A low budget film, with nods of approval from a couple of respectable film festivals. Rumours of controversy. Topical. Good production values.And yet the DVD is consigned to the $2.00 bin. There are plenty of films with plot holes,continuity problems, and wooden acting which light up the discussion boards. Clearly, this one didn't. I suppose ultimately reviewers cannot suspend their disbelief enough to ignore several minor and a couple of major plot and character absurdities. The writers in their partially successful attempt to make a character-driven claustrophobic commentary on small-town America were unable to fashion a realistic story to support the actors. This is why pre-production is so important. Why would the mill workers actually believe the returned soldier knows of, or is carrying, a huge amount of money ? And why the leap from the shock of impending unemployment to murder, bloody murder? Why were they (more or less) happy to kill everyone ... except the soldier, who was merely cast into a well (and presumably "with one gigantic bound" escape, to avenge the innocent). Are there some tax scams available to film investors: here's a few hundred thousand,spend a few weeks cobbling something together,and make sure it isn't released, and loses money ? If so, they're insulting the craft.
5 Reviews
preposterous
rbw-126 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is one of the worst films I've ever encountered. The direction was terrible. The cinematography was pointlessly jittery... and terrible. The dialogue was poorly timed, meandering, and terrible. Character development was confusing... and terrible. The concept of the film seemed solid, but the execution was utterly preposterous.
There are a few strong actors in this film, and when they were given a chance to speak for a few whole lines at a time, their performances were good. That's the only reason this film didn't deserve a 1 of 10. (I gave it a 2.)
*** SPOILERS BELOW HERE ***
(I am trying not to spoil the plot, but I will discuss things that are revealed late in the film.)
A few of my reasons for hating this film:
Towards the end of this film, Blumpy reveals the source of his nickname to the other guys in his (supposedly) tight-knit crew. If they were so tight-knit, why was an explanation necessary? Also, what purpose was served by making the source of his nickname something so gratuitously shocking? Was this supposed to make the audience dislike the character? It seemed more like the writer just wanted to put some word he found amusing in the script.
The scene in which Annabelle is suffocated by Itch and then Itch is suffocated by Taylor is just stupid. As Annabelle is having a plastic sheet held over her face, she hardly puts up a fight. Why is she not clawing at Itch's eyes? I have the same complaint about when Itch is being suffocated by Taylor. Taylor is bigger than Itch, but Itch would have struggled a lot more.
The actor who plays Finn is talented. (I recall his face from other films.) He has a few monologues in this film that are well done. But the poetry recital by Finn right before he begins torturing Taylor is ridiculous and pointless. All it did was confuse the character development more.
I really feel sorry for most of these actors because their talents were just utterly wasted on this film.
There are a few strong actors in this film, and when they were given a chance to speak for a few whole lines at a time, their performances were good. That's the only reason this film didn't deserve a 1 of 10. (I gave it a 2.)
*** SPOILERS BELOW HERE ***
(I am trying not to spoil the plot, but I will discuss things that are revealed late in the film.)
A few of my reasons for hating this film:
Towards the end of this film, Blumpy reveals the source of his nickname to the other guys in his (supposedly) tight-knit crew. If they were so tight-knit, why was an explanation necessary? Also, what purpose was served by making the source of his nickname something so gratuitously shocking? Was this supposed to make the audience dislike the character? It seemed more like the writer just wanted to put some word he found amusing in the script.
The scene in which Annabelle is suffocated by Itch and then Itch is suffocated by Taylor is just stupid. As Annabelle is having a plastic sheet held over her face, she hardly puts up a fight. Why is she not clawing at Itch's eyes? I have the same complaint about when Itch is being suffocated by Taylor. Taylor is bigger than Itch, but Itch would have struggled a lot more.
The actor who plays Finn is talented. (I recall his face from other films.) He has a few monologues in this film that are well done. But the poetry recital by Finn right before he begins torturing Taylor is ridiculous and pointless. All it did was confuse the character development more.
I really feel sorry for most of these actors because their talents were just utterly wasted on this film.
"Support Our Troops" - what does it mean?
kouneva7 April 2006
Do you support our troops by just putting a bumper sticker "Support Our Troops"??? Kevin Lewis' film (which I saw at Method Fest'06) is a bleakest and most disillusioned vision of what happens to war veterans when they return home. It's a haunting movie that stays with you for a long time and makes you think really hard about that yellow bumper sticker that you pasted on your car and never thought too much about it. I must say the movie shook me to the core. I really enjoyed how pure and uncompromised the director's vision is, and how gritty and un-Hollywood the movie felt. I liked its visual style and pace, especially the lighting and hues, because they all made me experience the inner world of the veterans. Some of writing was pretty intense. Plenty of food for thought. Also, a few genuine surprises and twists. Awesome acting, especially from Taylor, Finn and the out-of-control cop. I highly recommend this film. It has a very contemporary feel, look, and resonates with our times. I only hope that most war veterans do not experience such sense of being disposable and forgotten, but even if one soldier did, it's a shame on our society.
