So I recently got a
chance to watch a screening of Jeffrey Reddick's
short film 'Good Samaritan'
Yes, the very same
Jeffrey Reddick who created the Final Destination Franchise.
The same Final Destination that has reminded me to:
*Never place beverages on my computer monitor and/or TV...
*Never place beverages on my computer monitor and/or TV...
*Always look 3 times
before crossing the street...
*NEVER, never park
your car on a train track...
*Always put your
coffee in a cup holder, never between your legs when driving...
* While AC/DC's 'Highway to
Hell' is an awesome song, never listen it on the interstate.
*Log trucks = Stay the
hell away!!!
*Avoid Amusement Parks because they are not so amusing.
*Avoid Amusement Parks because they are not so amusing.
and many more
scenarios that have made me more careful/paranoid.
'Good Samaritan' by my
own description is a psychological horror.
Written by Jeffrey, and
being his directorial debut, It has this perfect
mix of ambient creepiness, "Scare the hell outta you", and 'Make ya thinks'
Imagine... suffering from Agoraphobia... A horrible disorder, that is a psychological
condition which triggers anxiety and even panic attacks from being in open
spaces... In severe cases the fear prevents people from leaving their homes...
Its a very real disorder, that very real people suffer...
So imagine having a
severe case of Agoraphobia and witnessing a horrific crime just outside your
door...
You WANT to help...
but... remember as
soon as you open that door... the fear, the anxiety, the panic of the world
outside comes flooding in...
FLOODING IN...
That immobilizing fear
turns your body into a prison...
This is the scenario
that the character Nathan Rome of 'Good Samaritan' is faced with...
A character that was
perfectly brought to life by Toby Hemingway
As you are watching
his struggles, he conveys them so believable, you really feel for this dude! You want to be there encouraging him on....
"You can do it! Come on bro, its gonna be ok"
"You can do it! Come on bro, its gonna be ok"
But that's after you forgive him... Because...
Actor Rainn Wilson nails it,
as he portrays a news personality, a pundit with a very powerful manner of
speaking by the name of George Reed. The type of guy you do not want doing a story on you, even if you are an 80 year old grand mother, who has been as sweet as a bag full of kittens her whole life... He'll find something to shame granny. He's good at what he does.
"You did what grandma? For Shame :("
Essentially, after
the aforementioned scenario of witnessing a crime outside his home... Nathan
Rome becomes haunted... tormented... by his inability brought on by his condition, that prevented him from helping someone in need... a fiery interview at the hands George Reed certainly doesn't help the guilt factor.
The use of the word
'Haunted' gives you some context here ;)
'Good Samaritan' also
contains the super acting talents of:
&
Also a shout out to the composer who did the score, Chris Lott.
Very nicely done! It captured the feeling of the short perfectly. Music is an important part of any film and he did not disappoint. The score built upon that "crawling up your spine through your nervous system" feeling.
Very nicely done! It captured the feeling of the short perfectly. Music is an important part of any film and he did not disappoint. The score built upon that "crawling up your spine through your nervous system" feeling.
To all the other folks who worked on this and made it happen, I may not know your name... But you did an awesome job making this film come to life.
I am really glad
Jeffrey put this short film together, it just gives credence to him as an
artist... not only has he proved to us many times that he is an amazing writer...
He shows us he is also a
truly talented director.
I would love to tell
you more... or break down the film further... but I don't want to give anything
away... because this short not only has to be watched... it needs to be experienced.
After the film was
over... I wanted more.
While it was a great
short... It successfully did the hard hard task of introducing characters to us, and telling us a story about them... in a short film time line...
All while being aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
But...
It would be even more
epic as a full length feature.
Which I pray our souls will be frightfully entertained by one day.
Which I pray our souls will be frightfully entertained by one day.
'Good Samaritan' has been screening at several film festivals across North America already this year, and will receive its European debut during the Berlin Short Film Festival which takes place October 26 – 31, 2014
Stay up to
date and connect with 'Good Samaritan' on social media
No comments:
Post a Comment