The Level

Always happy to find a movie I've never heard of with a good script, good acting and good pace. This one is a low budget thriller that will keep your attention all along with many twists and surprises and a global quality of acting and direction. There are some similarities with Usual Suspects in the outline, but enough differences to be considered original in the general theme of torture and lies. I read the comment by members of the crew above, if you still read the chat It still rocks 10 years after, good job !

Get ready for another gangster movie with flash-backs and tough -talking bad guys, get ready to enjoy it. The cover with a wife-beater wearing beating mook tied to a chair surrounded by gun-waving gangster and gun-molls says it all and didn't disappoint. This movie had more beatings than a UFC card. Everyone gets a chance to sit in the beat seat as this movie unfolds. Its starts off with one beating Hench-man sitting in a chair telling why he had to another goon to a chair and beat him. It kept you guessing even though you've seen all these scenes before, but never like this. The gangster final words are as true as ever and his acting is superb, you realize we've all been taken for a ride. I wanted a nice little cheaply done gangster movie to wash the disappointing "HERO WANTED" out of my retinas these YAHOO's did it. They have a story line which is far superior than their budget.

Casting: these weren't actors these were tough guys impersonating actors acting like tough-guys. I don't know if real life they were COPS or Thugs, i just know they handed a lot of people a lot of misery and told their victims "Just doing my JOB!".

Special effects, no more CGI shoot-outs, unless you're Steven Speil-berg.

I saw some of their other movies and trust me they're carving out a nice little resume for themselves. They're are coming into their own.

If you like this one try "TURN LEFT"

I'm writing this because as it stands it has been given a rating of 4.9 after less than 200 votes. This is absolutely unfair, as this is definitely above average, especially as there are no big names in it and the whole film has a very low budget feel to it. Film makers who clearly have a low budget should be applauded for making films of this quality when there is so much dross around which have millions of dollars spent on it.

Of course, this won't be for everybody. For a start, it is very, very, very violent. The opening five minutes packs a rather nasty punch but should be enough for the viewer to know whether this film is for them or not. If you are put off by the violence, you will hate this movie. If you say 'wow' then you will not be disappointed by the rest of this movie.

The two heavies this story revolves around play their roles superbly and at times, too convincingly. The viewer never knows what actually occurred with different versions of the truth being played out. It culminates in a fairly grizzly finale, but one which is plausible and pleasing (especially for the sick among us).

It's funny, but all the reviews on IMDb are positive. So who are these people downgrading it? And for the record - I'm in no way affiliated with this film, as a lot of reviewers are on IMDb. Check out my other reviews to prove it. This is a tour de force of realistic violence with a good story and excellent acting. A must for gangster film buffs who like their violence grittily displayed.

My name is Paris Campbell. I am the lead actor in D.O.A. I just wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful things that have been said about the film and about my performance in particular. (negative comments aside.) As was said by Josh Crook earlier, this was done on a shoestring budget but all the performers (and the crew) did their thing. This is significant because our art form is dying right before our eyes. Independent film gives new film makers a chance to show the world their vision through their eyes! This makes it possible for our society to receive art in it's purest form. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Peace

I just watched this movie on Showtime. It was entitled D.O.A. (Dead). I had no idea what to expect, so I watched it with an open mind. The first thing that caught my attention was the voice of the lead character, Paris Campbell. It was resonant, clear and articulate. Even though I had never seen him act in anything else, I could tell immediately that this was a seasoned actor, and that drew me in initially. I am not a fan of excessive violence, but despite that, I was well entertained by the level of acting done by the two lead characters. The whole movie is told through flashbacks, and even flashbacks within flashbacks. I am not a gangster or a criminal, but I could find myself identifying with both of the lead characters, and actually cared what was happening to them as the story unfolded. I loved the camaraderie they displayed, and at no time did I feel like they were just "acting". Everything seemed so real, albeit gory at times. I couldn't step away from the screen until the movie was over, and that is a rarity for me. I was grossed out, but thoroughly entertained. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and just about the time I thought I knew what was going on, they would throw in another twist. 10 out of 10!