Calafrio!

While waiting for their flight in a bar of an airport, the writer Donovan Miller (Todd Field) tells the story of his best-seller to a stranger to kill time. In Lake City, Violet Madison (Natascha Gregson Wagner), Austin Walker (Todd Field), Emma Scarlett (Dina Meyer) and Jared Roth (Mackenzie Astin) are good friends. After going together to a bar, Jared comes wounded to Austin's apartment in the late night and confesses that he is gay and has just killed a man in his apartment. He asks to his friends to help him to vanish with the body of the victim. The group agrees, and after many incidents, Violet stresses, jeopardizing the group. Many secrets are disclosed along this surprisingly good thriller, with lots of plot points and black humor. The story, including its presentation, is very original and enjoyable. In some moments, I recalled the magnificent "Shallow Grave" and "Mystery Date". This unknown movie deserves to be discovered in the rentals or in the stores. When you think that there is no more surprises in the screenplay, the plot has another twist. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Calafrio!" ("Chill!")

I rented this because it seemed original and had a potentially good story. I wasn't sure what the story really was all about, but I was in a rush, and needed something quick.

Maybe I should have slowed down a bit....

First, my customary plot summary. (Past reviews of mine usually follow the same format. Not like you care, but that doesn't matter. You've read my comment and now you can't unread it....I'm sorry, I'm drifting.) Anyhow!! The story starts in an airport bar with an author talking with a man next to him. They start talking about his writing, and his recent book, "Stranger Than Fiction." Then he starts to delve into the story, which is, basically, about four twenty-somethings that get involved in a murder, and the perilous downward spiral their lives go in as an effect. It goes deeper than that, much deeper, but I'll spare you all the details, only because I rambled enough before and am catching myself doing it again.

As for my reactions...Well, the movie didn't thrill me. First of all, it was way too long for such a plotline. And as for the plotline...well, I couldn't figure out at all where this movie was going! It starts as a "thrust into treachery" sort of tale, but then it starts to get funny. Some of the humor is appropriate, but if this isn't a comedy...then it didn't fit. But then, it gets into this thriller-comedy-drama thing, and really gets confusing. By then, I was starting to get tired and figured the end was near. But then it gets twisted, then dramatic--then goes into this Part Two that seemed totally tacked on! It was almost like the "Part Two" seemed to be one of a few choices to be the last 30% of the movie. I don't know, it was just getting too contrived then, and sort of tense, but by then, I gave up on this one. There are a few good things. Good acting, effective music, an obvious-yet-not twist in the end (though, the cast list gives it away a little bit) and the way the movie would go into the alternate, film-negative sort of look was creative. But didn't save this messy film.

Check it out for originality, but I hate to say that it really isn't that good. So, you be the judge.

In the beginning it feels like something is missing but in the end you will know why. It's a small production and has the feel of a USA movie even with the director's attempt to give it a more gritty texture. I was put off at the start because of the acting, however, the acting and the story both continue to improve as the movie nears the conclusion. The story is told well and keeps all of it's secrets quiet until the right moments. I am not going to slam this movie because lets face it, it was not meant to be a blockbuster but it really did surprise me. This is not one to buy, but it is certainly worth watching. Just make sure you stick with it all the way to the end. Not bad at all.

Someone Else Mentioned "Heathers" that is a good comparison for this movie

The story is entertaining although the movie is not very strong. Probably due to lack of experience it misses something. Strong acting for one thing. But the thing that bothered me the most is that they didn't try to make an ongoing story of it. Some things aren't explained in the movie itself but by a narrator who has to tie some loose ends together in the end to finish the story That is what i think is very cheap and non professional.

This movie gave me the impression that they had a four hour television series and tried to cut into 100 minutes to make a movie out of it. They failed!

But after all these negative things it is time to name some good sides. The twists are very nice and also the reaction of the different characters when they get deeper in deeper in the sh*t. And it is not some standard Hollywood action movie you have seen millions of times before.

rating: 3 out of 5

This is a film that draws you as it begins as a bar story and progresses into a wonderfully complex story as one situation spins out of control. A worthwhile rental or even a good purchase for a collection. The characters are complex and diverse and play off each other well. A similar film is Shallow Grave a British Import from 1994 or the great American Film, The Usual Suspects.