My Name Is 'A' by Anonymous

It's hard to describe this film. Which in this case is a good thing.

It's real, raw, and brutal (and vulgar) in many scenes, more like a silent film or music video in other scenes, and beautiful like a full blown fantasy in others.

Only loosely based on the Alyssa Bustamante murder of Elizabeth Olten, this shouldn't be considered a true story, only an inspiration for a film which digs far deeper into the state of mind than any sensational news headline could imagine doing.

In all I found the premise was reprehensible and the execution of it was really amateurish and wouldn't recommend it to be frank - if you want to learn of Olten's untimely fate then watch a documentary, this my friends is not the way to learn.

This movie is based on a true story of a teen murdering a preteen. It's depressing, horrid, terrifying and terrific. I hope the director has more up his sleeve that are even half this good.

The film starts out with introducing us to seemingly random teens, doing things that teens do that make adults scratch their heads in wonder. We have a pair of girls who are almost constantly filming themselves while doing everything. Being bored, touching an electric fence with their little brother, arguing, and preening. And wrist cutting. Yes, these girls are so randomly bored that it seems even that the most painful things that they do to themselves have no effect on them, except to record it to their camera and social media accounts.

The next teen we're introduced to is bulimic, and we find this out in a most disgusting way. She has a father who, it is implied, likes to rape his daughter, and she is stuck in the situation as we learn that her mother has long since left the relationship,probably due to her husbands disgusting lifestyle.

Lastly we meet a girl who dreams of being a singer. She is very talented, and is already quite a good painter. She is friends with a young girl probably half her age, and we see them hanging out together playing, and eating at a restaurant. The teen though, seems to have a questionable father too. We feel that she is trapped in her existence as well, hoping for something better to come along.

These story-lines remain separate through the first hour of the movie, almost telling a non-linear story. But slowly, very slowly, you start to realize that all of these teens have something in common, and even though you have a clue of what it might be, you've given in to your emotional investment, and you're hoping that you might be wrong about the conclusion of the film that you haven't even seen yet. The hints are slow in coming, and you are horrified and infuriated at the same time. You know the end of the story, but you want to know the how's and the why's.

The music in the film is amazing, and pulls the narrative along as there are some long stretches without dialog. There are no character names in the film, but you actually don't need any. You start remembering them by their traits, and that's all you need to move the story forward. The director gets great performances from all of his cast, and at some points you feel that the actors are actually doing the film themselves. There are some great styles of filming as well. We get some black and white, still shots, full frame and a webcam look.

This movie describes teen angst and boredom very well. I can remember some of the feelings myself. And what I can't remember, I have a teen of my own that I can identify some of the characters actions with. The long weekend and summer days with nothing at all to do. The identity crisis, and most of all, the peer pressure. The wanting to fit in so bad, that you're willing to do just about anything for anyone to prove it. The director masters all of these emotions in the film, and pulls the viewer into caring for most of these characters even though we have an idea that they are going to do something terrible.

By far the most saddening and horrifying thing about the film, and the director nails it head on, is how every hope and dream you've had up to this point in your life, every bad situation you're hoping to get out of, and every piece of your soul that you hope to gain back with adulthood, can be shattered and lost forever in one split second act. A decision you'll never come back or recover from. Ever.

This film will haunt you. Find it.

If you've seen director Shane Ryan's earlier work then you'll know what you're in for, and also see how he expands his origins of handling found footage films. If you haven't seen his earlier stuff and are expecting some mainstream crime thriller or a Lifetime show, then you'll either be greatly disappointed with its hard-hitting realism, or pleasantly surprised (while also being left enormously depressed).

Keep in mind, Ryan's work will never have a laughing moment, or a time when it seems like things "might be okay." They start off seriously ill, and the sickness only worsens until it eats away your entire body, mind, and soul. His films are not for the faint-of-heart, but also not for those seeking sex, gore or cheap thrills. There's something very deep and meaningful underlying all of this. He never glamorizes murder, but seems oddly fascinated by its evil. So fascinated, in fact, that everything always feels so very real. In a sense where you feel part of this may have had to be lived or experienced by the filmmaker. It's so close to real life (without ever feeling like some "Reality" Show) in a way neither Hollywood or even Independent cinema ever seem to capture.

My Name Is 'A' by Anonymous is unlike others. It captures emotion, good and bad. Reading reviews I noticed many people just look at the "amateur" film style and how "messed up it is". The film tackles real world issues, but is portrayed as characters. This movie is brutal and sad, there's no confusion there. The only reason I haven't rated it 10 stars is because it isn't much like the true crime committed by Alyssa Bustamante. Many people get confused when they see her name on the movie cover, and then watch it and don't see much resemblance.

Regardless, My Name Is 'A' by Anonymous is a 9 star worth film. People who rated it lower probably didn't understand the movie personally. I would completely recommend it to people who can stomach dark topics and disturbing imagery. A great film.