Dose of Reality

When i randomly stumbled upon the trailer for DOSE OF REALITY, i was really thrilled. I kind of saw it as a return to the screen for a Fairuza Balk that had been spared from movie appearances in the last few years. And did I enjoy this film! I used to love the lady in the nineties and followed her movie career onward but this particular film, being as different as it was? This psychological thriller, flirting on the line of horror helped me reconcile with her.

In the middle of the night, more precisely around 2 A.M, bartender Matt (Ryan Merriman) is about to close when he discovers a bloodied, unconscious young woman on the bathroom floor. He immediately warns Tony (Rick Ravanello), the bar manager. The problem is that they'll happen to have a good reason not to want the cops showing up in the place and so Tony decides that they should wait for Rose ( Balk) to wake and help her demystify the whole thing.

Another problem is that she eventually wakes up and as the two men become suspects in her attempt to remember who did this to her and how. Do they want to help a young lady who could be a little less innocent that she appears at first sight?

I hate to be drawn to tell one thing to get the viewers in sometimes. Since saying only one thing about films like DOSE always make me feel like I'm giving away too much, yet, watching this film one must admit that I didn't give anything away yet.

Despite all of the talent displayed in this little indie film, an emotionally surprising Rick Ravanello and a director able to catch my attention as much with his images as with his own writing. Credits to Chris Glatis for keeping me off balance during the whole thing but still having fun in a way that I wasn't that bothered with what the ending would be (I didn't care before it came). Most of the film is carried on the shoulders of a remarkable Fairuza Balk. Master at her art and at her peek during the whole ride. One of her few roller-coaster character roles that stuck to me like glue! Really happy I watched it.

As much as I loved DOSE, the film might not be suited for everyone as it is more of a dialogue driven movie. Almost a play if you will. But I had a lot of fun watching it despite some flaws that were always quickly turned on their heads with the direction that the script was taking. And they seem to have caught some actors that are used to go "Over the Top" let's face it. But if you can enjoy yourself watching movies that won't spare twists, and/or can love characters when their personas, intentions and behaviors aren't clear and spoiled randomly during the play, you should give this one a go! We sometimes tend to put the emphasis on the word "Different" but I loved about this one that I expected something and ended up fed with something else.

This film noir done, performances as heavy and intense emotionally as those by Balk and Ravanello, shouldn't allow the average human being to walk out of them unaffected, Bravo!

I'm Really trying to find out more about Chris Glatis previous work. I'd love to have the chance to see his movie CALLBACK. And really looking forward to his next steps, whenever they come.

Saw this film at Cinequest 23 in San Jose. Didn't know what to expect going in to watch the film. I was engaged the whole film and all of the actors are incredibly talented.

It's one of those films you have to watch twice, and then you sit back the second time and it's fun to see the things you missed the first time that lead to how the film ends. As much as I'd love to say I saw it coming, the ending took me by surprise. Which is pretty amazing considering that the entire film I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what was going to happen, who was guilty, etc. The credits rolled and I just sat in total silence, in shock. Plenty to be said about the social commentary in the film. I left the theater thinking. That's important to me as an audience member.

Weeks later, and I'm still thinking about this film!

Dose of Reality offers something that is rare these days in cinema, originality.

The plot and development thereof is completely void of the typical formulaic approaches that exist in most movies in this "thriller" genre.

From the opening scene, till the end I had no idea what twists and turns would happen at the next moment.

Dose of Reality does not rely on flashy cgi, camera movements... to suck you in, but rather very well developed characters and unique plot line.

I highly recommend Dose of Reality to anyone who loves a true thriller.

I had the (mis)fortune of guessing the punch-line of this film quite early on, but then it's like the material I write myself in some respects. I think a normal audience would be about 50/50, in pre-empting it or not.

The performances are what really stand out in this film. It's like a stage-play: an all-closed-in, single-room (more or less) production - in fact I wonder if it started life as a stage-play.

Fairuza Balk as the vile Rose is just extraordinary, since she is given so much weight to carry for the whole act. She is backed up by equally stirring jobs from Rick Ravanello and Ryan Merriman. Some of the extras supporting crew are a little weak, but even then...

The thing is, this film creeps up on you, and I like that. After tolerating about an hour of the early-90's-pseudo-feminist psycho-babble drivel that pours out of Rose's mouth - and it keeps pouring, the whole film, her well of crud never runs dry - the voice in the back of your head becomes louder. The voice saying "something is going on here"... listen to that voice, and explore where it feels like taking you.

Wouldn't say this movie is a masterpiece, but it's damn clever and kept me turning the page to the end (even AFTER I guessed what lies beneath). It certainly deserves higher than the silly 4.something it has at the moment here on IMDb.

Had it been a stage-play after all, I would have happily applauded loud and long as the cast took their bows.

Where to even start? This is definitely more than a unique twist on the "stage play on film" sort of production, though at its heart, that is the format.

Yes, there is the complex interwoven character study twists and turns that this starts out to be, and for much of the production almost up to the end, that's what it seems to be, more or less . . .

But wait for it, the final twist is definitely a twist that is more than worth it.

Unfortunately, it would be almost impossible to even hint at what is really awaiting the viewer without stumbling across the threshold of a spoiler boundary, so I just can't go there with this review.

What can be said here is kudos plus for Fairuza Balk, who delivers her character "Rose" about as effectively as any actress possibly could, she definitely has talent in this category.

As for the overall theme of the story, well, the take away message might be a popular phrase from a previous era, "question reality". Particularly in today's world, perhaps more than ever, that message connects.

If anything, extra stars for a cleverly original concept, an evermore difficult task in today's world where virtually every conceivable plot and storyline that can be possibly imagined has been conjured up and rehashed endlessly over and over.

That might be a hint, sort of . . . OK, enough said.

A solid 7 stars for this one