Eddie

Art is all about pushing boundaries and "Eddie the Sleepwalking Cannibal" puts that creativeness on the canvas. This co-produced Canadian/Denmark indie production is a well-made, quirky horror comedy with the blackest of dark humor. I wouldn't call it in-your-face, but still it's deliciously absurd and very well-timed with its dry humorous approach. This might be contributed to the cast taking their roles seriously and not letting it become camp. It just works. I found it hard not be impressed by Boris Rodriguez's directorial debut.

Lars was once an acclaimed painter, but now has hit an inspiration slump. He has settled into a quiet little town and takes up a job at the local art school. This is where he meets Eddie. And he finds himself looking after him. A towering and reserved mute man who is scarred from past events. But it's what Lars learns on his first night with Eddie. He sleepwalks, but also transforms from a friendly giant to an ferocious cannibal. But what he also discovers, that his inspiration for his art comes in the form of misery and carnage, which Eddie can bring in spades.

There are many droll character interactions, small town atmospherics and few grisly jolts. The satirical screenplay takes á compelling approach. Art is a rush with the pressure to perform, but what is one willing to do and what morals would be broken to present this to the masses.. The script does an earnest job in developing these subtle characters and that of Lars' intense deterioration. One interesting note, is that we never get to see the artwork that was transpired by this pain and suffering. The edgy humour here, perfectly goes alongside the outrageous violence. The gore make-up and dismembered body effects is authentically staged. Cinematography provides some flair and a music score is slight, but playful.

The cast look like they are having fun. Thure Lindhardt plays his character spot on. He's likable and provides good intentions, despite his unsettling addiction to bringing out those artistic flourishes. Dylan Smith as Eddie delivers a great psychical performance. The relationship formed between these two characters is endearing, even though it does go down a twisted and dependent path of Lars' eventually abusing it. Georgina Reilly is ably good too. In a small, but memorable cameo; Stephen McHattie plays a scheming arts dealer. Also the closing credits produces an amusing little radio snippet of one of Lars/Eddie's surviving victims being interviewed.

Artist create art, but often they need a bit of inspiration to get the vision of their creation. Artists Lars Olafssen is in a bit of a funk, he has not produced anything in over ten years. So he find a home in a school as a teacher, there he still cannot break his silence. He befriends Eddie, who is a bit slow and an outcast. Lars has the patience to bring him into his confidence and discovers a hidden secret, when Eddie sleeps he craves flesh and his dreams get him carried away as he becomes the sleep walking cannibal. This gruesome discovery excites Lars and he finds inspiration in what would disgust others. This showing was part of opening for the new home of Cineprov! at the Plaza Theatre, where local arts use their improv talent to add color to the scenes on the big screen.

Lars Olafssen is a famous painter. He has stopped painting for an unspecified reason and has a new job as an art teacher in a small Canadian town. His manager Ronny is desperate for him to start painting again. Everybody expects him to paint again. He takes an interest in an odd student named Eddie and fellow teacher Lesley. Eddie needs a place to stay and Lars agrees to take him.

The title "Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal" gets me right away. That's a hell of a title. It's supposed to be a black comedy. It's supposed to be a lot things. The premise seems interesting. The movie itself isn't that much of anything. The lead isn't much. Eddie isn't much either. Nobody has much chemistry. There is no tension. There is no intensity consider how many bodies are piling up. With the title and the premise, I want the movie to do something compelling. It's disappointing.

I really enjoyed this one when I saw it at the Edinburgh International Film Festival: it's consistently funny, and reminiscent of the UK's Shaun of the Dead, except obviously with a Danish-Canadian spin. I'm not going to bore you with a summary of the film, as you can easily find that elsewhere on this page, but I will say that it was well cast, well acted, and very well paced. Great comedic timing, and a really interesting character dynamic, in that you feel sorry for almost everyone involved; you don't just feel sorry for Eddie, whose cannibalism is almost being taken advantage of by Lars, but also for Lars, who has trouble finding inspiration, and Lesley, who doesn't understand why he's acting so strangely. That makes for a really compelling story, which is wrapped up perfectly at the end. I left the cinema very satisfied, and it's one of my highlights from the whole festival.

EDDIE: THE SLEEPWALKING CANNIBAL pretty mush says it all; you gets what you pays for. While it's beautifully crafted from beginning to end, EDDIE ultimately lacks that little something extra that distinguishes good movies from Great ones. If SHAUN OF THE DEAD or JUAN OF THE DEAD didn't milk the notion of zombies for all it was worth, then they certainly set the bar a bit high for anyone who followed in their footsteps. Sure, technically speaking, EDDIE isn't so much a zombie movie as a movie about a sleepwalking cannibal, but that's just six of one, half a dozen of the other, right? Midway through, EDDIE begins to get rather predictable and one can see the end coming, but the performances (especially by Lindstadt and Braunstein) are outstanding and the aforementioned craftsmanship is undeniable. Worth a look.