Director: Kristopher Stoltz
Writer: Kristopher Stoltz
Production company: Non-Human Films
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Rebirthis a horror web series that follows a group of survivors who are being hunted by a faceless enemy.
The editing is snappy and the lighting is well done in the dimness of the shots. Almost in the style of The Blair Witch Project – or any of the other ‘home movie’ style paranormal horrors of late – the shaky camera work and point of view shots work well in the series.
The creepy sound effects were what really got me on edge, though. The screechy sounds actually made me jump in the first episode.
The actual storyline, however, is a tad ambiguous. Perhaps a shot to set the scene, or a few words before the episode commences would help put the story and characters into perspective.
The voiceover, although helpful, does sound like the beginning of a comedy/drama.. “In a world…”, which doesn’t completely keep you in the zone of a horror.
Despite these little things I would tweek, Rebirth is a short and snappy creepy horror, with great sound effects and editing. The feel of this web series reminds me of Slenderman, a point of view computer game where the player has to avoid a faceless creeper in the woods.
Director: Jeremy Brock
Writer: Jeremy Brock
Released: 2006
Featuring: Julie Walters, Rupert Grint, Laura Linney
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Okay, so this film has been HUGELY underrated. Despite being aware that everybody has their right to their own opinion, I, as New Zealand’s official Freak of Film, would like to say:
YOU ARE ALL INCORRECT.
Driving Lessons is a slower-than-usual paced film with a script as philosophical as Forrest Gump, but with humour as dry as Napoleon Dynamite (in some parts).
It’s about a boy named Ben (the gorgeous Rupert Grint… He’s so cool… *sigh*) who is born into a devoted Christian family, which becomes an oppressive and controlled lifestyle that batters Ben down into an emotionally-absent teenager.
Until he meets Evie.
This film has my favourite actress, Julie Walters playing an eccentric elderly woman named Evie who has been “…married and divorced three times. Once to an actor, once to an English Lord and once to a Californian” and is far from the ‘saved’ friends Ben usually acquaints himself with.
She shows him the ropes of life – with the moral being more-or-less that you can learn about how the world should be and the theory of how life works, but you don’t know a thing until you LIVE it.
She has had such a colourful life and is so liberal, which influences Ben to shake the strong reliance his controlling mother (Laura Linney) has over him.
I LOVE Walter’s interpretation of Evie who is a filthy-mouthed but very warm woman who anybody would wish was their nan in real life!
Ben’s mother, Laura Marshall, was played incredibly well by Linney who showed the character to be an insecure and controlling woman who appears almost like a puppeteer behind the mask of a wholesome church-goer. Laura Linney does such a great job, you begin to dislike the character very quickly!
The religious undertone isn’t something that should put non-religious watchers off, as it is an approach that is refreshing and open-minded. The story does very well keeping a non-bias view of beliefs, that do not suffocate the plot with pre-set ideas.
I have got the soundtrack which I absolutely enjoy! However, a few more like Ben Fold’s song “Jesusland” would have been cool.
I can’t help wondering what a TOTALLY different film this would have been if the old woman was an old man and the young boy was a young girl. Even if the plot remained the same… Just found that peculiar…
This is a film that is deep enough to watch repeatedly, yet, light enough for a social viewing. The humour is fantastic and Rupert Grint shows his versatility. A must see!
Jodie’s rating: 8/10
Fave line:
“Evie, you’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“Then I shall cling to the edge of somewhere!”
NZ Film Freak 