October Moon (2005) (V)

Director:

Jason Paul Collum

Writer:

Jason Paul Collum (written by)

Release Date:

14 February 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Tagline:

Love is NOT patient, Love is NOT kind.

Plot:

A straight man's life becomes disastrous - and obsessively dangerous - when his family, fiancee and friends all begin to reject him after he realizes he has fallen in love with another man. |

Plot Keywords:

Answering Machine | In The Closet | Erection | Peeping Tom | Rage

Cast

Judith O'Dea	...	Mrs. Hamilton (Elliot's Mom)
Brinke Stevens	...	Nancy
Sean Michael Lambrecht	...	Corin Buckman
Jeff Dylan Graham	...	Jake
Jerod Howard	...	Elliot
Tina Ona Paukstelis	...	Marti
Darcey Vanderhoef	...	Maggie
Michael Lecce	...	Johnny
Chad J. Morrell	...	Sean / Chantal
Joel Duffrin	...	Josie Lynn
John Grzegorczyk	...	Detective / Man in Hat
Ashley J. Anderson	...	Farmer Red
Ariauna Albright	...	Operator (voice)
Lorrie Ferguson	...	(voice)
James Hauser	...	Redneck #1
Red Clark II	...	Redneck #2
Tania Wilhelmi	...	Flirtatious Girl #1 (J-Lo)
Amanda Stipek	...	Flirtatious Girl #2
Brian Vanderhoef	...	Fake Gay Guy
J.J. McAuliffe	...	Straight Bartender
Ruth Webster	...	Elder Punane
Michael John Isaacson	...	Bar Patron
Jennifer Lynn Goebel	...	Laughing Bar Girl / Office Worker
Kip Keckler	...	Tom
Daniel Roethe	...	Tom's boyfriend (as Daniel J. Roethe)
Randy Wray	...	DJ Randy Wray
Brenda Grant	...	Biting Lesbian
Diana 'Lady Di' Ferrell	...	Biting Lesbian's Girlfriend
Angelo Guzman	...	Hot Gay Guy
Rick Quade	...	Hot Gay Guy's Guy
Darin Hogy	...	Guy #1 at Jukebox
Del Rhodes	...	Guy #2 at Jukebox
Morten Sunde	...	Dancing Queen #1
Billy Larrin	...	Dancing Queen #2
Steven Reeder	...	Dancing Queen #3
Brad Tobias	...	Dancing Queen #4
Doug Despin	...	Gay Guy behind group
Jade Webb	...	Wanda (girl in cafe)
Wesley Webb	...	Henry (boy in cafe)
Christine Mapel	...	Woman at Party
Dillon Mapel	...	Teenager at Party
Jason Paul Collum	...	Jon - Man in blue suit
Daniel J. Noah	...	Had To Leave Early Man
Brandi Simmons	...	Pumpkin Patch Cowgirl
Brittany Simmons	...	Pumpkin Patch Princess
Karen Dilloo	...	Beholder Cover Girll / Bride (Magazine Model)
William Krekling	...	Groom (Magazine Model)
Michele Fredericks	...	Maid-of-Honor (Magazine Model)
Jeffrey Wayne Stevens	...	Jim in Maintenance
Julie King	...	Female Reporter
Sy Stevens	...	Shady Reporter
DeMarcus Hunter	...	BET Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Debra De Liso	...	Actress on TV (as Debra DeLiso)

Directed by
Jason Paul Collum

Writing credits
Jason Paul Collum		(written by)

Produced by
J.R. Bookwalter	....	executive producer
Jason Paul Collum	....	producer
Jennifer Lynn Goebel	....	line producer
Michael John Isaacson	....	executive producer
Julie King	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Red Clark II
Sean Michael Lambrecht
Jamey Sewell

Cinematography by
Red Clark II

Film Editing by
Dennis Petersen
Red Clark II		(uncredited)

Casting by
P.J. Lown

Production Design by
Jason Campeau		(as J.P. Campeau)
Jennifer Lynn Goebel

Makeup Department
Julie King	....	wigs

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Red Clark II	....	assistant director
James Hauser	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Maui Holcomb	....	sound re-recording mixer
Daniel J. Noah	....	boom operator (as Daniel Noah)
Lewis Vendredi	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Philip Bergan	....	special effects makeup
Tom Burazin	....	special photographic effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Red Clark II	....	digital effects artist
Sean Michael Lambrecht	....	graphic designer

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Burazin	....	publicity photographer
Jason Campeau	....	set photographer (as J.P. Campeau)
Jill Ensley	....	grip
W. Guy Finley	....	publicity photographer
Jeff Giguere	....	set photographer
Sean Michael Lambrecht	....	set photographer

Editorial Department
J.R. Bookwalter	....	on-line editor (as Lance Randas)
Red Clark II	....	additional editor
Michael J. Miller	....	additional editor

Music Department
Jason Paul Collum	....	music supervisor
Jamey Sewell	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Lawrence Campeau	....	animal trainer: pigeons (as Lawrence D. Campeau Jr.)
Dennis Smart	....	production assistant
Daina Tomsons	....	designer: website

