Groupers

I bought this movie because I'm a fan of the filmmaker's podcasting endeavors. The film has some great moments. The Rashomon-style sequences are really well-done. And the performances by Nicole Dambro as Meg and Terrance Wentz as Durant are incredible. It is clearly an indie film and I forgive (and actually appreciate) some of those indie flaws, but I have a hard time forgiving the bad dialogue. Some of it is saved by great performances from the actors and the interesting story, but, ultimately, the dialogue brings it down from 9 to 6 stars.

For a movie on a shoestring budget it looked good. The movie started off pretty well but it was just too long and ran out of steam. The last act with new character introductions were thinly written and juvenile. It just did not stick the landing. That said I thought the movie showed promise and the 1st half I would rate a 8 stars the last half 4 stars. This is not a good as some of the reviews suggest ( fans ) and certainly not as bad as some ( just angry ) reviewers suggest. Not for everyone but you can do much worse.

Groupers is never going to win an oscar, but it is a bit of fun. I have seen a lot worse and this effort from a first time Director is much better than some of the formulaic dross on Netflix/Amazon.

I am not a critic or a "film school guy", I am just like to watch various types of movies and appreciate them for what they are, a brief escape from reality. This movie is weird, somewhat disturbing, and has some dark humor to hold the attention of the audience throughout. It's a look into how groups form, shape your thinking, and ultimately how we can grow out of the 'group think' mindset. If you don't take yourself too seriously, you can, and should, enjoy this film for what it is...

This movie is unpredictable and funny. It is a little harsh in spots, but, definitely, it is different. I hope to see more from this director. I would like to see what he could do with a budget and known actors.