Dead Weight (2012) User Reviews

A neat experiment that just didn't pan out as well as it could have...

[RevRonster · 6/10 · 13 February 2015]

Budgets don't make a movie but they can help…

"Dead Weight" suffers a lot of the same pitfalls that a lot of low budget zombie films suffer from. The camera work and editing are pretty sketchy and some of the acting isn't the best. However, the acting is clearly a lot better than hundreds of other low budget movies I've seen in my life. Additionally, the film is a pretty neat experiment in the outbreak genre because it decides to not show the infected for most of the film and leaves them to be a demon in your imagination. However, they are revealed at the end and…they are very underwhelming.

However, the ultimate killer in this film for me was the complete lack of urgency in the story. The story revolves around a character who, through this outbreak, is trying to get to his girlfriend and meet in Wausau, Wisconsin. For most of the beginning of the film, I never really got the feeling that he was that committed to this course of action and then *BAM* he suddenly is super determined to get to her and will kill anyone who gets in his way. It was a drastic change in tone and really hurt me from getting into the film.

"Dead Weight" definitely held some potential and was a neat experiment. Sadly, the experiment didn't completely succeed with me and only proved to be a "One and Done" type of film for me.

not bad until they meet the hillbillies.

[thesaintv · 5/10 · 31 July 2020]

It wasnt so bad until the hillbillies came.

however, i dont recall how the main character got into the group he's in. so, i dont know.

The first hour was Dead Weight then the movie got decent.

[seans_life · 3/10 · 18 May 2014]

I am upset I paid to see this even if it was a cheap rental but let me say that after Charlie kills the harmless old people the group meets along the way because he finds out that they are not going to his planned destination and will tell the others not to go where he wants them to go well from this point on this movie shows it had the possibilities of being a decent film. I guess with a bigger budget, better actors and actresses and some tweaking of the script well maybe just maybe this could have been a good movie. With all that said pick it up as an extra free rental you sometimes get at movie rental places but really I say download it. The ending was decent. The last 30 minutes of the film are worth watching which is 33% of the film so I will be generous and give this film a 3/10.

The classic indie film "almost"...

[flyingpig456 · 3/10 · 13 July 2013]

I recently saw this film on Wisconsin Public Television's "Directors' Cut" program, preceded by a Q & A with the filmmakers. "Dead Weight" is a romance film, interwoven with a post-apocalyptic suspense film, shot in a relatively short period of time, for a very modest budget.

It follows a survivor, Charlie, as he makes his way to Wausau WI, where he hopes to meet up with his girlfriend Samantha. Along the way, the narrative cuts between his surviving in the present, and flashbacks to his relationship with Samantha.

A note before my review: When I consider a film's quality, I do not grade low-budget indie films with more leniency than large studio films. The tools of filmmaking have advanced to the point where professional quality can be achieved on an indie level. Indie films do not have to hold themselves accountable to "least objectionable programing" standards and therefore can be more intellectually or thematically daring in their storytelling, and therefor have an advantage over big-budget films.

Review: "Dead Weight" is a film that left me saying: "almost".

There are sublime moments in this film - moments where Acting, Writing, and Cinematography come together with beautiful results. That the filmmakers were able to do this on such a short film shoot and low budget is a testament to them.

However... for every one of these moments, there was a moment where quality in cinematography, acting, and writing was lacking, unfortunately to the point where it took me out of the story.

Additionally, much of the character development and important plot points either felt very forced, or the tension that should have been present was non-existent. Much of this forced narrative is in regards Charlie's decent into madness. When Charlie murders the friendly couple his group meets, he does so for the simple fact they say Wausau is overrun with dead. Is this double-murder unexpected? Yes. Is it also without any context, and thereby feels gratuitous and pointless? Again, yes.

There are many such moments like this that will leave you puzzled, and not because you're looking for deeper meaning. When the group is raiding a farmhouse, they hear a noise from upstairs and because of the unknown danger, they decide to leave. So what do they do? Casually stroll down the driveway, but not before having a rather vocal conversation outside in plain sight. Not something you should do if you think there might be armed homeowners who will kill anyone who's on their land. Or shortly thereafter, Charlie goes on a rant that the group is running low on water. Meanwhile, behind the group is a pond.

It's these moments, and many others, that hamstring what could potentially be a very good movie. As I said, it has it's moments where it transcends its budget, and is absolutely beautiful. Some of the interactions between Charlie and Samantha are wonderfully well done. It's just a shame the filmmakers didn't give themselves more time and more money to realize their full creative potential, and do the script justice.

I smell it

[nogodnomasters · 1/10 · 4 May 2018]

During the zombie apocalypse, Charlie (Joe Belknap) in Toledo, tries to meet up with his girlfriend (Mary Lindberg) in Wausau, Wisconsin. He travels with some folks, they meet some people along the way. Charlie isn't wrapped tight. The film was too low budget for us to see any infected people outside of their pants leg.

