Hyde
10-08-2008, 08:00 PM
Written and Directed by:
Richard Blackburn
Lesley Gilb ... Lemora
Cheryl Smith ... Lila Lee
William Whitton ... Alvin Lee
Hy Pyke ... The Bus Driver
Maxine Ballantyne ... The Old Woman
Richard Blackburn ... The Reverend
Plot:
A 13 year old girl, raised during the era of prohibition, was brought up the daughter of a violent, murdering, gangster. When her father finally ran for his life as a wanted man, she turned to the local baptist church, where she was taken in by the reverand and taught to love God.
Darkness once again enters her life, when she recieves a strange letter, telling her that her father is on his deathbed, and asking for her. She must come, and come alone.
Lila soon realizes she has been tricked, as her destination seems embedded in a possessed town, full of monsters, werewolves, and vampires. Only Lemora, her host, seems uneffected....or is she?
Review:
This is one of those movies that is good due to the atmosphere that is contains. The movie is very fairytale in nature, but not for children, due to the subject matter. THis film was banned by the Catholic Descency board when it came out, and I expected it to be far more excessive. This is actually pretty tame....and shows how far we have come as a society since the time of this film's release.
Pros:
The directing is done completely for mood and style. If you are like me and enjoy the Argento use of color and lighting, then this movie will satisfy you. If you crave a deep plot with a complex story...don't look here.
The goal here was to artistically capture all the errieness possible.
The color, the visuals....the cackling laughter of children at a child's prayer, the use of makeup and the way the light hits upon the deformaties of the possessed....beautiful, simply beautiful.
Acting was good, Lila(Cheryl Smith), is amazing as the young girl, going through much what Jonathan Harker went through upon discovering the cursed Dracula.
She captures fear, loneliness, and pain....as we hope for her, and feel for her throughout the film.
Lemora(Lesley Gilb) is easy on the eyes, and creepy, but her acting needs were very undemanding. Perhaps the most impressive acting was from the supporting cast, Hy Pyke(The Bus Driver)...what a creepy old dude!
Maxine Ballantyne(The Old Woman) Oh my God...this is one CRAZY bitch!
Richard Blackburn(The Reverend) as I am from the south, I can tell you he NAILED the accent and attitude of some of the overaggressive holy-rollers, while still being a GOOD guy.
The music was beautiful....the melodies ranging from music box like tunes, to the dark and sinister.
The story was basic, as the Johnathan Harker story from Dracula, makes its way into a young girls life. The ambiguity of the ending, and the way Lemora attempts to seduce Lila is BRILLIANT!
Cons:
Since this movie tries to be COMPLETELY atmosphere.....the realism is definatly lacking....
THis brings about very unbelievable dialogue....that is never fully explained.
This will make some viewers roll their eyes.
At the attempt to be artistic, some feeling is actually lost.
The ending is a little TOO ambigious. I only wish it had more. Of course, at 85 minutes, it is a short movie.
The main ballad was played far too much...it got old after a while. Instead of feeling like I was enjoying a lovely song, I kept thinking, 'oh no....not that song again.'
I think part of the controversy of this movie is that everyone was trying to seduce this young girl, and she was only 13. (even though the actress was 17 at the time)
This seemed VERY pedophilec to people....but of course, during those EARLY years of the 20th century, it wasn't entirely uncommon for a girl that young to be married to an older man. This was meant to show the sign of the times...the problem? IT never communicates this properly.
Overall:
A very good ART vampire movie, that is fun if you want to see a classic style vampire film. However, it is not for the average viewer, being it is made to watch as a nonrealistic piece.
Definatly a true "B" piece of filmmaking....done well.
Overall Grade:
B
Richard Blackburn
Lesley Gilb ... Lemora
Cheryl Smith ... Lila Lee
William Whitton ... Alvin Lee
Hy Pyke ... The Bus Driver
Maxine Ballantyne ... The Old Woman
Richard Blackburn ... The Reverend
Plot:
A 13 year old girl, raised during the era of prohibition, was brought up the daughter of a violent, murdering, gangster. When her father finally ran for his life as a wanted man, she turned to the local baptist church, where she was taken in by the reverand and taught to love God.
Darkness once again enters her life, when she recieves a strange letter, telling her that her father is on his deathbed, and asking for her. She must come, and come alone.
Lila soon realizes she has been tricked, as her destination seems embedded in a possessed town, full of monsters, werewolves, and vampires. Only Lemora, her host, seems uneffected....or is she?
Review:
This is one of those movies that is good due to the atmosphere that is contains. The movie is very fairytale in nature, but not for children, due to the subject matter. THis film was banned by the Catholic Descency board when it came out, and I expected it to be far more excessive. This is actually pretty tame....and shows how far we have come as a society since the time of this film's release.
Pros:
The directing is done completely for mood and style. If you are like me and enjoy the Argento use of color and lighting, then this movie will satisfy you. If you crave a deep plot with a complex story...don't look here.
The goal here was to artistically capture all the errieness possible.
The color, the visuals....the cackling laughter of children at a child's prayer, the use of makeup and the way the light hits upon the deformaties of the possessed....beautiful, simply beautiful.
Acting was good, Lila(Cheryl Smith), is amazing as the young girl, going through much what Jonathan Harker went through upon discovering the cursed Dracula.
She captures fear, loneliness, and pain....as we hope for her, and feel for her throughout the film.
Lemora(Lesley Gilb) is easy on the eyes, and creepy, but her acting needs were very undemanding. Perhaps the most impressive acting was from the supporting cast, Hy Pyke(The Bus Driver)...what a creepy old dude!
Maxine Ballantyne(The Old Woman) Oh my God...this is one CRAZY bitch!
Richard Blackburn(The Reverend) as I am from the south, I can tell you he NAILED the accent and attitude of some of the overaggressive holy-rollers, while still being a GOOD guy.
The music was beautiful....the melodies ranging from music box like tunes, to the dark and sinister.
The story was basic, as the Johnathan Harker story from Dracula, makes its way into a young girls life. The ambiguity of the ending, and the way Lemora attempts to seduce Lila is BRILLIANT!
Cons:
Since this movie tries to be COMPLETELY atmosphere.....the realism is definatly lacking....
THis brings about very unbelievable dialogue....that is never fully explained.
This will make some viewers roll their eyes.
At the attempt to be artistic, some feeling is actually lost.
The ending is a little TOO ambigious. I only wish it had more. Of course, at 85 minutes, it is a short movie.
The main ballad was played far too much...it got old after a while. Instead of feeling like I was enjoying a lovely song, I kept thinking, 'oh no....not that song again.'
I think part of the controversy of this movie is that everyone was trying to seduce this young girl, and she was only 13. (even though the actress was 17 at the time)
This seemed VERY pedophilec to people....but of course, during those EARLY years of the 20th century, it wasn't entirely uncommon for a girl that young to be married to an older man. This was meant to show the sign of the times...the problem? IT never communicates this properly.
Overall:
A very good ART vampire movie, that is fun if you want to see a classic style vampire film. However, it is not for the average viewer, being it is made to watch as a nonrealistic piece.
Definatly a true "B" piece of filmmaking....done well.
Overall Grade:
B