Melanie's Grave

After reading the rave reviews here, I was ecstatic at the opportunity to indulge my ocular orifices on this visual masterpiece. Then the movie started, and I realize all these reviews MUST be people who worked on the film, because they are all FOS. The cinematography is boring, the transitions are dated, and the sound design is non-existent. The only thing less appealing than all that, was the acting. This really was an incredible waste of the 20 mins I spent trying to get through it.

I understand it is an independent film, but that doesn't mean it's supposed to be bad.

Send address, so I can send a bill for my time.

This film is full of twists and turns, as the story builds in pace, in a meaningful and masterful way, with strong acting from the cast, to deliver an indie gem.

I personally found this film, to be totally engaging, as I simply did not know, where it would go next, as the narrative evolves and progresses.

If you like suspense, wrapped up in a thriller, then this will be right up your street, as it keeps you entertained, from start to finish, with solid cinematography and well placed music, that helps to keep you, on the edge of your seat through out.

This is a solid directorial debut, by Garry Moore and well worth a watch.

Melanie's Grave, primarily helmed by Garry Moore, is one of those B-grade flicks that might just keep some viewers on their toes. The plot centers around a thief who seeks shelter in a house, only to discover it's home to Mel (Rachel Meredith), a character dealing with autism and severe OCD. This intriguing setup paves the way for a gripping and suspenseful story that strays from the usual hostage film tropes.

Rachel Meredith gives a commendable performance as Mel, capturing the nuances of her character, though nothing particularly groundbreaking stands out. As Mel's troubled history unfolds, the audience gets pulled into a captivating web of suspense. The film smartly flips expectations, moving from a hostage scenario to a psychological thriller with surprising fluidity.

In the second act, the scene shifts to a forested area, complete with a retro, eerie soundtrack and gory special effects, reminiscent of an 80s slasher movie. This shift from the close quarters of the first act adds an unexpected twist to the film's overall flow.

By the third act, viewers find themselves surprisingly cheering for Mel as she tries to stay under the radar of the authorities, even as they grasp the reasons behind her predicament. This moral gray area enriches the plot and prompts the audience to reflect on their own feelings.

While the film might benefit from a tighter edit, the deliberate pacing of the action sequences lends a sense of authenticity to the hostage scenario... have no expectation, and maybe you get surprised!

I was well impressed with Melanie's Grave. Having read up on the film and the director I wasn't expecting a lot from a small independent film like this with its limited resources, but I was very surprised and impressed with it and the originality of the story. The director, who also wrote and produced it, in my opinion did a great job. I did not see the twists and turns coming. I was especially impressed with Rachel Meredith who plays the lead character of Mel, who I found out has won awards for this role. She is a very talented actress and should be in more films. I'm surprised the director hasn't made more films yet, and I look forward to seeing his next one. If he ever made a sequel to this, I would definitely watch it. Brilliant!