On the Fringe (2001)

Director:

Jeff Palmer

Writer:

Jeff Palmer (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Set against the scenic backdrop of a vibrant New England fall... a story of homecoming and healing unfolds...

Cast

Dan Clay	...	Kurt
Jerry Howe	...	Dwayne
Bill Humphreys	...	Kenneth
Matthew Magennis	...	Seamus
Cathy Sanborn Street	...	Kurt's Ex-girlfriend
Michael Walsh	...	Eddie
Anastasia Wiley	...	Katy
Debra Martuscello Wiley	...	Shelley

Runtime:

USA:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Dover, New Hampshire, USA

Company:

Flicker Pictures

Go Buy This Movie!

Sometimes in life, we come apart and there is no single person or single answer there to help put you back together again. Sometimes in life, we try to look into places where no words, wisdom or gifted hindsight could ever penetrate. Independent film director, Jeff Palmer's "On the Fringe"

explores the human condition by traversing familiar territories of death, self destruction and self preservation. Thankfully, it does not try to dish it out to the audience like children waiting to dive in the Halloween candy dish, or smother onlookers in introspective turmoil or pain that dumbfounds and petrifies the senses. Thankfully, "On the Fringe" is enjoyable to watch and paces itself with solid story-telling, purposeful soul-sharing, with a sharp eye on hope and wisdom. I think every movie fan of the heartfelt breed should absorb this poetic achievement of substance.

After three years, Kurt Calloway (Dan Clay) returns home. Kurt looks like every all American mother's son. Handsome, beautiful eyes, strong voice and will. Dan has an exceptional consistency in delivering a role that is haunted by a tragic and most painful memory; his mother's suicidal death. The movie never linger too longs about her death, but acknowledges the after affect it has between Kurt and his hopeful father, Kenneth (Bill Humphreys).

Will time heal the pain of their shared loss? Will time bring father and son back together again?

Incidentally, upon Kurt's return to his hometown, discovers new relationships with three dysfunctional men whose own souls are tormented by reverberating echoes of self affliction that either cut deep, impact hard, or terrify. His first elderly misfit of a friend, Dwayne (Jery Howe), had bled himself on a dock, the young man, Seamus (Matt Magennis), a trike wheeling introvert who lost his sister to a tree fall and lastly, a drunken musical talent, Eddie (Michael Walsh), who is still running from the mob for an overdue balance which led to the loss of his own wife and daughter. Together, the four pain musketeers. Together, they indirectly weave a road map for each other's way out of the pits where 'demons of self' do not like to let go.

Interestingly, the tag line of the film, "You'll find your niche and jive...", is lightly touched upon by the pain musketeers self deliverance from their own demons. I felt the phrase actually boosted or punctuated 'hope' by film end. I didn't come away feeling incomplete watching "On the Fringe", I came away feeling I've watched an honest film with an honest story about real people on the fringe of life and looking for a way back home. Buy this film and watch it from beginning to end. It is a thing of substance that will not preach to you, it weeps with you and pats you on the back.

- 4/5 Little Guys -