Hayseed

Hayseed is a fun and compelling mystery seasoned with humor. You won't waste your time with this one and you won't guess who-done-it. The lead actors are top notch and so is the supporting cast, great acting from top to bottom. Filmed in Michigan, it has an authentic midwestern feeling of presence. You will never guess that this film was made during the height of the Covid epidemic. That the film survived is a real tribute to writer director Burgess. We knew nothing about the movie, when seeing it at the Black Bear Film Festival and were quite taken with it. It has a dumb title which no way represents the film. Ignore the title. Sit back with popcorn, a beverage of choice, and enjoy.

Going into this movie I had very little knowledge of the premise and characters, or even really the genre. Man was I impressed. It not only has a solid mystery plot with some great red herrings and plot twists but the performances were top notch also. Everyone played their parts perfectly. The dark humor felt very organic and not forced and the dramatic scenes were very well done. We have been friends with Nolan North for a couple years and it's great seeing him play a different type of character than we're used to. Bill Sage commands every scene he's in even when he's somewhat defeated in parts. And Ismenia Mendes absolutely rocked in the "lead" role! The rest of the cast of characters were always entertaining and fun to guess their involvement in the bigger picture. The music and editing can't be overlooked either as both were done extremely well. A must see if it's playing in your area or you can stream it!!! 10/10.

I just watched Hayseed for a third time and each time I'm surprised to see another twist in the plot. It's just a fun movie to see. I was wondering throughout who did it, as my hunches changed many times over during the film. It's a good combination of comedy and intrigue, reminds me of the show Columbo. The movie clips along at a good pace too. There wasn't anytime where it dragged on as I was collecting clues. The fact that it was filmed in my home state of Michigan was also a bonus for me. It's amazing that this is the director/writer's first full feature film. I encourage everyone to see this film!

Writer/director Travis Burgess sets himself a difficult task in Hayseed. It's both a comedy set in a small town in Michigan filled with eccentric characters and a mystery whodunnit. In order for it to work we have to be amused by the proceedings while also making sure that the mystery keeps us guessing and that the resolution makes sense. Fortunately for us, he manages to pull off this juggling act.

If you are looking for CGI and car chases and shoot outs, pass this one up. But if you would like a low-key, laid back, black and white mystery, check this one out.

I'm not not sure why I picked this one on a cold January morning but I'm glad I did.

Check it out.

Hayseed reels you in from the opening minutes with the mystery at the center of its story about a murdered priest in a small Michigan town. It's impossible to choose a favorite performances amongst a cast of standouts literally top to bottom.

Writer/director Travis Burgess clearly knows how to tell a compelling story, and the entire production team succeeds in crafting a world you want to spend time in as an audience member. Being from a small Michigan town myself, I felt like I knew several of the characters, which only made the story more engrossing. And no spoilers, but the ending is *chef's kiss*

Seek this one out however you can!