The Photograph

I saw THE PHOTOGRAPH on Dallas Community Television while I was browsing the channels and caught the end of the film. I had to wait for the next screening in order to catch the entire movie and I was very impressed. A lot of shows and programs that appear on DCTV are, for want of a better few words, not very good and I thought THE PHOTOGRAPH was a very good film. It had good acting and some great music and there was a lot of atmosphere, something I find is missing from a lot of big-budget films of the same genre. A friend of mine works at DCTV and knows the director, James McDonald and said he is currently working on a new film, an AIDS drama. I'd be very interested in seeing that film after having seen THE PHOTOGRAPH. Kudos to all involved.

I saw "The Photograph" at the Magnolia in Dallas. I thought the storyline really flowed and the time flew by. I had never seen an independent film like that before. It was fun and exciting. I thought the actors did very well and the locations we very good. I would not want to be alone in that library! I liked the ending. It was, of course, fitting. The plot was universal as there are many people who, I am sure, deal with stalking on some level. This was the line that most people don't cross. When you have that in it a film, it is always entertaining. I think the prince of darkness stole the show though. He was really good. I think the film depics the demons in everyone and how far people are willing to go to achieve their own "dreams".

The Photograph is a creepy little independent horror film by low-budget award-winning filmmaker James McDonald, and it chronicles the story of a woman who wishes she was somebody else, and is willing to do anything to make her wish reality.

Shot entirely on digital video, using local Dallas actors, borrowed cameras, and natural lighting, this movie is remniscient of the Twilight Zone, the Evil Dead series, and some of the more sinister, supernatural horror movies of the seventies. The penultimate scene, in which she encounters none other than Satan himself, played by Marc Jeffreys, is especially chilling.

Word of warning to all horror movie heroines out there...when mysterious fogs and dark shadowy figures start to appear in the basement of your local library, it's time to start getting your books on Amazon.

If you like suspense without too much gore, this one's for you.

There is scary stuff, though, so don't worry. Creative direction that brings the scary stuff in when least expected.

Acting's on target, so good that you don't think about the "acting." Background music good for people who notice stuff like that.

I want to see more films from this director and actors.

I don't want to give anything about the plot away, but you will see a lot of people "you know," like the types of people who get too carried away with things they have no business getting carried away with. It's worth your time. It really did send chills up my spine!