The film was boring. The most exciting part was the September calendar with 31 days on it. I thought the film was going to go somewhere other than straight down the tubes. While traveling, Charlie has a bunch of boring meaningless flashbacks, to make us wonder why we are still watching this.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity. Realistic couple from the UP. They were boring too.

"Dawn of the Dead" Meets "Blue Valentine"

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 31 March 2012]

Charlie (Joe Belknap) is traveling through the wilderness to find his girlfriend, Samantha (Mary Lindberg), after civilization is destroyed by widespread biological attacks. He must try to survive while dealing with other survivors and his own emotional burdens.

The post-apocalyptic world is a well-trod staple of the horror genre. Some would say, not without good reason, that it has been trod just a few too many times. But "Dead Weight" succeeds with this theme by making it the background rather than the foreground of the story. This is, in fact, a romance story disguised as horror, adding an emotional level that most horror films lack.

The sheer level of acting talent going into this production is remarkable. Some of those involved are professionals, who spend their every waking moment acting. Some (in fact, most) are amateurs, making their theatrical debut here. And with one or two easily overlooked exceptions, all the performances come across as strong and bold. I have seen my fair share of independent films, and this one takes talent to the next level.

Directing and cinematography are top notch. A few shots seem inspired by some of the better directors out there, or even bad directors (M. Night Shyamalan) when they were at their peak. I have lived in Wisconsin for three decades and have hardly thought of it as beautiful, but the camera has brought out the best and the bleakest that winter has to offer, depending on what the scene called for. I am told that due to snow one scene had to be moved from a field to a barn, but this turned out to be a stroke of good luck -- the scene in question is among the most ominous in the film, and a field would be more difficult to capture the angles and shadows needed for the terror that ensues.

And although the film is quite dark at times (with the threat of infection, murder or rape always on the horizon) there is just the right sprinkling of humor in there to keep it from getting too dark, but not too much humor that the film would devolve into a parody of itself. The jokes and their delivery seemed inspired by the early films of Kevin Smith ("Clerks" and "Mallrats"), and based on what I know of director John Pata, that seems completely appropriate.

Likewise, the balance of "geek" and "non-geek" is pretty stable. The creators are well-known geeks who thrive in the world of comics and cheesy movies (which I mean in the nicest possible way). Yet, they never let this get in the way with endless homages and pointless references. Yes, Charlie is a comic reader. But he is also a fighter (you think just because a guy reads comics he can't start something?). Aside from the "Arnold moment", the film's only real nod is in giving Samantha the surname MacReady, which I took to be a subtle reference to "The Thing" (another story about survival in the snow).

I say in my headline that this was "Dawn of the Dead" meets "Blue Valentine". I think the "DotD" references speaks for itself. But the "Blue Valentine" reference might not. What really sold the film was the juxtaposition of Charlie's life getting progressively worse with flashback shots of it getting progressively better. Not all romances are good ones (as Lady Gaga has so aptly reminded us). And this film nails that.

Sadly, if I have to say anything bad about the film it is in the chemistry. Joe Belknap was great as a survivor and was an admirable lead character, a flawed and tragic anti-hero. But his chemistry with Mary Lindberg was just not there... the weakest scenes are the two of them interacting. Lindberg was great in every moment, but Belknap seemed to struggle with how to present himself as a boyfriend.

All in all, a strong first showing from Pata and Bartlett (ignoring the shorter, funnier "Better Off Undead"). Whether they are planning to go for a big distribution deal, or quickly dive into their next project, I wish these two the success they deserve. Until now, the best thing to come out of Wisconsin was the beer and cheese. "Dead Weight" gives those two fattening staples a run for their money.

Kiosk <1

[westsideschl · 1/10 · 15 March 2014]

Cheap: 1. No subtitles; really poor audio level control; poor enunciation at times by actors. 2. Another cheap production by "Ruthless Pictures" and "Head Trauma Productions" - the names should give you a "heads up". 3. How's this for an imaginative start. Smelling a gallon of milk to see if it's sour then pouring it on some cereal (close up of cereal box included in the editing), then eating the cereal. That scene alone foretells the rest of the movie. 4. Really cheap props. The viral outbreak consists of some little red circles over a map of a few cities shown on the tele. Followed later in the movie by a dead person with fake blood. Other than that - nothing. 5. 90% of the movie consists of a several people sitting and talking; walking and talking. Location sets/scenes consist of a room and a couple of farms. A couple of other people appear - whoopee! End of movie.

Great indie movie

[lansingjim · 7/10 · 17 March 2013]

I watched this with a little hesitation, because low budget indie movies can suck to the point of being painful. You don't need multimillion dollar budgets to make a good movie, but often a little money can make the difference between lame and pretty good. Luckily in this case it all comes together rather well. There's a few instances of wooden acting and the typical plot glitches, but overall the folks behind this movie did a wonderful job with what they had. While everyone did a pretty good job, the two female leads were superb. I hope to see them again, because they had the perfect "girl next door" looks and managed to come off so real that it made me feel like I knew them. Well done and I hope these guys get another chance to make a movie. Nice pacing, great scenery and an involving storyline made this worth a watch.

