Rough Crossing

I only saw a handful of episodes but the ones I did were great. It was clear the show was produced with a shoestring budget but great writing and acting can overcome low budgets. A soap opera with a paranormal/Horror twist has been done before so this was not the 1st but it will rank in the top 5 right under Dark Shadows. Sure when they show the family estate, it was clearly a low income housing project house and the Michelin star restaurant scenes were clearly filmed in a Texas Roadhouse and Waffle House. Their 5 star luxury hotel Honeymoon suite scene was filmed in a super 8 motel. (they forgot to cover up the fire escape plan poster on the door) and the stars prized Maserati was really a Chrysler LeBaron.) The show had its ups and downs but was what it was and that is a great low budget show. Remember some of the best Horror films had low budgets but are still cited as the best. Movies like Night of the Living Dead, The Evil Dead and who can forget Birdemic: Shock and Terror.

I was visiting my cousin in Eugene, Oregon when I saw this show, and I must say I'm very impressed! The acting, the directing, and the cinematography are great on this little indie T.V. show. I am always wanting to know what is going to happen from one episode to the next!

Maybe I didn't catch the "totally awesome" episodes of Rough Crossing, 'cause I don't think the show is all that great. It's OK for what it is, a cable access show in the form of a soap opera, but that's not saying much. I am surprised that the show was on for so long, though (but I guess cable access shows don't have to worry about ratings). From what I could tell when I watched it drunk in college, the show utilized the "talents" of a number of stars from Lane County community access.

All in all: Hit or miss show for fans of cable access shows attempting to replicate "real" shows. The acting and writing is pretty mind-numbing, however.