The Double Born

I saw this film at a screening in Portland, OR. It is defiantly not for everyone. But, if you are into edgy, uncomfortable, visual, alternate cinema, then you should check it out. The direction is stylish and crisp and lighting and production values are surprisingly high for a film of this apparent low budget. The acting is also quite good with British actress Sammi Davis giving quite a stunning and BRAVE performance in the lead. Too bad we don't see more of her these days. Like a train wreck, the film is hard not to turn away from and if you like both artistic and in-your-face film-making, you should "enjoy" this bold expression of an offbeat story.

It's difficult for the viewer not to share empathy with Sophonisba (Sammi Davis), as she deals with the despair of a missing child. Her far-reaching and obsessive desire to have another child, by most desperate means, foreshadows a dubious outcome for sure- but don't try to predict the ending because there are several very interesting plot twists. The movie never drags, has a suspenseful and uncomfortable musical score which heightens the senses, and keeps you engaged as two dark worlds converge and hidden truths come to light. You may never reflect upon this film as "low-budget" due to the talented cast and artful writing and direction. One of the great independent films!

What I loved most about this film was the weird voyeuristic quality that you feel watching the fabric of her life unravel and flipping your empathy and sympathies from one character to another. The female lead, played by Sammi Davis is riveting as she recklessly leads you into her loneliness, loss, sadness and desires. Davis's performance is one of the strongest female performances I have seen and her dive into the darkness of her own will and desire is frightening and mesmerizing in the same moment. The film's production design moves from always being just a shade darker or a shade off of what you might be expecting in its use of muted but rich colors to stark barren rooms and landscapes. All of this adds to the tension of the film's plot and is reinforced by an equally riveting and sometimes stark John Cage-like musical score. All the performances in the film are balanced and strong and all the male leads are powerful and diametrically different from one another adding to the dimensionality of the plot. But all in all, it is Sammi Davis who is astounding and makes this film come alive in its ultimate madness. But then, who would expect less from Director, Tony Randel who covers every frame with his special touches and takes us flawlessly through days of crazy madness. Loved it.

People who likes this "movie" must be:

A) Involved with this film student quality mishmash; i.e. friends/relatives of its director.

B) Serial killers/psychos in training.

C) Pseudo intellectual posers who think anything grainy, disjointed and deeply disturbing is "art."

It's no wonder we never saw this in theaters. We had hoped for more, since it was based on a story by Bram Stoker. Instead, what we got is a series of badly executed jump shots, irrelevant plot points, gratuitous nudity, poorly conceived "artistic" lighting, dizzy camera angles that are supposed to be "gritty", boring, meaningless still life shots, ridiculously bad acting, and accents that sound straight out of a faux coal mine. Wth?? An utterly nauseating waste of film. Just my opinion, of course!

Yes, folks, the emperor really IS naked!

Double Born is filled with plot twists and suspenseful story-telling that is rarely achieved by any director/writer/editor - regardless the budget.

It never takes its audience for granted which is very refreshing. Randel keeps the audience guessing up until the last frame! Rare. Reminds me a little of how I felt about the Cohen brothers' first film - Blood Simple.

The mood Randel elicits stays with you long after the film is over. The cinematography and sound help set the tone that the actors run with with no hesitation.

I felt a little like I was watching an accident. I couldn't look away and I was pulled, almost against my will, into a world of wounded people trying to find some way out. Kudos to Randel and the Cast. This film deserves to be seen!