The Devil's Tail

The Devils Tail is the outstanding debut feature from director Christopher Comrie and writer Samantha Swan. Comrie/Swan's DIY approach to low budget filmmaking jumps off the screen and remains in-your-face.Simply put, this is an adventure flick, following the protagonist(Pete), who travels from Toronto to Mexico, to rescue his estranged best friend. However, things quickly grow complex and the duo of Comrie/Swan make several bold and refreshing, character choices. The flawed protagonist becomes increasingly complicated as he descends down an ultimately dark spiral. Yet, one of Comrie/Swans most notable strengths is their ability to stay fun and playful with in an 'art film'. I strongly encourage anyone/everyone to check out this flick and support passionate character driven cinema.

This film is an excellent example of what can be accomplished with a man and a movie camera. It is not without it's technical flaws, but that is not a reason to discount this film. The majority of films these days tend to exist on two opposite ends of a spectrum: those that are overly produced and visually impressive, but short on story, and those that feel as if they have something personally invested in their characters and story but are without the economic means to present it in a way that we have become aesthetically accustomed to.

The story is complex without being convoluted, the characters are real and the performances are genuine without feeling heavy handed and the cinematography is adept at displaying the colours and richness of the Mexican locations.

This is indeed a Canadian film in tone, but the decision to tackle the familiar questions and themes about what constitutes the Canadian experience abroad, makes for a unique presentation of the 'small Canadian' film. This is a gutsy move for first time director Christopher Comrie.

It also begs the question, why do Canadian movies have to take place in Canada.