zblinks

This little indie film hits every beat in a melodic story. The film benefits from superb performances from the veteran bit actor Bates Wilder (Joy) and from up and comer Jessica Rotthe (Happy Death Day, La La Land). These two have a compelling chemistry from the very first time they share the screen. They swiftly create a believable dynamic that reveals the craft of this screen writer's ability to handle dialogue. This film does not fall into the overwritten dialogue trap that most indie writer/director films suffer from. Kightlinger executed this script with great restraint. He allowed the performers to bring their touches to the characters. The choice of location is almost as stark as one can imagine. It serves a purpose to give one a sense of complete isolation and yet it feels like a place we all know and find beautiful. This is a film that would have been a darling for indie spirit awards if it had a slightly bigger named actor attached. It is well written, directed, edited and scored. For a small film it has big heart.

Director/writer Andrew Kightlinger does it again. He is well adapted to handling a strong cast and bringing together the elements necessary to make a successful short film. Peter Wigand is rock solid behind the camera. He has captured the stark beauty of the landscape to punctuate the quality of this film. Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)delivers a top notch performance. Judith Hoag (Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtles) is great in this short film. It is good to see actors with the star power of Ruck and Hoag working with young directors and production crews on short films. This is how the next generation of great filmmakers are developed. The entire production company should be proud of this film.

Andy Mogren is not bashful about asking you to check your snobbishness at the door with this film.

True to Mogren's other work WIAGS is a lampooning comedy romp with no throttle on the Tom Foolery.

This film is hard to criticize because it is so outlandish. I find his work very funny. Not dry British humor funny, rather college student on a weekend bender kind of funny.

The animation is crude, the story line is pure camp, the animated violence is over the top but it all works.

This film won't be for everyone, but high school and college age men will raise Mogren on a pedestal one day and chant his name as the visionary of their youth.