Desolate
(2013/Wild Eye/MVD DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C Extras: B Film: D
Remember
Everything For Soon There Will Be Nothing.
Depressing
is the word that comes to find when describing Desolate - a
cheaply shot independent film that takes place around an apocalyptic
event in a city and stars a young man who loses the love of
his life around the same time. Trying to channel Donnie Darko
or something of the like, the film starts out with our main character
(played by Jez Bonham) who drags a lawn chair down the street and
sets it on a hilltop... waiting for the nuclear blast to happen.
This one scene is almost interesting (though could have been shot
wider and more cinematically) but then the film takes a sharp nose
dive.
From
here we enter a depressing date Jez has with a cute young woman where
he quickly proves that he isn't over a recent breakup with his
ex-girlfriend, who this girl happened to know by chance of fate (or
plot convenience). Soon, young Jez starts drinking profusely and
blaming his best friend for sleeping around with his ex. Before he
knows it amidst his sulking, the apocalypse happens and monsters
start literally banging on his door (sort of like M Night's The
Village).
Desolate
is just that and has no relatable characters as our lead is a
complete jerk and his friends not much better. Coupled with close
ups galore and a complete lack of style, the film comes off as
amateur. Haven't these guys heard of wide shots or cinematic style?
If you are going to do an end of the world-type story you have
to be more original than just angsty.
This
film must have been directly exported with no color correction or any
sort of color scheme as the standard definition transfer fails to
impress. The colors are dull and very video-like, with many shots
out of focus and some scenes severely lacking contrast or saturation
trading instead for monotone blues and grain. The audio is a lossy
2.0 Dolby Digital (barely?) Stereo track that isn't much to write
home about either.
Special
Features includes Director's Commentary, Making of Video Series,
Behind The Scenes, and Previews of other releases.
All
in all this film tries to be deep but instead makes you feel like you
are watching a student film production. The acting is lacking as is
the visual storytelling.
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
