Taffy Was Born

I've been hearing about this movie to the point of annoyance from someone I know who's connected with it. I finally gave in and saw the trailer -- and was most pleasantly surprised. It really looked like the exposition was well handled (not the easiest thing in the world to do). I really got caught up in the story and want to know where it's going. Seems quite well acted with lots of tension. All the best horror movies like "Rosemary's Baby" rely on identification with the characters and underlying tension (I hate the gross-out horror flicks). There's an audience for this kind of movie -- M. Night whateverhisnameis sure tapped into it. Here's hoping Taffy gets out there!

This well-made, well-written suspenseful thriller keeps you glued to your seat all through the movie. Taffy Was Born is completely original in content and the concept has never been done before by anyone. The cinematography is excellent, and so is the cast. The music is well-scored and excellent. All factors get an A rating and it should be a million dollar seller. David Giardina is a master of suspense and should be compared to a modern-day Hitchcock. His thought pattern parallels that of Hitchcock in content. All who see it can identify with problems of this young man and want to see how his investigation evolves. Everyone go see it!

"Taffy Was Born" is a well-made little independent mystery that actually looks much bigger it's budget. The writing is sharp, the camera work first rate and the casting is perfect. The story concerns a troubled man returning to his small town after being away many years. He hopes to get back to things and get his life together after a series of hard knocks. But his begin to unravel as people begin to appear more and more uneasy with him. Just why are they behaving this way? The first half of the film moves as leisurely, ambient pace letting us take in the town and it's characters but then it begins to quicken and by that time you're hooked wondering just what is going to happen and just who is "Taffy". This is certainly not your run-of-the-mill narrative film and will keep you guessing.

I was fortunate to see "Taffy Was Born" at its world premiere in Hollywood. I know the director, David Giardina, personally and have been following the making of this movie in bits and pieces for a number of years. Needless to say, after seeing the movie I was impressed by how the sum of its parts - excellent story line, well written script, good acting, music, filming and editing- came out in its totality, a well crafted movie despite its "shoe string" budget. The story concerns a troubled young man returning to his small home town after a number of years. His life begins to unravel as he gets flashbacks and the townspeople become uneasy with him. As the movie progresses, the pace quickens and the viewer gets hooked as to who is "Taffy"? Kind of reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock's mystery thrillers and the building up of tension and momentum. You are kept guessing. Here's hoping that his second film won't take as long to come out!

"Taffy Was Born" is a thinking person's horror film, and that's not a put-down of the usual examples of this genre. It just means that it's different from the typical slash and gore cinema that Hollywood (and even indie filmmakers) seem so eager to offer to audiences.

This film is a throwback to the horror films of old. It really is more in the tradition of an Edgar Allan Poe mystery or an O. Henry short story than in any of what you typically see from this kind of cinema. And that's what makes it special. The film is methodical in setting the scene, but the payoff is worthy of the pace.

The three elements that make it work so well are the taut script and direction handled by David Giardina (as well as production, editing, catering, etc.), the acting performances he gets from his very talented cast, and a gripping and evocative score from composer Igor Dymkov. If you get a chance to see this film, take it. You won't be disappointed.