Dead Sea (2014)

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Pro'sSound: claims it's 5.1 surround, it is not. The film is more like camera sound and the highs and lows sound great through a surround sound TV speaker system if you keep playing with the remote.Visual: Every shot is blown out and most not in focus. Plug ins/filters are horrible and the camera shakes more than a ship in the ocean during a storm. DizzyDirecting: He was the lead actor in the movie. He was great and with lines like Your Al Qaeda and whispers I can't see anyone else doing this. It was so prodigious.Actors: Auriel is atrocious, Castor is the ringer, SGT. Kier steals the show. Best comedy I watched in years. Old man or Dad of scientist was epic, and the rest of the cast deserve standing ovations.Editing: crayons and glueVFX: the monster was scary and I was in sheer terror the whole time. It looked like a hot dog under the water. Then when the monster gets to kill it was so scary I almost had to call a priest.Con's there is none the movie is so perfect I don't think you can compare anything to it. Brandon Slagle should direct every movie in the world. He is the greatest director.

I picked this up (Family Video) because of the box, thinking it would be a Sharknado or Sharktapus and instead got a long episode of Breaking Bad with a snake monster and its babies. You don't see them too much. The story is more about a town of unsavory drug dealers and other lowlife. The story is about a Marine Biologist with a drinking problem who is sent to investigate dying fish in a lake but it turns out its the same town she grew up in and left when she was a teenager, without a word to her dad. The truth of the matter is she's just in time to be offered up to a snake-creature that shows up every thirty years to get a sacrifice so everything can be gravy.The movie has almost nothing to do with the monster on the box. You don't even see the mother and her babies very often. The movie is more about the drug dealers in the town and there's a lot of chasing and guns, not a lot of snakenado. I liked the action but just wish it had more of what the DVD cover had. This happens a lot lately with these kinds of movies, the DVD cover doesn't have anything to do with what you get.

Although it wasn't what I expected, the film is very good! Devanny Pinn, Alexis Iacono, and Brandon Slagle are all scene stealers throughout the film, but truthfully, the entire cast is great in their roles. I feel that the film itself is more of an action/thriller than a horror film though. But, as a credit to Brandon, he does put the film's roots in the horror genre, and doesn't make a mockery of it like other water-monster films. Sharknado, I'm looking at you. He also respects the craft enough to give the monster enough credit to where it is a formidable foe, leaving mankind helpless in its wake. The score in the film is solid as well, assisting the mood of the scene like it's supposed to, rather than trying to make more money off of an album. Some of the set design is amazing, especially the beach of dead fish (you'll have to see it). There is also a ton of cameos in this film from the indie film scene, including Truth Or Dare's Ryan Kaiser, and indie icon James Duval, so what's not to like?But, at the end of the day, although this is a monster flick, I felt the film itself is about family. It's about coping with the loss of loved ones, the reuniting of a father and daughter, and trying to escape the past and the places that you grew up. It's a very cool film with a lot of intensity! And if you have to chance to see it during its premier run around the US, I highly suggest checking it out! There's action, drama, monsters, and chicks in bikinis!

I saw Dead Sea at the Stanley Hotel Premiere. Good story. This is a study in "small town" mentality as much as it is a scary movie. Characters are drawn "back" to their hometown even after they have "escaped". The interactions between characters who have not see each other in years was nicely done. I liked that they did not rely on the monster too heavily. Best scary movies let your own imagination fill in the gaps and do not rely on gimmicks and props. Only complaint is that the filming locations were so different. Town was dry and barren but then the lake area (also part of the town) was green and beautiful. Overall, film is enjoyable and has enough going on I would watch it again.