Densely Hollow

Densely Hollow is an eerily relevant 'featurette' that touches on a not-so-fictional narrative about a secret government agency's attempt to cancel a breakthrough technology that could undermine the status quo.

Lopez and Santos, who both give impressive performances, bring forth an exhilarating and contemporary film that surely lives up its name. Thematically, Densely Hollow sheds light on how security lies in one's mind and how trust is reserved for those who are strong.

The relationship that unfolds on screen between Malcolm and Abe compellingly shows that although trauma begets hurt, which begets suspicion, compassion, empathy, and a conscience can supersede these societal ills. The story is very smart but can be pretty dense and may require multiple viewings to fully grasp the wider message with all its intrinsic value.

Even with everything that's thrown at you the film may still leave you wanting more and so in a sense the film succeeds in opening a world of possibilities, while raising fascinating social issues that will keep you thinking. The movie is a trip!

I was particularly blown away by the locations used throughout and found that the animated sequence visualized the film's backstory brilliantly. Densely Hollow in a way reminds me that one's capacity for imagination and fantasy has only scratched the creative surface, even in 2013. With that said, I highly recommend you check out Densely Hollow.

Really looking forward to what this young and dynamic duo create next.

I found this film to be a great example of the potential these two very smart young men have ahead of them in the film industry. For the budget and the size of the crew, they demonstrated great creativity and social awareness within a short amount of time. I loved the pace. I never felt like there was a moment where I didn't understand a plot point but they kept it open to keep you on your toes. A lot of the time, you find that indie filmmakers have a tendency to shoot as if they had found a camera lying around and came up with an idea in 5 minutes. This was well thought out and strategically written to educate and entertain. I do wish it had a larger cast but I understand the process and budgets. From the acting, beautiful shots, the locations, and the awesome animated sequence, it made me wish there were more Densely Hollow Productions already made for me to watch.

There is extraordinary talent involved in "Densely Hollow", a first feature for filmmakers Davi Santos and Christopher Lopez. These two men definitely have the chops. The film is rather like "The Manchurian Candidate" meets Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps" with a touch of his "The Lady Vanishes." The locations are exquisite. A vast castle that could easily be in the middle of England (perfect for a remake of "The Prisoner" series) and a dark gloomy submarine that could be anywhere from deepest Germany to the Hudson River The cinematography is beautiful, the script intelligent and the actors (particularly Davi Santos) superb. The camera loves Santos. He is like a young Latin Montgomery Clift, but with less melancholy and a much buffer bod. He slides effortlessly between being terrifying and vulnerable. A very complex character that keeps you wondering and on your guard at all times.

I have now seen Mr. Santos in a myriad of stage and screen productions. His commitment never wavers. Watching his work, I am reminded of young Orson Welles who also accomplished the triple threat of being a writer, director and actor while still in his 20's. I see a great future for this team, and this film and clearly it has my highest recommendation.