Spook

Spook is a dark thriller that takes us down the conspiracy theory highway, behind the eyes of a sketchy 'Nam Vet. It's got a bit of a love story in it too, pretty good action, and lots of dirt on Canadian companies who did a lot of 'Catch 22' type of business and made a bundle on the war in Vietnam. There's a ton of irony in the information about Canada in Vietnam, but I'm not going to snitch. Levy does a lot of stuff from the Vet's point of view that is really trippy, and there are lots a great things to say about the editing and the music. Two great songs in it too, but I'm not sure what band did them. The acting is great too. It's his directing debut and, although it's not perfect, it really stands up as a very solid first movie. If you liked 'Jacob's Ladder', 'Conspiracy Theory', and 'The Deer Hunter', then you'll rock on this.

I caught this film at a festival with no idea what I was in store for. I had not seen any trailers or read anything about the film. Being a US citizen and a bit on the young side to remember too many details of Viet Nam I had never given any thought to how the war might have played in Canada--except it was a place where people headed to if they wanted to stay out of the fight. Well, getting to see this film definitely changed all that. It's a griping and gritty story that prompted me to want to study up and find out more about Canada's involvement in the Viet Nam. Kudos to filmmaker/actor Barry Levy for undertaking such a massive and controversial story in a bold and brave way! I would imagine they could be a quite an interesting film about the making of this film.

"Spook" is a riveting and thought provoking feature length film from writer, director, and actor Barry Levy. The film echoes certain films such as "The Deer Hunter" and "Rambo: First Blood." The film deals with themes such as trauma and pain and how people try to cope from it. The editing and cinematography are incredible and resembles David Fincher's style. Barry's performance as Kick is haunting and memorable. The on-screen chemistry between Barry and the female lead, played by Rachel Cronin, is subtle, very moving, and crystal perfect. The supporting actors all shine in their roles. The music in the film is very moving and powerful. The action scenes, whether they are the war battle scenes or the big finale shoot out at the end, is fast paced, haunting, very emotional and exciting. I highly recommend "Spook" and Barry's new documentary "The 40,000."

I went to a screening of Spook in Vancouver on April 9th at the Havana. We had seen a very appealing ad in a newspaper, showing the movie. Seeing that it has won awards and was controversial, we were interested to see it. It was a disappointment. My husband and I were not impressed. It was actually painful to sit through. We found the movie very long and very boring at times. This is something that could never be mass produced or shown in a commercial theatre. People would just not pay the money. It was drawn out and very hard to follow at times. The lighting throughout the movie was terrible. When the lights came on at the end, it was a great relief. The lead role acting was OK. I would not waste your time viewing this.

I know what you are all thinking, not another Vietnam war movie. Well your right it isn't, this story "SPOOK" is riveting. The characters are complex and it takes time for the story and characters to unfold, which adds to the suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat wanting more clues to the story. I was impressed with the information received through this movie regarding Canadas' role in the Vietnam war. Many people didn't even realize Canadians fought in this war, let alone the political involvement of our government. It definitely is an eye opener to the politics of the war machine. Great script, great characters, way to go Barry. I hope to have the privilege of auditioning for your next movie, keep it up Mr. Levy.