Briar Patch

"Briar Patch" (also known as "Plain Dirty") really took me by surprise. Despite its direct-to-video origins, the movie is surprisingly cinematic. Shot on location in the swamps of North Carolina, every bit of grime and drop of sweat registers beautifully on screen. This is a seamy, sordid tale of two men (Henry Thomas and Arie Verveen) fighting to assert control over headstrong beauty Inez (Dominique Swain), who has plans of her own.

All three leads are excellent, but Verveen really stands out in the difficult role of Flowers. At first, he seems to be little more than a man-child, playing with hand puppets and hanging on his friend Edgar's every word. Later, he's revealed to be a surprisingly conniving manipulator, becoming the film's driving force. Karen Allen features in an excellent supporting role as Inez' fortune telling friend.

Recalling classic Southern sleaze like "God's Little Acre" and "Baby Doll", this one clearly slipped under the radar and warrants rediscovery.

Zev Berman, the director of "Plain Dirty", or "Briar Patch" as it's identified in these pages, takes a big chance in bringing this Deborah Pryor's screen play to the screen. First of all, this is a courageous piece of film making, and the characters in the film don't exactly endear themselves to the viewer. The film is a moody attempt to present us people that are living at the edge of society with basically no redeeming qualities to them, yet, we are hooked into watching the movie until the end, no small feat Zev Berman pulls on his viewers.

We were attracted to the movie on the strength of its excellent cast. Henry Thomas is an actor that is always interesting to watch. As Edgar, he is the man obsessed with Inez, a woman he mistreats endlessly. Inez, played by Dominique Swan, makes a good contribution to the film as the girl who can't take any more of the beatings she receives from Edgar. It's clear, from the start, that Flowers is secretly in love with Inez, but being such a sorry sight, knows he can't compete with Dru, the rich guy who wants Inez for himself. Both Artie Verveen and James Urbaniak are right on the money about how they play their characters. Also, Debra Monk, who is seen as the police officer Avon is, as always, excellent.

The film sort of hypnotizes the viewer with the cinematography of Scott Kevan and the haunting score by Nathan Barr. While it's clear that this is a not a film for a lot of people, as demonstrated by the many negative comments to this forum, the least one can do is watch it with some degree of respect because the tremendous job by Zev Berman has accomplished with this movie.

(2004) Plain Dirty/ Briar Patch DRAMA/THRILLER/ MYSTERY

Sexy looking Dominique Swain as Inez escaping an abusive relationship by involving herself with a much wealthy peer, who is the Henry Thomas character, the first star of E. T. as the abuser and authority figure as Edgar, and his supposedly old friend Flowers. All it is, is 'red necks' or hillbillies and their dysfunctional relationship woes. Karen Allen also stars as the fortune teller. I was able to watch this straight through because of the back wood settings, photography and atmosphere as a theatrical film, even through I was unable to picture both Henry Thomas and Karen Allen as a couple of hillbillies. Simplistic story line with plot holes that's been done before.

After watching this movie and THOROUGHLY enjoying it I thought that I'd check to see how it did on it's IMDb rating and frankly, I was STUNNED! A two point four!?!? I couldn't believe it! This was one of the most surprisingly enjoyable movies that I've rented in a long, long time. Although somewhat predictable, the simplistic mix of drama and humor, the colorful characters and the original plot all elevate the quality of this movie FAR above many others I've rented recently. I can't imagine why people feel this movie deserves such a low rating, but give it a chance and I don't think you'll be disappointed. Just don't forget to come back once you've watched the movie and help to give it the rating that it deserves.

I don't usually like romance movies. They drive me up a wall. Same with romance books. But perhaps because this was romantic in a weird way, I did really like it.

Swain plays a down-and-out white trash girl in Virginia, married to a creep named Edgar who robs stores to keep themselves afloat. They don't give you a background as to why she ever married this creep, but the bloom has worn off the rose and she just wants to get away from him now.

She's in love with a very pale young man who is a lawyer in their small Southern town. He's a big fish in a small pond and more to offer her then she's ever seen in her whole white trash life.

Edgar also has a best friend, a guy named "Flowers", for what reason I can't imagine, who hangs around Edgar and his wife all the time. Flowers is infatuated with Inez, Edgar's wife, but she finds him repulsive. He really is, at first--you have to look hard through all the dirt and bad clothing and beard to recognize pretty nice-looking Ari Verveen.

Edgar knows Inez is in love with someone else and after a fight, decides to keep her prisoner in her own house by chaining her to her bed at night and to the sofa daily, with Flowers standing guard while Edgar goes and does whatever it is he does.

Inez manages to convince Flowers to help her to get away from Edgar by murdering him for her. He doesn't really need a lot of convincing, since he wants her for himself.

These people are completely amoral and trashy, but there is still a beautiful kind of poetic romance to Flower's love for Inez. I loved the movie. Even if you hate romances, you may find it great too.