For anyone who's ever been in the Armed Forces and for any American who's benefited from their sacrifice.
klarzilla4 April 2006
I recently saw this film at the Phoenix Film Festival. I'd seen another film there, which was highly rated on IMDb but was just mediocre. So while the IMDb comments that Dark Heart was controversial were enough to intrigue me to see it, my expectations weren't very high. However I was blown away by this film and it's haunted me for days.
Dark Heart is about a soldier who returns from a year in Iraq to his hometown and faces more violence and pain in one night than his entire tour of duty. I'm not going to give away any more of the plot because this film has much more to it than just narrative. It's an observation of what war will do to men, and an accusation of our apathy toward their sacrifice. To anyone who claims this film to be anti-war either did not see this film or is an idiot who did not understand what it was about.
It is not an action movie with quick cuts. Instead the story slowly unfolds and the camera lingers unfolding a sad tale of desperation and evil. It also takes the anti-Hollywood ending and flips it on its head. This is not a date movie. If you've understood this film you will leave the experience disturbed but it will stay with you for long afterward. It contains similar elements to "Easy Rider" though I found this film to have more current themes. It was also much darker and very original in its style with great photography, writing and acting. The director/writer Kevin Lewis was willing to take a big chance with this film and I hope audiences will give it that same chance. I recommend this to anyone who's ever been in the Armed Forces and to any American who's ever benefited from their sacrifice.
PS: The next showing of this film will be on Wednesday, April 5 2006 at Method Fest in Calabasas, CA. This film is not to be missed!!!
Dark Heart is about a soldier who returns from a year in Iraq to his hometown and faces more violence and pain in one night than his entire tour of duty. I'm not going to give away any more of the plot because this film has much more to it than just narrative. It's an observation of what war will do to men, and an accusation of our apathy toward their sacrifice. To anyone who claims this film to be anti-war either did not see this film or is an idiot who did not understand what it was about.
It is not an action movie with quick cuts. Instead the story slowly unfolds and the camera lingers unfolding a sad tale of desperation and evil. It also takes the anti-Hollywood ending and flips it on its head. This is not a date movie. If you've understood this film you will leave the experience disturbed but it will stay with you for long afterward. It contains similar elements to "Easy Rider" though I found this film to have more current themes. It was also much darker and very original in its style with great photography, writing and acting. The director/writer Kevin Lewis was willing to take a big chance with this film and I hope audiences will give it that same chance. I recommend this to anyone who's ever been in the Armed Forces and to any American who's ever benefited from their sacrifice.
PS: The next showing of this film will be on Wednesday, April 5 2006 at Method Fest in Calabasas, CA. This film is not to be missed!!!
A dark voyage into human pain
shutterboss29 March 2008
"Dark Heart" is a very allegoric film, blurring the lines between good and evil. The villains are shown with humanity, their motivations and back-stories are understandable, and one can even feel pity for them because they are indeed villains but they are also victims of society. What I've found intriguing is that both the main villain and the "hero" are actually very similar men, two sides of the same coin. Both men have fought in wars and have deep emotional scars. Finn sees a young and naive version of himself in Matt and Matt sees in Finn the tortured and broken man he will eventually become. Had they met on the battlefield, the two men would have probably become best friends, but in the sad and twisted reality of life they happen to became mortal enemies.
Another thing that is peculiar to this film is the absolute lack of "coolness" in violence, which is portrayed in a very realistic and voyeuristic way, often in single takes without cuts. This cinematic style puts the audience unflinchingly in the midst of the violence, and this is exactly the point of the movie: to show that there is no redeeming quality in violence. Violence is just disturbing and repulsive and "Dark Heart" makes a very powerful anti-violence statement by showing violence for what it really is, disgusting, painful and useless. The film's message is clear... violence only leads to more violence, whether it's a pointless war, a desperate robbery, or justifiable revenge.
"Dark Heart" is not an easy movie and is not for everyone. Its claustrophobic, hopeless feel penetrates the soul with surreal acid-trip images, giving the viewer the uncomfortable feeling of being held captive just like the protagonist of the film. But the movie is also bold and daring narrative work that has won numerous awards and nominations at many film festivals.
The end of this film feels like a punch in the guts. And I loved it.
Another thing that is peculiar to this film is the absolute lack of "coolness" in violence, which is portrayed in a very realistic and voyeuristic way, often in single takes without cuts. This cinematic style puts the audience unflinchingly in the midst of the violence, and this is exactly the point of the movie: to show that there is no redeeming quality in violence. Violence is just disturbing and repulsive and "Dark Heart" makes a very powerful anti-violence statement by showing violence for what it really is, disgusting, painful and useless. The film's message is clear... violence only leads to more violence, whether it's a pointless war, a desperate robbery, or justifiable revenge.
"Dark Heart" is not an easy movie and is not for everyone. Its claustrophobic, hopeless feel penetrates the soul with surreal acid-trip images, giving the viewer the uncomfortable feeling of being held captive just like the protagonist of the film. But the movie is also bold and daring narrative work that has won numerous awards and nominations at many film festivals.
The end of this film feels like a punch in the guts. And I loved it.
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