The Spreading Ground

Derek VanLint has done an outstanding job with this film. As I watched it, I imagined that either he had immense control over his director of photography or that he WAS one and the same, aside from being the overall film director. I was right. His eye for making a scene as intense as possible, and for finding what not to SAY, but what to SHOW, is amazing! Anyone who didn't enjoy this needs to re-evaluate just how many explosions or car chases they still need to see in their lifetime. This film does not rely on the overused junk that "mass appeal" films can't seem to do without. Also, Dennis Hopper is great in a role completely against typecasting! Frederic Forrest seems strained and pained as the overworked and overtired sidekick detective.

Seeing Dennis Hopper and Frederic Forest in the same movie again, I couldn't help but be reminded of "Apocalypse Now" - an unlikely standard for any film, much less the "Spreading Ground", to meet. Yet I found this movie quite watchable and fairly intriguing. It starts out strong, but then levels off in its impact. The director of "The Spreading Ground", Derek Van Lint, was the Director of Photography on "Alien", and his talents as a cinematographer are amply evident here.

It starts of good, but quickly becomes bad The actors seems to be reading the manuscript for the first time during the takes. I thought Kojak would show up, and the crooks are just awful. I got surprised when i saw it was from 2000, my guess would have been 1980 I liked some scenes and gave it a 3 because of them. But any episode of Kojak is better

is a question answered (one of the characters, albeit with a spelling change and no relation to Rand's...)

Derek Vanlint's directorial debut shows us the talent that can come from moving into directing from being a D.P. It shows in ever shot, and a friend of mine in the biz has always said that DP's really "make the movie" anyway.

Frederic Forest is always good, and Hopper was over the top in playing a somewhat "normal" person, even as a cop investigating a horrific series of child murders.

Some people might find the film slow, but I was rapt in every minute, and look forward to more fare from Vanlint.

the lowest score possible is one star? that's a shame. really, i'm going to lobby IMDb for a "zero stars" option. to give this film even a single star is giving WAY too much. am i the only one who noticed the microphones dangling over hopper's head at the station? and the acting, or should i say the lack thereof? apparently talent wasn't a factor when the casting director came to town. my little sister's elementary school talent show provides greater range and depth of emotion. and those fake irish accents were like nails on a chalk board. the only thing that could have made this movie worse would have been...oh, wait, no,no, it's already as bad as it can get.