Cactuses (2006)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Directors:

Matt Hannon (co-director)
Rick Rapoza (co-director)

Writers:

Matt Hannon (writer)
Rick Rapoza (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Simon Brodigan gives up on just about everything in his life, and just about everyone in his life has given up on him...

Plot Keywords:

Self Destructive | Cactus | Manteca California | Free | Youth

Cast

Cliff Chamberlain	...	Simon
Carmencristina Moreno	...	Mary Beth
John White	...	Johann
Ari Gwasdoff	...	Reggie
Jeremy Meyer	...	Burton
Alex Navarro	...	Josephine
Travis Chamerlain	...	Andrew
Roem Baur	...	Thomas
Sara Crua	...	Samantha
Joey Trimmer	...	Frank
Jbar Turner	...	Ian

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Filming Locations:

Manteca, California, USA

Company:

Pocket Change Productions

Trivia:

Taped primarily in 2002, Cactuses is the result of a unique, non-profit moviemaking venture that interned 24 high school students to fill primary crew positions.

Amazing work!

This film was made by a collection of high school students and a handful of college students, but it is by no means a "student caliber" film. When putting together a film so independent from any studio, with very little marketing involved, it is rare to even FIND the movie. Luckily they offer the film for free, on their website...that's right, this movie is FREE...

I had just come home from seeing "Nightwatch" at the Paramount theater in Toronto. Disappointed, I checked what was going on online and I found this film. A movie like "Nightwatch" has no right asking you for your money when there is a film like "Cactuses" available for free.

The film centers around a troubled youth that has issues with his father, his brother and his girlfriend. Even at his worst moments, you can still relate to him, this is a feat that is generated by tight acting and throughly contemplated writing. It takes a relatively frequent plot formula (an older, wiser person takes a troubled youth under their wing and transforms them into some sort of demigod) and instead makes the troubled youth's accomplishments reasonable, respectable and deserving.

I don't want to spoil anything, but watching this film made me feel very good about myself and it really did inspire, something that a lot of films claim to do, while few actually deliver. Do yourself a favor and download this free movie and then write to the makers and let them know you appreciate their work...because you will.