movieswithgreg

These things need to be said. The socio-cultural sins of this film were de rigeur for the mid- 1950s, but we're reviewing this in the 21st century, and they should not be ignored, because young people watch this stuff.

White people playing Modoc natives. Latinos playing Modoc natives. Everyone but native actors playing Modoc natives. Then there's the "friendly Indians" vs the bad Indians. Of course, the friendly Indians are defined by the degree to which they comply with white demands.

They Indians in this movie look like Apaches. The actual Modoc natives this film is based on, dressed very differently. The point here is not that Westerns must be historically accurate; after all, no one likes a "rivet-counter." Rather, the point here is that it's grotesque and culturally dismissive to promote the image that "all Indians are alike." That "any injun will do."

Then there's the geographical appropriation.

The Sedona, Arizona scenery is beautiful and dramatic. After all, Sedona is known for that very thing. But the red sands and rocks of Arizona resemble nothing of the Northern Californian-Oregon-Idaho settings where the Modocs existed, and where Captain Jack operated. Not even the Oregon high desert of Southeast Oregon where it was set.

This film is typical of the big budget technicolor Westerns of the golden era of the Western - the 1950s. It was likely popular at the time, and understandably so. But today, it should be pushed to the back of the shelf, no matter how pretty it is to lock at.

The sad part is that many viewers will think this is real. This is part of a growing field of spoofs, hoaxes, mockumentaries that try too hard to be real.

But why? Why bother? It has little value as a comedy, because it's too dry and close to the vest for that.

So the only good conclusion I can make is that this is a "resume" film. A project made to show future producers and investors that the director/producer here can make a horror film. Horror films are the most profitable films in Hollywood, so that's where the smart "junior" filmmakers will go.

The funny thing is that the plot could be rendered in a straight feature film. As vampire genre goes, it's a decent story if treated right. But otherwise, it's pointless, other than a spoof of how fake actual reality shows are. But that point doesn't need an hour and a half to drive home that stake.

When watching this, I felt like it was like a carnival ride. Instead of having to be "this old"... or to be "this tall"... for this film, you should be under 30. And urban.........

This is a talky low budget (but visually attractive) urban "small film" about white urban adequately affluent young people trying to solve white urban adequately affluent young people problems. By talking and journaling about them in white urban adequately affluent young people ways.

If you're not white, nor adequately affluent, nor urban, nor under 30 (or under 40 if you're insufficiently mature), then this may not only bore you, but it might irritate you.

I can see why this project got its strong cast. This is the kind of LA movie that they can commute to in the morning, and just show up and talk. They don't need to train for it, don't need to stunt for it, to sing, nor dance, nor fight, nor perform heroics, nor get dirty, nor spend hours in FX makeup or costuming.