Body (2015)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Beautiful, moving film.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Like most mumblecore movies making inroads into horror, this one has believable characters -- it takes a stand by putting the three characters a class level up from "generic suburban"; one of them mentions being in law school, though the plot summaries describe them ass "coeds" -- interacting with plausible (and occasionally hilarious) dialogue, life situations (the little brother who comes out for a smoke, persistently), and a little culture commentary ("Tell your father he's not going to get re-elected if ... "). The result is, you don't really see *it* coming, the way the wind is taken out from underneath you, the way you're breathing heavy like the characters ... well not *all* of them.For that, you'll have to watch the movie!VERDICT: Professional indie, slyly made and a great use of locations and few actors. More weight is given to each. Your time won't be wasted, and it'll stay with you, like you learned something new. Plus horror great Larry Fessenden! How. Can. You. Go wrong?

For a movie that starts out with having refreshingly realistic portrayals of young women (for a movie of this genre) it's almost painful to bear witness to the very conclusion of the film as it goes against those very portrayals.Put under pressure humans can be driven to go against their nature of course but the very end there simply was no need for it, just add a last minute twist for the sake of adding a last minute twist is just poor writing.But the road there is still enjoyable so I'll still give it a 6, even though the ending truly was pushing it.No complaints regarding the acting or script etc otherwise though.

Greetings again from the darkness. Positioned as a "thriller", this Oak Cliff Film Festival entry is more psychological study than fright-fest or whodunit. Co-written and co-directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, the film takes the rare and welcome approach of placing twenty-something females in the role of accidental trouble-makers who must make morally-clouded decisions under stress.Home for the holidays, three long-time friends are hanging out together on Christmas Eve – just drinking wine, playing Scrabble, smoking pot, and teasing each other. After a "dark" opening featuring a frantic 911 call, the film is allowed to breathe for the next 15- 20 minutes as we get to know the personalities of Holly (Helen Rogers), Cali (Alexandra Turshen), and Mel (Lauren Molina). Their banter … and the fallout from triple word "satin" … provide us with the insight to connect with each of the ladies.Seeking a chance to cut loose and enjoy their "girl time", they head over to a mansion supposedly belonging to an uncle of one of the girls. Booze, video games, laughing and dancing seem innocent enough until Arthur the groundskeeper (Larry Fessenden) enters the house and confronts the girls. While it sounds like the set-up to this week's horror film, it has more in common with Very Bad Things (1998). A tragic accident forces the girls into discussions and decision-making that's not usually associated with Christmas Eve.What keeps our interest isn't so much the situation, it's the fact that we are rarely exposed to on screen women in such a mess. The varying female personalities negotiate the next best steps and the alpha in the group may or may not be the smartest (remember Scrabble!). With their own morals pushing and pulling their thoughts, it's fascinating that a trumped up attempted-rape accusation (and groan inducing evidence tampering) may be their best defense.After a couple of twists, it's interesting to see how far one's moral compass can be adjusted for the sake of self-preservation, and to see how the bond's of friendship can be either a life preserver or cement boots. Don't look to this for your Friday night fright … though there is one jump-inducing moment … but rather view it as a chance to ask yourself how you would react in such an accidentally tragic turn of events.

Written, produced and directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, this ever-increasingly intense psychological thriller will make you question your own morals and values. Starring Helen Rogers, Alexandra Turshen, and Lauren Molina these three older college aged kids are home on vacation. Finding themselves a bit bored and feeling "pathetic" for not having anything to do on the weekend, they go out to have a bit of fun. The fun, seemingly innocuous, turns horribly wrong and with every wrong turn, there's another one just ahead of them. Each girl has a different perspective and as each decision is made, the waters become muddier and muddier until those waters are completely black. "Body" is an amazingly intense film. The situation at hand becomes realistically horrific and the true personalities of each of the girls becomes more apparent. It's truly a gripping and disturbing psychological analysis of what happens to people in a dire situation. You'll be on the edge of your seat and talking to the screen (even if you aren't a "screen talker") trying to convince someone to make a different decision. "Body" will impact you long after you see it and you'll be asking yourself what you would do or perhaps what would your own daughter do in a situation like this. "Body" is a gem of a find if you enjoy intense psychological thrillers! With superb acting, clear writing and directing, this film is a success in its genre!