Dead Weight (2012)

The Age of Commercialism

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Watched this last night and what a pleasant surprise it was. Yeah the budget is low, but in a nod to the walking dead the filmmaker has chosen to focus on what the effects of living in the outbreak do to a person.Instead of spending money of loads of crap make up effect(like the 6th extinction) they have concentrated on the characters and a better story than some other films in the genre.Like the main character who is a meek and mild slacker who then goes on a downward spiral. And it's not just the zombies that get the brunt of his change in personality.Well worth a watch

Budgets don't make a movie but they can help… "Dead Weight" suffers a lot of the same pitfalls that a lot of low budget zombie films suffer from. The camera work and editing are pretty sketchy and some of the acting isn't the best. However, the acting is clearly a lot better than hundreds of other low budget movies I've seen in my life. Additionally, the film is a pretty neat experiment in the outbreak genre because it decides to not show the infected for most of the film and leaves them to be a demon in your imagination. However, they are revealed at the end and…they are very underwhelming.However, the ultimate killer in this film for me was the complete lack of urgency in the story. The story revolves around a character who, through this outbreak, is trying to get to his girlfriend and meet in Wausau, Wisconsin. For most of the beginning of the film, I never really got the feeling that he was that committed to this course of action and then *BAM* he suddenly is super determined to get to her and will kill anyone who gets in his way. It was a drastic change in tone and really hurt me from getting into the film."Dead Weight" definitely held some potential and was a neat experiment. Sadly, the experiment didn't completely succeed with me and only proved to be a "One and Done" type of film for me.

I recently saw this film on Wisconsin Public Television's "Directors' Cut" program, preceded by a Q & A with the filmmakers. "Dead Weight" is a romance film, interwoven with a post-apocalyptic suspense film, shot in a relatively short period of time, for a very modest budget.It follows a survivor, Charlie, as he makes his way to Wausau WI, where he hopes to meet up with his girlfriend Samantha. Along the way, the narrative cuts between his surviving in the present, and flashbacks to his relationship with Samantha.A note before my review: When I consider a film's quality, I do not grade low-budget indie films with more leniency than large studio films. The tools of filmmaking have advanced to the point where professional quality can be achieved on an indie level. Indie films do not have to hold themselves accountable to "least objectionable programing" standards and therefore can be more intellectually or thematically daring in their storytelling, and therefor have an advantage over big-budget films.Review: "Dead Weight" is a film that left me saying: "almost".There are sublime moments in this film - moments where Acting, Writing, and Cinematography come together with beautiful results. That the filmmakers were able to do this on such a short film shoot and low budget is a testament to them.However... for every one of these moments, there was a moment where quality in cinematography, acting, and writing was lacking, unfortunately to the point where it took me out of the story.Additionally, much of the character development and important plot points either felt very forced, or the tension that should have been present was non-existent. Much of this forced narrative is in regards Charlie's decent into madness. When Charlie murders the friendly couple his group meets, he does so for the simple fact they say Wausau is overrun with dead. Is this double-murder unexpected? Yes. Is it also without any context, and thereby feels gratuitous and pointless? Again, yes.There are many such moments like this that will leave you puzzled, and not because you're looking for deeper meaning. When the group is raiding a farmhouse, they hear a noise from upstairs and because of the unknown danger, they decide to leave. So what do they do? Casually stroll down the driveway, but not before having a rather vocal conversation outside in plain sight. Not something you should do if you think there might be armed homeowners who will kill anyone who's on their land. Or shortly thereafter, Charlie goes on a rant that the group is running low on water. Meanwhile, behind the group is a pond.It's these moments, and many others, that hamstring what could potentially be a very good movie. As I said, it has it's moments where it transcends its budget, and is absolutely beautiful. Some of the interactions between Charlie and Samantha are wonderfully well done. It's just a shame the filmmakers didn't give themselves more time and more money to realize their full creative potential, and do the script justice.

I had the pleasure of being able to attend the premiere screening among a small intimate crowd at the Time Community Theater in Oshkosh, WI.The movie, well, where to begin. I have nothing but love for this movie. It takes me back to when movies were not filled with huge amounts of special effects, but were great because of the story, because of the actors and their performances. This to me is what makes Dead Weight a great movie. It touches on many nerves, it hits you in the gut and in the head with it's thoughtful but truthful portrayal of a man who will do anything and everything to keep a promise to make it to his destination.It's not a long movie, it actually feels much longer I believe because of the depth in which the story unfolds.In the end, I was left wanting. Wanting to know more of the characters and the world that exists in Dead Weight. If you a Walking Dead fan, you know what I mean, it is as if, as soon as one episode is done, you are excited for more! Lastly, even though it only has been a couple of weeks since seeing it. I already want to see it again. Time to buy the DVD.