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Surprise Party

Original title: Turtle Hill, Brooklyn
  • 2013
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
250
YOUR RATING
Surprise Party (2013)
Mateo and Will invite their friends over for Will's 30th birthday. After a few surprise visitors, they get through the day, but realize that doubting your partner isn't nearly as scary as doubting yourself.
Play trailer2:18
2 Videos
10 Photos
ComedyDrama

TURTLE HILL, BROOKLYN is a funny, sincere, slice of life about a couple just trying to figure it out. Mateo and Will invite their friends over for Will's 30th birthday. After a few surprise ... Read allTURTLE HILL, BROOKLYN is a funny, sincere, slice of life about a couple just trying to figure it out. Mateo and Will invite their friends over for Will's 30th birthday. After a few surprise visitors, they get through the day, but realize that doubting your partner isn't nearly as... Read allTURTLE HILL, BROOKLYN is a funny, sincere, slice of life about a couple just trying to figure it out. Mateo and Will invite their friends over for Will's 30th birthday. After a few surprise visitors, they get through the day, but realize that doubting your partner isn't nearly as scary as doubting yourself.

  • Director
    • Ryan Gielen
  • Writers
    • Brian W. Seibert
    • Ricardo Valdez
  • Stars
    • Brian W. Seibert
    • Ricardo Valdez
    • Joie Bauer
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    250
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ryan Gielen
    • Writers
      • Brian W. Seibert
      • Ricardo Valdez
    • Stars
      • Brian W. Seibert
      • Ricardo Valdez
      • Joie Bauer
    • 7User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Turtle Hill Brooklyn
    Trailer 2:18
    Turtle Hill Brooklyn
    Turtle Hill, Brooklyn
    Trailer 2:19
    Turtle Hill, Brooklyn
    Turtle Hill, Brooklyn
    Trailer 2:19
    Turtle Hill, Brooklyn

    Photos9

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    Top cast25

    Edit
    Brian W. Seibert
    Brian W. Seibert
    • Will
    Ricardo Valdez
    • Mateo
    Joie Bauer
    • Alan
    Ariel Bonilla
    • Luis
    Maryll Botula
    • Rachel
    Fred Cabral
    Fred Cabral
    • Robert
    Nicolas Davilla
    • Gavin
    Nate Dendy
    • Jeffrey
    Michael Edmund
    • Richard
    Holly Lynn Ellis
    • Jane
    Peter Gregus
    Peter Gregus
    • Steven
    Adam Harper
    Adam Harper
    • Sam
    Krista Kujat
    Krista Kujat
    • Heather
    Sarah Lemp
    Sarah Lemp
    • Susan
    Chantel Cherisse Lucier
    • Alex
    Deirdre MacNamara
    • Melissa
    Josh Marcantel
    Josh Marcantel
    • Mauricio
    Donnie Mather
    • Vinny
    • Director
      • Ryan Gielen
    • Writers
      • Brian W. Seibert
      • Ricardo Valdez
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews7

    5.7250
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    Featured reviews

    5etiennestories

    Mildly interesting

    I can certainly give this film an 'E' for effort, although by the time it was over, I found myself wondering why I'd bothered. The answer is that there are so few really good gay films out there, that I wanted to give it a chance. And perhaps, I kept hoping that it would get better as the party progressed.

    For some reason, the film made me think of that old classic 'Boys in the Band', although it was neither as good nor as dramatic as that particular conic gay film.

    The people in attendance at Will's birthday party were all too believable, and reminded me why as a gay man, I don't particularly like most gay people, especially those portrayed on film.

    Other than Will, there weren't even any especially good-looking men in the cast. Will had a nice body, but was apparently too lazy to shave. I would certainly like to see the actor in another film, and given more material with which to work.
    2qui_j

    Slice of life...that isn't!

    Always a good rule of thumb to never watch films where the writers are also in the starring roles. They are usually very disappointing. This film is no exception. It's a bit of low budget rubbish that seems to operate on the belief that everyone's life is a story. There's no story here at all. The films is a slow paced pile of rubbish. Don't waste time on it at all!
    8cekadah

    A fine film that deals ....

    ... with age, a relationship that may be a bit on the rocks, coming out to family, a birthday on a beautiful summer day, and friends gathering to celebrate this birthday.

    Director: Ryan Gielen and Writers: Brian W. Seibert, Ricardo Valdez keep this rather complex story confined in the Brooklyn apartment but, you the viewer, find yourself feeling as if you are there with this group of friends and you don't want to leave. It's fun and dramatic.

    My only problem with the story was the tension between Will and Mateo. They seem well suited for one another but something is missing in their relationship and it was never really made clear. Even after Mateo apologizes to Will for his one night stand.
    8Red-125

    Just a quiet birthday party in Brooklyn

    Turtle Hill, Brooklyn (2011) was directed by Ryan Gielen. It was co-written by its two stars, Brian W. Seibert and Ricardo Valdez.

    The movie takes place on a hot summer's day in the home of Will (Siebert) and Mateo (Valdez). They are preparing for Will's 30th birthday party. Of course, they have to get the house ready for their guests, but they also have to try to figure out why they are not the happy, loving couple they want to be.

    Will's sister arrives unexpectedly, and finds Mateo dressed only in a kilt. She is astonished and horrified to realize that her brother is in a gay relationship. Big problem number one--Will has told Mateo that he has come out to his family, but clearly he hasn't. Big problem number two is a secret that Mateo has kept from Bill. That secret is revealed as the party progresses.

    The acting in the movie is excellent. Friends--straight and gay--arrive, liquor and conversation are flowing, and everything appears to be as it should be. We know that there's a serious underlying tension between the two men, but this isn't obvious to most of their friends.

    This movie was filmed, of necessity, with a low budget. Because of this, the set is simply the couple's house and back yard. Without even any establishing shots to show us where we are, that situation is somewhat claustrophobic. (It's possible that Gielen didn't show us the street on which the house was located because he didn't have permission to do this. Or, it's possible that the neighborhood of "Turtle Hill" doesn't exist. I've never heard of it, although possibly it's been renamed, along with so many other NYC neighborhoods.)

    It wasn't really a great party, and it wasn't really a great film, but the movie had its moments, and its charm, and it's worth seeing if it's readily available. We saw it in the Little Theatre as part of the noteworthy ImageOut--the Rochester LGBT Film and Video Festival.
    7aharon-izraeli

    There's something wrong with the pace but everything else is good

    I think that a lot of reviewers were very hard on this movie. Sure, it's no classic but there are a lot of real drinkers out there and this isn't one of them. The acting here is very good and it's filmed well but there's something wrong with the pace of the piece, maybe editing. Some of the characters could have been a bit more rounded and Mateo and Will are never seen in any form of blissful relationship, so when it goes belly up we really aren't that invested. It could have been better, but god knows, it could have been much worse. Both leads are cute and relateable, that's what saves this from being a terrible movie... I gave it 7 stars.

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    Storyline

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • May 3, 2013 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Believe Limited (United States)
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Turtle Hill, Brooklyn
    • Production companies
      • Will Pork Productions
      • Believe Limited
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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