Castle in the Ground

Young actors tried their best to make this film relevant and inviting. The subject matter of pain medicine addiction was important. But the script was just too tedious to warrant my connection to the storyline or the characters. Cullen's performance was the bright spot near the end of the film which justified my determination to watch to the ending.

This is a realistic portrayal of how it all happens. What a great movie. Drug use in case you're triggered. Otherwise highly recommended. Neve Campbell. Alex Wolff. Imogen Poots. WOWWWW.

There are some movies that just destroy your will to live (in a good way - sort of). 'Castle in the Ground' is one of those films. It is so bleak and ominous and hopeless. The whole film you find yourself asking, what is there to live for? Of course there is plenty to live for for an ordinary person, but the film does such a good job of putting you in these character's shoes that you find yourself as depressed as they are. These aren't the types of films you want to find yourself watching all the time, but when a good one does come along it can be a rare treat.

Alex Wolff is becoming synonymous with really dark films. I see his face on the poster now for anything and think, that's not going to be an easy watch. He is really good in the films too. He never over-acts or steals a scene. He simply gives intense and realistic performances that add immensely to the quality of the film. Imogen Poots had a big 2019. Four films she managed to star in and I have now seen them all. She is terrific in 'Castle in the Ground'. It is the best performance I have seen from her yet. I've known some people similar to her character and what she was going through and I can confirm she nailed it.

The film is very dark. Almost the entire runtime takes place both at night, and in dimly lit venues. It doesn't ruin the film, however you do need to do a fair bit of squinting to work out exactly what is going on at times. Otherwise though, I really enjoyed this film. As I said, prepare yourself because it is not the easiest of watches. It is however a rewarding one if you are willing to stick with it. Give this one a look.

Did you enjoy Requiem for a Dream? Do you appreciate films that don't glamorize drug use, and show you the disgusting underbelly of opioid addiction and recreational drug use? Do you want to see Neve Campbell acting like her life depends on it? Well, then, is this the movie for you! Everything about it was so well done, you will ask yourself if the people involved actually decided to become real life drug addicts just to make this film. It left me shaken, it made me depressed and angry unlike any film in recent memory, and it actually kept my interest for its entire duration, a very rare feat these days. Just an excellent film that deserves all of your attention.

A silence filled the room after viewing this film. A silence that could only be coming from that of a recovered addict. A recovered addict like myself. I say recovered because no one deep into drug use would find themselves sitting down for a nice 107 minute long movie about drugs. Nor any movie for that matter. This is a film for those of us who know this story all too well. Who have lived it. This is a powerful contribution from actor/director Joey Klein but thats where it ends. This movie seems to have all the parts to make up a great indie drama. The thing is, though, is that it's amateurishly directed which is a big let down. I really like Joey Klein as an actor. I loved him in "Painless" and weirdly he was my favorite character in " What Keeps You Alive". He is a great actor who needs more screen time. However, as a director, err, well, he isnt proving himself all that well. I feel like this film should have had the feeling of despair and the atmosphere of "Painless". I have been sober for almost 8 years and it is usually quite the experience watching movies of this nature. I usually have to bravely triumph through the movie but here i find myself slightly bored and tired of seeing the same nothingness the whole movie. This film has very dark lighting. It has a kind of dingy and half lit type of look to it. Its not gritty, its just...dark. Alex Wolff is a phenomenal actor with such a bright future as we saw with his most recent "The Cat and the Moon" which will go on to be one of my favorite movies of all time. Alex Wolff creates a VERY real world there in both directing and acting. This was the next thing of his to be released and I was so excited to see him acting but for some reason this movie didn't cure the itch. This film must be personal for Klein one way or another because i feel movies of this nature arent just made randomly. I feel he was trying to say something. Make a statement with what he hoped would be a powerful movie.. For some it will resonate very well. Some people stayed with the pills while for others, pills wasn't enough anymore. This is where some will be lost. All of these movies always seem to only chronicle the hardships of doing pills but never heroin like it's too scary of a journey to trek even in fictional film. Also, this movie is maybe a liittle bit too late. The opiod crisis started in what, 08? 09? And this movie is just coming out now towards the end of 2020? Ummm ok. At this point it all seems very dated... Still, though, I love Alex Wolff as an actor AND director and I also love Joey Klein......as an actor lol.