Dad's Dead

This is a film that has lovely and very inventive animation. Other than that, there was absolutely nothing I liked about the film. The 3 points it earns are only for the animation, as the rest of the film is just ugly and throughly unpleasant--a hateful and nihilistic mess. It looks as if someone decided to make a film just to offend and make people mad or ill--and had no other purpose.

The story, such as it is, seems more an excuse to splice in images of people giving the British equivalent of the middle finger, showing lots of hard-core obscenities on the walls and maggots feasting on rotting food among other such repellent images. In many ways, this film is like The Sex Pistols of film-dom--just meant to be loud, nasty and offensive. And, naturally, some idiots thought this was art and nominated it for a BAFTA award. By this standard, I think I could make an animation of someone defecating and probably get a nomination. What a waste.

I watched Dad's Dead at this year's ICA's One Dot Zero festival and thought it was amazing. It was billed as a `uk hybrid masterpiece', at first I thought it was overblown title but after watching realised it's totally unique. It was mind-blowing. It blends the art house with a hard-hitting story in a way I've never seen before.

Ian Hart narrates with real tension. It deals with his memories of his best friend Johnno, who is a socio-path. Johnno torments and attacks anything he doesn't understand. Traits which we are all capable of. It's a difficult film to explain, it feels like the viewer is being attacked and forced to take part in terrible events. A bit like Man Bites Dog. My favourite bit is the Peter and Jane book sequence which reminds me of being a kid. There was a lot of sadness there too, especially with the blind man section which is really disturbing.

The best thing is the title which gives you totally the wrong idea of what it's all about. Don't want to give it away! It's a work of intelligence, which is well worth watching.

This is one of the two shorts(the other being the odd Mole Hills) on the DVD of Sunshine. It has a running time of 6 and a half minutes, and a one minute introduction by Danny Boyle. Yes, this is bleak and unpleasant, as well as rather twisted. I suppose if you've never known someone you can compare to Johnno, this may just repel you; however, calling it an attempt to do nothing but offend is a misunderstanding. People like him exist, and this is sadly a credible look at them. Yes, it's nasty, at times disgusting; there's a reason for that. It's a spot-light pointed straight at something extremely dark and brutal. This is a mix of live-action and animation, and it can be quite psychedelic(it communicates its message very clearly, though), and for how grim it is, it can be colorful, as well. The editing and cinematography are interesting, and this not being too long keeps the subject matter from getting you to turn it off before it's over(hopefully). While narration and visuals lock it into the specific region(London?) of Britain, they ultimately result in this being a distinct voice for telling a terribly universal(at least to suburban environments) tale. Acting and writing are marvelous. This is well-paced with nothing overstaying its welcome or being curt. The plot revolves around two youths and their activities. There is a lot of disturbing content, a bit of strong language and a little violence in this. I recommend this to any fan of the medium(who believe they can stomach it, and are willing to ponder what this has to say). 8/10

Executed with style and skill, 'Dad's Dead' is an exceptionally written short film. Think of it as a roller-coaster ride into a dark mind. While the visuals are stunning thanks to the solid combination of live action and animation. The animated sequences also vary in style and this is fascinating to look at as the entire film feels like a hypnotic experience. It's positively astonishing how Chris Shepherd manages to say so much in such a small amount of time. Ian Hart narrates at a speedy tempo but he certainly grabs the viewer's attention and guides them like a successful hypnotherapist. The main theme, as the title suggests, is very dark but there is plenty of dark humour that brings a balance without being intrusive or taking away from the intensity of the atmosphere. 'Dad's Dead' is an exhilarating experience...albeit short lasting but very effective.

Another outstanding film from Bermuda Film Festival. Like the winner of Best Short - WASP. This film earned a honourable mention for it's powerful insight into what happens inside the mind of a sociopath. It was the most original and different film I think I've seen. Blending imagination with reality in a way I've never seen. It was like mixing fine art painting with a hard urban story. Saying that the technique didn't compromise the punk street feel of the film.

Johnno controls his best friend. Making him do things you just DONT do. We watch as the lies and cheats. Abusing an old man, shattering all of the boys hopes and dreams in the process. I found myself thinking about the film for days. Do people like this exist? If so, what are they up to? And why does society not deal with them? This one also hit the audience hard because of it's brutal ending and no doubt left them feeling at unease with the world.