The Prodigy

I was invited to their private screening in Dallas as a friend of a friend of a friend. I had no info on the film, so I didn't really know what to expect. My expectations were minimal. About a minute into it (very cool credit sequence hits), I realize that I was not about to watch your typical low-budget indie film. The Prodigy is one of the most intelligent thrillers I have seen at any budget level. The film tells the story of Truman Fisher (an incredible, A-list performance by Holt Boggs)a small time hood and the jaded anti-hero of the film. What he doesn't know is that he is being watched and studied by a legendary killer that we as the audience never see until the end. No, I'm not going to spoil it, but this film kept me guessing in disbelief with every turn. What impressed me the most, is the attention to detail that was paid to every element of the film. The acting, the fight scenes, the wardrobe, the visual style and last but not least, the script were so very specific and well thought out. In a genre that is known for being over the top and cheesy, especially at this level, it's the subtleties that put this film in a class by itself. The Prodigy is a thinking man's film, set in a genre that will entertain the most simple minded audience member. For a film trying to get out there and launch careers, this is the perfect vehicle for everyone involved. Bottom line, is this film was done for very little money, by a group of complete unknowns across the board. The Producer (Rucker) had to be some kind of miracle worker to help Kaufman pull this off. It resets the bar in my opinion of what is possible of film-making at this level. If this is truly his first film, then the William Kaufman is going to join the likes of great directors like Michael Mann, Walter Hill and David Fincher. I am a fan and can't wait to see what he does next.

The Prodigy begins with a drug deal going sour. Only instead of 2 sides facing off against each other in a typical Mafioso fashion, someone dressed like the Scarlet Pimpernel but with the aggression of Jason Voorhees on crack, appears out of nowhere armed with a zillion weapons and cuts them all down before getting into a brutal fistfight with last man standing Truman Fisher. The action is so searingly intense, it makes recent actioners like Running Scared look like a 70s episode of Seasame Street in comparison.

The mystery villain is soon revealed to be some sort of mystical mega-psycho who goes by the name of Claude Rains (as he is, in a way, an invisible man) after he kidnaps the nephew of a gang boss. Truman Fisher is sent to find him but discovers that there is some kind of weird connection between him and Rains.

That is where my understanding of the film ends as it becomes far too messy and unfocused. At a running time of 2 hours I feel a lot of fat could have been cut to keep a tighter, more nervously wrought pace. Whenever Rains is on screen, doing his shooting, slashing and torturing the film absolutely soars. But in between, when Fisher is going from one place to another, it really lags. And by the end you won't have a clue what's going on or why. Less filler during the second act and more coherence in the third would have made this film so much better. I wasn't the only one who felt this way as there were several people in the audience who left halfway through.

Made on an unbelievably small budget of $219,000 the film honestly looks 10 times that amount. The action and fighting is amazing and Rains is a truly terrifying, imposing villain who pushes this film well out of the Crime genre and into Horror.

Obviously, since the budget is so small, it won't star anyone you've really ever heard before but they do just fine. A few characters are completely superfluous and could have been cut-out in a more preferable, leaner running time however.

The film is surprisingly stylish and action-packed considering it's low-budget nature but that doesn't excuse the increasing lack of sense as it goes on.

Still, it's a fine attempt at film-making and adds something new to both Action and Horror.

Interesting that the IMDb recommends the 1995 Bond film GoldenEye as a companion piece for admirers of The Prodigy. But the fact is that Prodigy likely has more inventiveness, directorial savvy, frightening villainy, editing prowess, and well-spent money in its cutting-floor leavings than GoldenEye, or dozens of other big actioners for that matter, have from beginning to end.

Genre films are often cranked out as hasty marketing gimmicks; perhaps they are watched and perhaps not, but in most cases either way, they're quickly forgotten. Here, we have a psychological/crime thriller that stays in the viewer's lens long after the credits have rolled. The acting is solid throughout--superb in spots, actually, especially from star Holt Boggs and costar and co-writer Matt Beckham--and the surprises are well-plotted and considered. Just as importantly, intricate, minutes-long gunbattle and action scenes, which would normally be confusing failures in most low-budget hands, are directed and edited with a precision that allows us to follow the jarring action with the same attention and involvement that we do when we see Prodigy's less-interesting big-budget brethren. Sometimes as many as ten characters are involved in these sequences, but we are never distracted, confused or annoyed by their number, as they are showcased only when needed, to maximum effect. (Added note, and kudo to director Kaufman: Thanks for not filming yet another Nine Inch Nails video and passing it off as an action film.)

I was surprised and impressed at a recent Texas screening of this film, and can only hope that some attentive distributor realizes that memorable, riveting action can be done for less than $10 million. If this one surfaces at a festival or theater near you, don't waste any time--see it.

I saw THE PRODIGY on its last night screening in Dallas and was delighted with the outcome. As an independent filmmaker myself, it was great to see such local talent (Both in front of and behind the camera) doing such wonderful jobs with a script that could have been very formulaic. A great job was done all round, from the overall quality of the film to the cast and crew, I really enjoyed this film and would be very surprised if it weren't picked up for distribution along the way. If you get the chance to see this film, I would not pass it up. You will be pleasantly surprised. There is more freshness and originality in this independent film than there is in most of the big studio films that are being thrown at us constantly. Great job to all involved!

I recently saw this film at it's premiere in Dallas, Texas at the Magnolia theater. I knew very little about it, other than it was some local filmmakers on a tight budget. I was impressed and blown away by the professional quality from the opening credits to the end of the film. The acting was top notch even from the bit players. The main character Truman was played with a level of sophistication that even some ultra-high budget film haven't been able to achieve with big name stars. Holt Boggs took a two-bit mob character that typically is overdone and delivered an outstanding performance showing the inner turmoil of a person suffering the consequences of actions inside and outside his control. The director has uncanny eye for action. The fight scenes are realistic and exciting without being over the top. I think the best way to sum up the whole movie is to say that in a genre that is either too overdone or too cheesy, this one is done just right. I hope this film is picked up, because I want to own my copy of the DVD as soon as it is released.