Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Frank the Bastard (prod. 2013, released 2015)

This is topic Frank the Bastard (prod. 2013, released 2015) in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 07-22-2015, 10:16 PM:

This is an indie thriller/horror pic that I gather has struggled to secure distribution, which I've just shown as a members' special screening (we do a free "sneak peek" show for our members every month or so). It's a very, very strong movie and deserves to do well.

The best way to describe it is a horror film against a regional backdrop: think Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Children of the Corn or Straw Dogs only set in coastal Maine. Some of the dialog and characters reminded me a bit of the John Sayles's regional films (e.g. Sunshine State, Silver City and Limbo), too.

The plot: in an attempt to get over her divorce, the heroine and her friend from college days take a road trip from NYC to the little village on the Maine coast, where she was born and lived until her mother's death at age 6. During the opening scenes, it emerges that she was born on a hippie commune/farm in the '70s where there were some distinctly gnarly goings on, not least the circumstances of her mom's demise. From that point the plot becomes one of investigation/detective work, and I'll stop there to avoid spoilers.

The script, acting, direction, use of locations and cinematography are all a clear level above what you'd expect from a crew working on their first major feature. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

For those in LA, it starts a one-week run at the Laemmle NoHo on Friday. It deserves a much wider release.