Small budget indie flick that makes a big impact!

[big-tiki · 10/10 · 8 April 2012]

I had the pleasure of being able to attend the premiere screening among a small intimate crowd at the Time Community Theater in Oshkosh, WI.

The movie, well, where to begin. I have nothing but love for this movie. It takes me back to when movies were not filled with huge amounts of special effects, but were great because of the story, because of the actors and their performances. This to me is what makes Dead Weight a great movie. It touches on many nerves, it hits you in the gut and in the head with it's thoughtful but truthful portrayal of a man who will do anything and everything to keep a promise to make it to his destination.

It's not a long movie, it actually feels much longer I believe because of the depth in which the story unfolds.

In the end, I was left wanting. Wanting to know more of the characters and the world that exists in Dead Weight. If you a Walking Dead fan, you know what I mean, it is as if, as soon as one episode is done, you are excited for more! Lastly, even though it only has been a couple of weeks since seeing it. I already want to see it again. Time to buy the DVD.

A solid effort.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 9 May 2015]

This is fairly effective raw and stripped-down genre filmmaking. The people behind "Dead Weight" decide to focus on the human element, presumably not having the wherewithal to stage elaborate set pieces, or construct lots of makeup effects. It's likely not going to appeal to the majority of horror fans, due to this de-emphasis on action and gore. But the writers / directors, Adam Bartlett and John Pata, get excellent use out of some great rural Wisconsin locations, and the acting, while expectedly not that polished, is reasonably convincing.

The script moves between different points in time, often flashing back to happier moments from our two main characters' lives. Charlie Russell (Joe Belknap) is a young man who receives word from ex-girlfriend Samantha MacReady (Mary Lindberg) that all of a sudden an apocalyptic viral outbreak is under way. Charlie hooks up with a select few survivors, including Meredith (Michelle Courvais) and Thomas (Aaron Christensen), to make a trek through the Wisconsin woods to rendezvous with Samantha. (Supposedly, the woods are safer than the cities).

"Dead Weight" is a quiet film, no doubt about that, that may admittedly test the patience of viewers conditioned to quicker pacing, louder volume, and more action. But at its core it's an effective little mood piece with some impressive atmosphere and a resonant main theme of trust issues in times of crisis.

Belknap and Lindberg are likable in the lead roles, receiving fine support from their supporting players Christensen, Courvais, Sam Lenz (as Dustin), and Jess Ader (as Drew). Steve Herson as Harrison does a pretty engaging job of getting out what little exposition there is.

Travis Auclair handles the lighting duties and does a good job; Nicholas Elert similarly delivers the goods with his music score.

All in all, this is pretty good modern indie horror.

Seven out of 10.

Great movie

[patfisherr · 7/10 · 20 April 2019]

Very well-done movie with great acting. Less focus on zombies and more on the living. Pretty shocking scenes. Stripped down movie, seemed to be filmed in winter in Wisconsin. Nothing flashy, just raw humanity.

Superior indie horror sleeper

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 25 December 2014]

Charlie Russell (an excellent and convincing performance by Joe Belknap) embarks on a perilous pilgrimage across a harsh zombie-infested wasteland so he can be reunited with his girlfriend Samantha (a winningly spunky portrayal by Mary Lindberg). During his journey Charlie encounters dangerous fellow survivors -- a run-in with a trio of lecherous rednecks rates a definite chilling highlight -- and struggles with his own burgeoning appetite for violence.

Writers/directors Adam Bartlett and John Pata relate the gripping story at a deliberate pace, maintain a bleak tone throughout, make the most out of the desolate wintry landscape, and present a deeply disturbing portrait of the breakdown of civilization that brings out the absolute worst in mankind. Moreover, a welcome and refreshing human element gives this picture extra depth and pathos, with Charlie's gradual degeneration into complete savagery in particular providing this movie with an extra potent and unsettling edge. The sound acting by an able cast keep this film humming: Belknap and Lindberg do sterling work in the leads, with sturdy support from Aaron Christensen as the rugged Thomas, Sam Lenz as the easygoing Dustin, Michelle Courvais as the feisty Meredith, and Jess Adar as the jittery Drew. The downbeat ending packs a devastating punch. Kudos are also in order for Thomas Auclair's crisp cinematography and Nicholas Elert's spare moody score. A worthy fright feature.

Pleasantly surprised

[andismyth · 9/10 · 5 July 2016]

Watched this last night and what a pleasant surprise it was.

Yeah the budget is low, but in a nod to the walking dead the filmmaker has chosen to focus on what the effects of living in the outbreak do to a person.

Instead of spending money of loads of crap make up effect(like the 6th extinction) they have concentrated on the characters and a better story than some other films in the genre.

Like the main character who is a meek and mild slacker who then goes on a downward spiral.

And it's not just the zombies that get the brunt of his change in personality.

Well worth a watch