Out of Season

Screenwriter and director Jevon O'Neill has brought us a modern morality film for the age, worthy of its medieval stage predecessors. Themes of lust, money, sadism, scheming and religion fuel this gravity ride of a finely detailed plot to its inevitable conclusion.The film begins its full circle with drifter Pierre looking out to sea toward the light. Indeed, the use of light, darkness and grayness can be seen as a further metaphor throughout, and is exquisitely crafted. Harry soon develops into Pierre's clichéd mentor, but without giving too much away it can be said that Dennis Hopper's performance as the film progresses redeems more than just the development of Harry as a character. Likewise, fairground owner Michael (Jim Carter) begins with a curiously unconvincing mid-Atlantic accent, which mellows as the plot unfolds. His scheming daughter and sadistic wife are well casted as Gina Gershon and Dominique Swain. Simeon's complex motives are the key to understanding the plot, and David Murray's drawing of the character detail is a screen masterpiece. Out of Season is unlikely to achieve mainstream success, but could conceivably become a cult classic in the footsteps of, say, The Wicker Man.

"You can take your chances on the other rides, this is the nearest to being alive."- Richard Thompson

I really like Dennis Hopper from Easy Rider on......yuck! Total waste of time! It was definitely a "B" movie. I could not find anything redeeming in it. By the way, this is the first time I have ever taken the time to comment on a movie, but this one really did me in. Had to go to a Dennis Hopper site to see what he was doing these days, and he's doing a lot---maybe that's the reason--should have turned this one down! Can't say much about the other actors in film. Just finished watching it, and already it's a blur. I would think Dennis Hopper at this point in his life, could pick and choose the really good parts. Had to do 5 other things while watching just waiting for the ending....glad I didn't pay money for this.

I had the honor to see this movie at its debut at the Hollywood Film Festival. Ironically the big studio premiere that week was The Ten Commandments. Ironic in that this dark and compelling movie also portrays the Commandments .... or more accurately the consequences of breaking them.

The intense and occasionally unnerving action is played out in a run down seaside town with its decrepit roller coaster as the lasting motif. Writer & director Jevon O'Neill's fertile imagination (fired perhaps by his Blackpool roots) is complimented by excellent performances from an eclectic cast : notably a rejuvenated Dennis Hopper as Harry the old time crook who craves one last chance at redemption; a hot Gina Gershon as Eileen the perfectly manicured femme fatale; and 'a butter wouldn't melt' Dominique Swain as Kelly the ingénue.

But it is the next in line of Hollywood star quality eccentric Irish actors - David Murray – whose performance as Simeon is the most memorable. Simeon's downhill slide from petty theft, blackmail and ultimately to murder seem to flaunt gratuitously all of those Commandments. He exudes power, terrorizes all around him … He is the hate figure. And yet his vulnerability and neuroses also evoke our sympathy … there but for the grace of god ?

The superb system at the Arclight Theater also brought out the movie's excellent sound track – the haunting choral piece over the movie's dramatic dénouement is particularly effective.

Congratulations to all involved with Out of Season and good luck with promoting the movie

I was lucky enough to get a preview of this film in London, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's quite a gripping drama/thriller that unfolds against the backdrop of a bleak,non-descript seaside resort as it shuts down for the season. I don't want to give too much away about the story line, but the movie it most reminded me of is The Grifters. The acting quite literally blew me away. There are 3 standouts performances though. I think Dennis Hopper gave his best performance since Blue Velvet. In certain scenes his emotions are so raw you feel it in your stomach--Oscar calibre stuff. Jordan Frieda (Lulu's son) delivers as Pierre the protagonist (and I use the term protagonist very loosely). And David Murray--oh my... This guy just exudes evil as Simeon. Shame that the AFI's list of Greatest Movie Villians has already been published. He will definately make the list when it's refreshed. Simeon is the most complex character in the film and David Murray plays him perfectly. Excellent direction by Jevon O'Neill--he has created quite a haunting movie, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end and will leave you with a sense of longing for the other half of humanity--the good half.

What a flat, boring, unnecessarily drawn-out storyline, complete with equally as baneful acting. Every concept surrounding the characters and the storyline is typical "dark" cliché, and very poorly done at that. Oh, it has its share of typical, exhausted characters: the demented religious zealot, the femme fatale, so on and so on...they are all essentially dull and static. Dominique Swain is totally obnoxious as Kelly, and leaves one wishing that she was the subject of the murder plot. Pierre is hands-down the most boring character in the entire film; he serves as little more than someone to stand there and wait for action in the storyline to come to him. And that clown? I won't even go there. So "there's no happy ending." Yawn. Big deal. What an original concept. It's only been done a thousand times before, and by far better actors and directors. About the only thing this film is good for is curing insomnia. Utterly atrocious.