Le tunnel

Some guy was ranting on a message board about this film months ago, and I was recently able to acquire a video from a friend of a friend who really loves Troma but hates this film.

I have to say that "The Tunnel" struck me. While the production quality is relatively low, and some of the handling of the cast seems haphazard, uneven, or sloppy (Kaufman), the film does have a certain dark, freakshow style that I happened to find fascinating. The direction, at times seems a little awkward, with a lack of attention to pacing. Even in the 15-minute version, it didn't pick up enough speed into climax, and rather droned its way into a thud.

Unlike previous posters, however, I did find the story just interesting and unique enough to keep me thinking, and I felt that this film suffered perhaps more from ambition than pretention. It seems to be reminiscent of French absurdism, and not just in Kaufman's rather pathetic Blacque Jacque Shellacque impersonation, but in the ideas expressed in the film.

Paul, the main character, is struggling with his mortality, in ways which are not so clearly explained(an asset?). Is the point of "The Tunnel" that there is no light, or that there is no tunnel? Existentialist or Nihilist?

And on a final note, I was rather impressed with the work of Casey Wickson in the film as the lead character. I don't know that I would've made it through this film if not for his performance, which seemed genuine, and a familiar face for someone who apparently hasn't done much else. When Paul speaks, there is pain in his voice, and my gf said she would've cried if he had more than three sentences to speak. If acting is in the eyes, then this guy might have it, although he did seem young for the part.

The story here seems solid, perhaps even excellent, but the direction (or lack thereof) slows it, and, at times, takes you away from it. If you're looking for a "little too weird for its own good think-piece", then you might want to check it out. I give it a 7.5/10, mostly on its apparent intentions and a singular performance.

It's pretty weird.

I saw it while staying at the Tromadance condo in Park City this year. Ramzi played it on the tele. Like the theme of the film itself, I lost track of time and got totally weirded out.

I highly suggest this film and think it's a must see for fans of the experimental genre. Lloyd Kaufman of Toxic Avenger and Terror Firmer fame is an actor in it. I don't care who says this is a serious role I still think Lloyd's hilarious in it.

I gave this film an 8.

Really cool, and different. I ordered the dvd-r through the web, and expected an amateurish film. I was more than pleasantly surprised. It's one of the best short films I've seen in the last few years, and kind of goes past being a short. Unique, well-done, and filled with detail. If you like to think when you see a scary movie, then don't pass this one. I still have yet to see the full 35 minute one, and now I can't wait to see it. Unfortunately, we don't have it up here. I bet it's fresh though!

The excellent performances and intelligent dialog managed to keep my full interest. It has a few brief action scenes and the suspense constantly builds up to complete nail-biter. For somewhat of a low budget film, the cinematography looked great. Cars, uniforms and buildings are all accurate. The constant tension and absurdity of the first years of the Berlin wall is portrayed effectively without a false sentimentalism. They actually managed to get the government's permission to close the area around the Brandenburg Gate to traffic for filming! So it has some great shots in Berlin toward the beginning. Go out and rent this puppy...

I had the unfortunate experience of seeing the Tunnel earlier this year. From the start, the film plays like the pretentious dream child of a self indulgent director. Not only does it try, not very succesfully, either, to rip off auteur of weird David Lynch, but goes one further by trying to replicate the famous bathtub scene in Stanley Kubrick's cult hit, "The Shining". For instance, towards the end our character ends himself in a room that seems suspiciously similar to "The Black Lodge" from David Lynch's Twin Peaks. From there Lloyd Kaufman, whose performance seems to replicate a certain midget's from Twin Peaks, starts to attempt obscurity by way of French Dialouge. The film itself, plays like Eraserhead for kindergardeners. What is the worst, is that the cast itself isn't bad. The main actor Casey is quite good, as is Lloyd Kaufman. I don't know if I would say the same for the star of American Movie. In closing, a waste of a half an hour, or thirty minutes if you unfortunately get the longer version.