moviemaniacslash

Searching for Haizmann is a well executed, well crafted horror film that utilizes one of the best means of conveying a story-the mystery. Events and characters unfold as our protagonists search for the truth, and ultimately before the truth finds them. The director takes this convention a step further, allowing his narrative to unspool thru interviews and pre-recorded segments. While this may seem like a gimmick similar to the Blair Witch Project and Cannibal Holocaust, the cinema vertie style lends itself nicely to the overall style and adds to enhance the atmosphere of dread. A nicely ambiguous ending further adds to the surrealistic environment and proves to be an interesting twist.

Very rarely to the mechanics of authoring and transferring worm their way into a review, but this is one exception that should be noted. What is an early 80s horror, never looks better than it does today. The image and colors look magnificent, much better than I remember them to be from the early videocassette versions. And the extras on the disc are incredible. From behind the scenes to early publicity, each corner is covered. As for the film, it is still the same endearing alien monster fest we all remember it to be, just now only stronger and better looking. The effects are the real stand out here. From gore to the aliens themselves, all are staged with tremendous imagination and craft that never reveals their low budget origins. A truly awesome independent effort that has aged well and has finally received the DVD treatment it so deserves.

Writer Robert Rowland needs to take a bow for a very well written and executed comedy. Comedy is perhaps the hardest genre to pull off on an independent level and Rowland succeeds in being funny, poignant, touching, and heart warming. Watching SADWI will automatically draw comparisons to much more expensive Hollywood films, but here is a film that captivates and wins you over with more heart and soul than 10 studio films combined. And all this is achieved without big name actors. But this does not by any means hurt the film. In fact, you would swear that all the cast had appeared in several other motion pictures. This is a film that needs and deserves a wide mainstream audience. Why it has not been picked up is beyond me. Any film buff needs to seek out this film.