The Shadows (2007/Water Bearer DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C Film: C
A few
Horror genre films have been able to address gay issues, but much of the
majority reactionary films made (all the way to the tired torture porn) are
built on homophobia and so, the two sensibilities have not gelled well in most
cases. Guillermo R. Rodriguez’s The Shadows (2007) tries to be a god
supernatural thriller in both veins, but simply cannot resolve the distance
between the two.
That is
not as hard as it sounds, but this tale about a man who one night hits a man
with his car that shares his last name, which would put it in Night Gallery territory. However, it gets bogged down in an uneven
script, more gay issues and characters that have nothing to do with suspense
and the “love story” angle makes less sense than the recent trend to combine
vampirism with such melodrama. Too bad,
because if Rodriguez has stuck with the genre more and let the gay angle go
& transpire, this could have worked better.
Instead, it is an idea not totally realized.
The
anamorphically enhanced, windowboxed 2.35 X 1 image is soft and
detail-challenged, originates on digital video of some kind and though color is
more consistent, composition can be a problem.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 mix is not as bad, with some good recording for
what is a low-budget production, but nothing stands out about the mix either. Extras include deleted scenes, outtakes,
trailer, rehearsal footage, feature-length commentary and make-up tests.
- Nicholas Sheffo
