing is, my family (wife, son, daughter, 2 dogs and 2 cats) had heard the news that the power could well be out for a couple of days, such was the damage that the weather had wreaked on the local infrastructure.

They had quickly come to the communal decision between them that the well stocked food in the refrigerator may well be wasted as it quickly defrosted, something had to be done. Did they think of putting the food safely locked up outside the house (remember it was a snow storm) - nope. Did they think of connecting the refrigerator power supply to a spare battery that was there doing nothing in the garage? - nope. Instead they decided that the only thing to do was to eat all the food that was in there, all 5 days worth of it........ well at least it wouldn't go to waste.

By the time I reached home there was barely any food left. I entered the kitchen to see my dogs eating my supply of Italian meat section - all that was left for me was a couple of plain biscuits.......bastards.

Well OK, on the scale of things my losing my supply of fine Italian meats in a blackout may not be the theme for a great movie, however the notion of what the mind of a human being is capable of experiencing in such circumstances is well wroth exploring. And this is exactly what this remarkable film DARK does.

"Set in NYC during the blackout of 2003, Kate, a struggling 30-something model with a troubled past, has just moved into her girlfriend Leah's Brooklyn loft, but already doubts about their relationship has begun to loom. When Leah leaves for the weekend, Kate unexpectedly finds herself alone in the apartment in the midst of the worst blackout in North American history. 

As darkness falls over the city, Kate's  paranoia grows and she begins to believe someone in the building is stalking her. With no one to help her and escape out of reach, Kate is forced to confront her deepest fears as she fights to survive through the night."

The backdrop of DARK is based upon the actual blackout back in 2003 which affected huge swathes of the Northeastern and Midwestern US, together with some southern Canadian provinces. The power cut lasted for a few hours for a lucky few, others were not quite so lucky with some areas being without power for between two days and up to a week for some of the more remote parts. It was regarded at the time to be the world's second largest blackout which overall effected over 10 million Canadians and up to 45 million people in the affect U.S states. So alright, maybe my tale of blackout isn't quite as extreme as that one, but it's all relative.

When I received the request a couple of weeks ago to have a sneak peek at an online screener for this film two things immediately persuaded me to do so. Firstly the story was written by a past acquaintance of 5D, Elias, who was responsible for the hugely enjoyable GUT, a film that didn't hold back on it's psychological and violent punches. If you want to see what I mean then you can read the article RIGHT HERE.

The second persuading element was the connection to DARK with the role of executive producer being taken up by non-other than cinematic legend, Joe Dante. Yes that's right, only Joe bloody Dante! He of Gremlins, The Howling, Piranha and Innerspace to name but a very few. If that's not enough to sell anyone into seeing a film, well I really don't know what is.

This is a film that in some ways took me by surprise, both in it's study of the psychological complexities that can impact on an individual who is already in the throes of mental fragility, but also in the willingness to be disciplined in taking its time to tell a story that is sometimes deceptive in its portrayal of acute emotion. I must admit that the opening scene between Kate (Whitney Abel) and Leah (Alexandra Breckenridge.... yes, she from The Walking Dead) is quite simply electrifying - just don't watch it, ahem, with any children present.......wow!

However, the relationship between the two women is clearly already in troubled waters, the strain seemingly caused by the long-standing psychological issues which are tormenting Kate. These issues are currently being amplified by the problems between the two women, with the very issues plaguing Kate about to significantly explode when the blackout hits and she finds herself alone in a darkened city to accompany her darkened mind.

This leads us to one of the main strengths of DARK, because the intention of writer Elias and director Nick Basile seems quite clear, to show how the blackout is responsible for the speedy psychological disintegration of a individual, and so acting as a metaphor for how the social disintegration can also unfold on such occasions. To be able to to this, time and patience has to be spent in order to fully appreciate the desperate struggle of Kate to keep hold of her sanity in the face of an increasingly unseen terror. There are some who watch this that might become impatient with the periods of apparently little happening, but this it one of its strengths the as the result is a sometimes implicit yet constant increase of suspense and psychosis.

Another undoubted strength of the movie is the central performance of Whitney Able as Kate, for she is quite simply stunning. In truth she needed to be because the whole success of this examination of a fractured mind rests on a completely authentic and convincing portrayal by the lead actor. And convincing she is, moving effortlessly between ever changing moods of bewilderment, despair and terror as she battles her inner demons. I predict great things for Miss Able, great things indeed.

If you add to that a strong supporting cast, particularly the equally wonderful Breckenridge, a fine script and some inspired lighting and editing which belies the films low budget you have a package that should not fail. I'm sure it won't.

What we have in DARK is a genuinely suspenseful psychological study of the effects of isolation and entrapment. There will be the inevitable comparisons to a certain Mr Hitchcock and his predilection for ripping a vulnerable gorgeous young blonde woman from the secure trappings of normality and placing her in the grasp of many of society's mortal and unspoken fears. I have been lucky enough to have been given the chance to interview the films director in the near future and I wouldn't be surprised to find out that this was a conscious homage to Hitchcocks methodology.

A thoroughly enjoyable movie experience.

You can find out much more about this remarkable film at the official DARK website http://www.darkthefilm.com/#synopsis

This article can also be found via the 5D website www.5d-blog.com. There you can find a veritable feast of blog articles, news items, pictures and other mouth-watering salutations to the gods of the geeks and the nerds. We have now inherited the earth, you know.