Good Guy with a Gun

A tour de force by writer/director/actor John Mossman, with a well-written script flawlessly executed with nuance and grace. It so refreshing to witness a clear filmmaking vision realized with refined skill across the board. Well paced, impeccably acted, with ambitious action sequences that delivered in ways rarely seen in independent film. Every Chekhovian gun hung on the figurative wall of narrative was shot at the perfect time. The suspense steadily built, masterfully delivered by compelling performances. Every character was clearly delineated with heart and grit, providing balance and relief to a film that could have been overly dark in less capable hands.

There are no lazy caricatures of characterization in writing, direction, or performance; Mossman clearly understood his challenging subject from all angles. The teen performers are flawless, and they are going places. The parents are the heart and soul, strong and sympathetic. While the whole ensemble is top-notch, antagonists John Mossman and John LaFlamboy are standouts, delivering masterclass performances in stillness and intimidation. Truly star-making performances.

Beyond the top-notch writing and acting, which is rare enough at the indie level, the cinematography is a gem, composed beautifully with luscious saturation and deep lighting. Sound and editing was seamless, which I deeply appreciate as an editor myself.

The detail I find most often overlooked in indie film is the score. As someone who's been passionate about film scoring since childhood and listens to this music genre primarily, it frustrates me when 90% of indie filmmakers seem to have no vision for their music or understanding of its vital importance and narrative power. They throw in random canned tracks with poor, cheap instrumentation and edit them with no sense of organic emotional flow or visual timing, thus hurting rather helping their narrative. It's the invisible element that cheapens the entire product and breaks my suspension of disbelief time after time, even in Hollywood movies (don't get me started on "Predator.") There is so much magic and power in coupling a quality film with a quality score, and the opportunity is often squandered.

I can't imagine a better suited score than what composer Petter Wahlback delivered. It never detracted from the scene and never distracted by drawing attention to itself. It served its story perfectly and seamlessly, like it's supposed to. And it wasn't overused. Where less experienced composers and directors would have "told" the audience how to feel in pivotal scenes, like an annoying family member delivering commentary beside you in the theatre (me, guilty as charged), Wahlback and Mossman often chose silence and realism, allowing the character and thus the audience to decide our feelings for ourselves, never manipulating or forcing emotions as less skilled filmmakers might have. They trusted their audience and their own impressive abilities.

With multi-dimensional characters and skilled storytelling firmly in the foreground, "Good Guy With a Gun" handles its subject thoughtfully, with grace and empathic humanity. I feel the filmmaker chose to tell a family's nuanced, personal story rather than heavy-handedly preach a political message or demonize whole groups of people. This is a rare gem that filmmakers should study and I hope audiences discover. Give it a watch!

This film was so well done and very entertaining. I really enjoyed the storyline, the cast and the relationships that were built throughout the film. I got to see it at the GTX FILM Festival in Georgetown, TX and it blew me away. I meet the director and a few of the cast. Such a professional and respectful group. Their passion for the film and their work was so inspiring. It made me appreciate the film even more. I can easily see this film building momentum and attracting a large following. It's that good. I highly recommend everyone check this one out. It's very much worth the time and the watch!!

John Mossman and his creative team have made a contemporary - destined to be a classic - film noir. The film's exploration of the darker aspects of gun violence and responsible gun ownership - within the contexts of a single parent household, coming of age lead actor, sexuality, high school buddies, peer pressure, and small town values - it serves as a poignant commentary on the complexities and contradictions of American society today. The cast is wonderful and they all have done excellent performances. The Actor Dan Waller was incredible in his role as Duke. I have to say Waller is cut from the same cloth as Christopher Walken. Enjoy!

This is a brilliant award-winning 2023 rural noir thriller and a must-see important conversation piece. Bravo to John Mossman on his masterpiece and bravo to the entire cast and crew! Outstanding in every aspect: stellar storytelling, filmmaking, acting, writing, directing, producing, and just all-around a fantastic film that I cannot wait to see again. I had the great honor and pleasure of seeing the premiere and have not stopped thinking about it since. Hopefully it will be generally released soon. The world wants and needs this film, and I want to see it again! Ten stars is not even enough.

This movie does an excellent job of dealing with a very controversial topic, examining the many facets of it and letting the audience decide where they stand on the issue. Filmed in a rural area definitely sets the tone for the action and anxiety to build throughout the film. The actors are well defined and filming itself is skillful. The blending with music definitely makes the scenes more powerful and believable. Very well written, acted and filmed. The actors do a marvelous job of not only defining the characters, but their interactions are brilliantly executed to make them real adding great emotion to the story. Great job Mossman and team.