The Prodigy

I was invited to their private screening in Dallas as a friend of a friend of a friend. I had no info on the film, so I didn't really know what to expect. My expectations were minimal. About a minute into it (very cool credit sequence hits), I realize that I was not about to watch your typical low-budget indie film. The Prodigy is one of the most intelligent thrillers I have seen at any budget level. The film tells the story of Truman Fisher (an incredible, A-list performance by Holt Boggs)a small time hood and the jaded anti-hero of the film. What he doesn't know is that he is being watched and studied by a legendary killer that we as the audience never see until the end. No, I'm not going to spoil it, but this film kept me guessing in disbelief with every turn. What impressed me the most, is the attention to detail that was paid to every element of the film. The acting, the fight scenes, the wardrobe, the visual style and last but not least, the script were so very specific and well thought out. In a genre that is known for being over the top and cheesy, especially at this level, it's the subtleties that put this film in a class by itself. The Prodigy is a thinking man's film, set in a genre that will entertain the most simple minded audience member. For a film trying to get out there and launch careers, this is the perfect vehicle for everyone involved. Bottom line, is this film was done for very little money, by a group of complete unknowns across the board. The Producer (Rucker) had to be some kind of miracle worker to help Kaufman pull this off. It resets the bar in my opinion of what is possible of film-making at this level. If this is truly his first film, then the William Kaufman is going to join the likes of great directors like Michael Mann, Walter Hill and David Fincher. I am a fan and can't wait to see what he does next.

From the first gun shot to the last gun shot, The Prodigy was unlike any other film. The writing(Kaufman), acting, and Producing(Rucker)were all first class. The story line was quite fascinating, every character is involved in the underground crime scene, still a good guy is able to emerge from this violent circle. Truman(the lead character), is a complex character with a dichotomy of emotions, that leads one to wonder how he ever got involved in this lifestyle. The movie explores and shows a different side of crime that most have not ever thought about. How the producers and everyone involved made this first class film without the backing of a major movie house is testament to the creativity and dedication by everyone associated with the film.

The Prodigy is why we love Indie films. Studios are often too scared to produce fresh, dark and original stories like this one. As soon as the first bullets fly, you know your on a roller coaster from hell. And I for one didn't want to get off. The lighting and the look of the film works as another character in the movie. Scary, dark and brooding which is hard to pull off on 16mm. The Prodigy character is fantastic. He's the bogey man that has been lurking in the back of all of our minds since we were kids. Who is he? Is he the devil or God's militant dark angel Michael. The biblical references are numerous. The producers, director, cast and crew have delivered a perfect Indie film.

Needless to say, I can't wait for The Prodigy 2, 3, 4...I give this film 4.5 silver bullets.

Exciting and well-paced, 'The Prodigy' is a crime movie that plays like a horror movie. You have the haunted hero and his quirky pals going up against the seemingly unstoppable killer that will take them all to the edge of their sanity. Put guns in every hand, and you have an offbeat and very welcome thriller.

'The Prodigy' is a little come-out-of-nowhere masterpiece, the first feature of director William Kaufman, who co-wrote the script with stars Boggs, and Beckham. It's a taught, tight independent movie that looks as slick as any Hollywood lackluster. The ample, almost endless fight-scenes and shoot-outs are expertly choreographed and edited, and the entire movie looks crisp and beautiful. This is one of those films where you can see every penny present on the screen, shot no doubt while the leads were crashing on each others' floors and eating beans out of a can. If there is any fault to be had with the film, it's that the plot is a bit murky, with motivations difficult to figure out at times-in the beginning, I was convinced that Truman was an undercover cop, and his bust had gone bad; in reality it was a situation of rival gangs having a lively, bloody discussion. But if you sit back and let 'The Prodigy' take you where it wants to go, you'll never be bored and never be anything less than entertained and impressed. Standing out on a pyramid of outstanding actors is the film's true find, star Holt Boggs, who infuses the morally-ambiguous Truman with a depth and intelligence not usually found in low-budget crime thrillers (or big budget ones, for that matter). Actress and stuntwoman Inosanto is fun to watch as well. Truth be told, there isn't a false note struck by any character.

Mike Watt - FILMTHREAT

Although I'm a little fatigued with the 'bullets and blood' shorts and features that are produced wholesale, I was genuinely stunned with the quality of this production. I have produced 10 shorts and 2 micro-budget features, so I feel the pain of being held back by monetary restrictions. Yet with this film I never once thought 'if only they had the funds and/or time to do that the right way'. If they would have announced the budget at 5 million, I would have said that it was money well spent. The cinematography was the best I have seen from a local production, the characters and acting were completely convincing, and the editing, pacing, and score were spot-on (if you notice any of these, then it becomes irritating) and did nothing to detract from the story…which I found refreshingly unique and richly layered. If I had a distribution company I would have signed them in the lobby after the screening.