Thanks
Ariauna Albright	....	special thanks
Chris Baran	....	special thanks
Julia Baran	....	special thanks
Ryleigh Bareither	....	special thanks
Scott Bareither	....	special thanks
Lawrence D. Campeau Sr.	....	dedicatee
Kathleen Campeau	....	special thanks (as Kathy Campeau)
Larry Campeau	....	special thanks
Vinnie Campeau	....	special thanks
Debra De Liso	....	special thanks (as Debra DeLiso)
James Dlugi	....	dedicatee
Lois Elfman	....	special thanks: Scene magazine
Jill Ensley	....	special thanks
Michael Gingold	....	special thanks: Fangoria magazine
Jon Girsch	....	special thanks
Christopher D. Harder	....	special thanks
Kedric Hubbert	....	special thanks
Richard Ivey	....	special thanks
Pam Knudsten	....	special thanks
Mark A. Lind	....	special thanks: Scene magazine
Drake Ludvigsen	....	special thanks
James Ludvigsen	....	special thanks
Sidney Ludvigsen	....	special thanks
Daniel J. Noah	....	special thanks (as Daniel Noah)
Helen Pugh	....	special thanks
Mary Jocelyn 'Jodie' Randall	....	dedicatee
Parker Ray	....	special thanks: Instinct magazine
Jonathan Riggs	....	special thanks: Instinct magazine
Felissa Rose	....	special thanks
Jason Sechrest	....	special thanks
Donna Lynn Shehorn	....	dedicatee
Tim Slocum	....	special thanks
Daren Smalkoski	....	special thanks
Dennis Smart	....	special thanks
Johnny Smith	....	special thanks
Anthony Timpone	....	special thanks: Fangoria magazine
Ruth Vanderhoef	....	special thanks
Will Vanderhoef	....	special thanks
Holly Webster	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• B+BOY Productions
• Red Films Inc.

Distributors

• Les Films de l'Ange (2007) (France) (DVD)
• Maxim Media International (2005) (non-USA) (all media)
• Tempe Entertainment (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Tempe Video (2005) (worldwide) (all media)

Special Effects

• Red Films Inc.

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Burlington, Wisconsin, USA

Company:

B+BOY Productions

Movie Connections:

Features Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Soundtrack:

Catch Me (I'm Falling)

Effective character study.

Contrary to my initial assumption, "October Moon" really isn't a horror movie. Not that there aren't some rather disturbing moments, but the film plays itself out more like a psychological drama in the vain of "Fatal Attraction" (yes, the comparison is inevitable) or "Unfaithful." The climax of the film verges on "slasher" territory, but ends up being more depressing that actual scary.

The film centers around Corin, a thirty year old professional, and his younger, party-loving boyfriend Jake. The two have been together for awhile. but it is obvious that all is not rosy in their relationship. While Corin has settled down and likes to spend quiet evenings at home, Jake still loves the "bar" scene, and often views his relationship with Corin as holding him back from enjoying his youth. At work, Corin is able to confide in his boss and good friend Nancy (Brinke Stevens) about his relationship troubles. She listens with a caring ear and seems to be the only person to really understand him. Due to an increased work load and his unstable home life with Jake, Nancy decides to hire an assistant of sorts name Elliot to help Corin with some of his duties. At first, Elliot is awkward and somewhat nerdy, but likable nonetheless. Corin learns that Elliot lives with his over-protective mother (Judith O'Dea) and is engaged to be married to long-time girlfriend, Marti. Corin begins spending some time outside of work with Elliot, inviting him home and to various outings. Before long, Elliot begins to develop feelings for Corin and realizes that he is a homosexual. This causes severe mixed emotions in him; his mother is deeply against this lifestyle because he husband left her years earlier for another man. With no real support for his new feelings, Elliot's feelings for Corin begin to become a dangerous and disturbing obsession, resulting in a dark, depressing climax.

"October Moon" is truly a character driven story and because of this, may cause some viewers to lose interest. No real action occurs until the films final moments, but the build-up is almost more intense. Elliot's behavior does become more and more disturbing and where the film excels is in its believability. The characters actions and reactions are realistic and because the characters are developed extremely well, it is easy to sympathize with their individual situations. Even at the end of the film, it is hard to really blame Elliot for his actions; he desperately just wanted to be loved and accepted, and like many gay men, the emotions that came with falling for another man, when his entire life he had been told how wrong that was, were almost too much to handle. The writers takes careful steps to ensure that Elliot never becomes a despicable character and it works to the film's benefit. While there is some clichéd and dialogue steeped with stereotypes, overall, it does an adequate job of moving the plot along and creating interesting characters.

The biggest flaw present in "October Moon" is certainly its low-budget, resulting in extremely amateur looking production values. For example, the picture looks dated and often times is no better quality than you'd get with an old hand-held camera. The sound fades in and out in many spots, making conversations hard to comprehend. These issues don't necessarily make this a bad film, but do, at times, make it hard to take seriously. The acting really is a mixed bag; the actors portraying Corin and Jake are adequate, but often times some cheesy dialogue interrupts their performances. Jerod Howard is effective as Elliot, but some particular scenes seem to put noticeable strain on his range. Horror veterans Brinke Stevens and Judith O'Dea are both serviceable, but criminally underused. What is really distracting about the performances is that in some scenes, the actors are brilliant, but in the very next scene, verge on being terrible. The climax is rushed and, while somewhat effective, doesn't pack the punch that it really could have.

Overall, "October Moon" is an interesting, engaging little independent film. Like so many other low-budget films out there, it is very apparent that the filmmakers actually cared about the final product and did the best of their ability and resources to make a decent film. While those expecting gore and non-stop action will likely become extremely bored with "October Moon," it is an effective that not only cares about its characters and presents a believable portrait of obsession and desperation, it subtly makes a statement about expectations, relationships, and the consequences of intolerance. It's a slow burn, but "October Moon" is an effective, creepy film that puts substance before style; the end result and a memorable portrait of love gone wrong on many levels.