Vindication

Bart Mastronardi's disturbing horror story follows a deeply troubled young man (nicely played by Keith Fraser) who is literally visited by Guilt after a failed suicide attempt. The story builds slowly but surely, allowing the audience to empathize with the characters. So, by the time the gory mayhem begins, it is all the more shocking and, ultimately, heartbreaking. There are a few limitations with the very low budget, but Mastronardi's skillful writing, directing, and cinematography impresses as much as (if not more than) a Hollywood filmmaker. In fact, he is able to show us a passion for visuals and storytelling that very few big-budget directors possess. So, if you are only looking for the standard slice-and-dice, don't bother. But if you are interested in viewing a challenging and memorable piece of work, then this is a must-see. Kudos must also go to actors Alan Rowe Kelly and Jerry Murdock, who give excellent supporting performances.

This creation by Bart Mastronardi is truly an ode to the essence of classic cinematography. It is a visual delight with filled with well lit scenes and perfectly chosen outdoor locations. The acting is vibrant and uptempo, enough to keep the viewers attention. Overall the film returns the horror genre back to its original focus; providing fear and displaying ingenuity. The film is truly worth the cost and is accessible easily through Amazon for purchase or rent. The highlights of the film are the spirited writing, which gracefully melds with the chaotic scenery. For true horror lovers or just for those that enjoy a perfectly executed film Vindication is must own.

Writer-director Bart Mastronardi brings us a "morality tale about a young man whose attempt at suicide fails causing his guilt to manifest into reality." That sums up the plot in a way far more artistic than I would have been able to state.

The film has a few flaws,and they should be known up front. There is plenty of over-acting, especially from the father character. While that works well on stage or perhaps in comedies or soap operas, it takes something away from the seriousness of this drama. The film also clearly suffers from a lack of budget, which is forgivable... though there seems to be too much reliance on hand-held and shaky-cam. They used Panasonic's DVX100B mini-DV, which unfortunately comes across more like a home movie.

The strength of the film lies in the really impressive scars and other special effects... including a cutting scene made me wince and turn my head. The acting is also decent, aside from the aforementioned over-acting at times. The story itself is also rather unique and well-presented, something we don't see enough of in these days of sequels and remakes.

I'm pleased to say friend of Killer Reviews, Raine Brown, appears (as do Joe Zaso and Alan Rowe Kelly). Brown's appearance always adds something special to a film, and if readers haven't seen her "Psycho Holocaust", they should.

Due to the flaws, I cannot give this film more than a 5/10 (or as Killer Reviews uses, 2.5/5). I do look forward to future productions from this cast and crew, but I cannot see this as much more than a learning experience. It is sad, but understandable, that the film took four years to find distribution.