Coming to Town

Pure solid gold, saw this film @ Chapman Film School a couple weeks ago, special screening with students and the makers. There were about 50-75 people in the new theater at Chapman. One of the most professional and well done films I have seen from these students. The acting and pace of this 15 minute film was terrific, great idea of a story, good and bad Santa Claus "coming to town". The makeup was so pro. Very strong language and graphics of Santa "getting into some trouble" Everybody looked great, the music was professional, seemed like a lot of work and time was put into this film. The director said it took a year for this to be completed. Waiting for the Easter bunny special from this director. Bravo!

If the thought of Johnny Mathis-sung Christmas carols and 'chestnuts roasting on an open fire' makes you want to hurl yourself headfirst into the nearest woodchipper, "Coming To Town" is exactly the movie for you. It's about what you'd get if you take Billy Bob Thornton's "Bad Santa," put a fifth of bourbon in one hand...and a Glock-9 in the other.

This "heartwarming" fable is the story of one JoBeth Smalls (Delaney Manning), who's decided that she wants something a little...different for Christmas this year. In spite of the fact that JoBeth's been a pretty good girl whose been through some hard times, her lot in life seems to be serving as the punching bag for a snot-nosed little bully named Alasdair Romer (Daeg Faerch) - a repulsive brat who makes the highlight of his day figuring out new ways to make JoBeth miserable. So what she's decided she wants for Christmas is a little "payback" for Alasdair, and when she puts her request in a letter to Santa, he decides to help her out..."Die Hard" style!

There is even more to this story than you would expect - especially for a short - but I'll leave it up to you to discover those surprises for yourself. Writer/director Carles Torrens gets a great set of performances from a decidedly non-Hollywood cast, and provides us with a bracing reminder that sometimes "turning the other cheek" isn't as effective as a little appropriately applied ass-kicking!

I was sitting in my friends room at Chapman U and some guy I've never seen (the director) brings it in to show it off. What happened after that was a dark, sick, funny and great display of film making. Santa has a brother... the kind the family forgets. This brother of his gives gifts too... the gift of revenge. The art design is perfect to accent this dark comedy. Sets and locations A+ also. The DP work and lighting rocked. Direction was great also, they had child actors and they weren't annoying and thats a big accomplishment. I didn't say much as I was watching this and I usually keep a poker face when I watch student films so I don't give the wrong impression off, but it was almost impossible for me to keep a straight face during "Coming To Town". Find a way to get this short, it has m-16s, cussing, drinking, and a midget or two. A+++++