Black Circle Boys

Well, I honestly didn't find this movie to be anything spectacular. I'd call it a guy version of "The Craft." Which means it was more gory, more violent, etc. But it wasn't half as fun as watching "The Craft." For instance, none of the boys had supernatural powers, so don't expect any special effects in that area. Character development was minimal and the ending was unsatisfying. I do think there are some promising actors in this group though. Eric Mabius as the bad boy leader Shane Carver had an excellent performance and I think his acting was the best it could be considering the character he played. Also Tara Subkoff as Chloe has proven to be a well defined actress. Check out "All Of Me" to see her do a great job in a starring role. I'd recommend this movie if you're looking for something a bit scarier than your normal fair but nothing too deep.

This isn't real bad for a cheapie that covers the life of a "super-exclusive" brotherhood that is addicted to drugs, alcohol, and violence. The faded colors appear like it was filmed in 1976, and the dark, gritty feeling illustrates the fact that Matthew Carnahan has some strong directing potential in his part of creating a sense of living a disturbing society. Remember, this is an indie effort I'm talking about here. Please don't expect this to be another blood-curled horror picture that would make the vote count rise to rapid pulse highs because this is an actual true story providing facts and figures, and it has a plot that is deep and moving. Two very interesting names in this film: Dee Wallace-Stone (E.T.) is Kyle's mother; the woman shouting and hollaring in a wild hangout scene is Grammy-nominated singer Lisa Loeb in a five-second cameo without the eyeglasses. Plus maybe a couple others, too. Why are they in this movie??? Well, I wouldn't rate it so high to call this an impressive work of art. It is a mildly entertaining surprise for a limited crowd who's got the intimate appeal to movies that portray gang violence. Fairly good, though.

I usually do not flip through movies I have never heard of and stop and watch them, but I turned Black Circle Boys on and for some reason i couldn't turn it off. It was a movie that just kept my attention. An excellent cast made this movie even more the better. I am so amazed by this movie that I want to go out and buy it.

Black Circle Boys (1997) is loosely based on real events filled with drugs, satanism & murder. On June 19, 1984, 17 year old Ricky Kasso lured a local boy into the woods in the middle of the night in Northport, New York. There, he beat, tortured & murdered 17 year old Gary Lauwers, while several friends watched on. When several friends asked why he murdered Gary, Ricky met each inquiry with a different excuse. After the murder, Ricky & a friend ran away, destination California. Not getting far, they returned to Northport where they were arrested and charged with Gary's murder. During his interview, Ricky implicated his friend as taking part in the murder. Although Ricky told his friend that he would recant his participation the next day, Ricky Kasso hung himself in his jail cell on July 7, 1984, leaving his friend to hold the bag. 6 months after the murder, the testimonies & alibi's of his activities during the time of the murder, Ricky's friend was acquitted of all charges. (Ricky's friend's name was never officially released, the name used in the local paper was mistakenly used, but was never retracted.)

In 2000, the movie "Ricky 6" follows is a factual account of the murder, taken directly from court transcripts, testimonies & interviews of those who were present & witnessed the horror that stole the innocence of the woods & would haunt the town of Northport forever.

In my opinion, the only reason I like this movie is because of Scott Bairstow, who played Kyle Sullivan & Eric Mabius, who played Shane Carver. Scott reminds me of Shane West, but in a cute sort of way. And Eric is so freaking gorgeous, in a trailer park white trash sort of way.

Although "Black Circle Boys" seemed to have a bigger budget to make, it takes so many liberties in the events that took happened that night in the woods. I would much rather watch "Ricky 6". It stays true to the horrific crime that shocked the entire community of Northport, New York, in 1984.

"Black Circle Boys" seems promising enough. It's about a group of devil worshipping band members led by the devilish Eric Mabius who take in an outcast (Scott Bairstow), broken by the death of his best friend. The kid is cool with them, often taking bad drugs and p***ing off people, until he starts seeing their more violent sides. The film is worth watching for the strong performances from the cast, the script is realistic for the first two-thirds, and the low budget, grainy look makes things more creepier. The problem with the film is that the after an hour and fifteen minutes into the film, the screenwriter had no idea what to do with "Black Circle Boys" and turns into a silly slasher flick, with all of the typical horror movie cliches thrown in. The ending especially is a big cop-out for what seems like a great film. Overall, I recommend it for late night viewing, and if you're into independent films, it's a very interesting one, but the finale of the film is a big letdown and left me disappointed.