Nothing I love more than scrolling through Amazon video looking for independent diamonds in the rough. Often times I find myself starting a movie only to shut it off part way through, so when I actually find one that holds my attention and truly entertains me, I find myself obligated to pass the word along.
Deadly Revisions caught my attention on the film festival circuit with the name of Bill Oberst Jr attached, and although I hadn't been lucky enough to actually see it during it's run, it remained in the back of my mind as one to watch if the chance ever presented itself. When I surprisingly found it on Amazon, I jumped at the chance, and I was not disappointed.
Oberst plays horror novelist Grafton Torn who, after an unfortunate fall down the stairs, finds himself suffering from memory loss. The recollection of how the accident happened constantly plagues Grafton, as do visions of some very effective and creepy ties to his own horror stories.
With the help of a friend, and a therapist, Grafton begins to piece together the events in what is an effective, gradually paced thriller.
The great thing about Deadly Revisions are the feelings of isolation and unease associated with the uncomfortable atmosphere and mystery surrounding the events of Grafton's accident. Director Gregory Blair gives us chilling glimpses of the puzzle, but never quite enough to put it all together until the end. The lighting is effectively dark at times, and helps to set a tense mood throughout.
Truly my only criticism is that the movie is incorrectly labeled as a horror, and is much more a dark psychological thriller with horror elements. Die hard horror fans may find it a bit unfulfilling, but the truth of it all is that Deadly Revisions has so much more challenging the audience than just crazed killers with power tools, or the over saturated zombie genre. Definitely worth giving it a try.
