After seeing Angel Connells excellent "Stocking Stuffers" I had to see this film. Although Connell made this one first it is even better with superb direction by Connell and excellent performances everyone involved and especially Robin Reck and Connell himself. Although the subject matter may not be to everyone's taste (I won't go into a plot summery), the movie is quite riveting and holds your attention like few I have seen. The movie is shot on film and it look great, especially the middle section that is shot in high contrast black and white and includes some great dolly and crane work. This is a short film you will not soon forget. Connell has a unique vision that is unlike any other director of independent films I know of. His work is also highly entertaining. See this if you can.
3 Reviews
Fascinating interpretation of a classic Stones' song
blakejamesa31 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I'm sure most of us thought that the lyrics to the Rolling Stones' song "She's So Cold" were in regard to the emotional state of the woman the vocalist is describing. Angel Connell gives the concept of emotional rejection a different, and somewhat disturbing, spin, that is: murder, undying passion and, possibly, necrophilia.
The production has a distinct Gothic look, emphasized by the choice of black and white and some special effects. Even so, the overall appearance is reminiscent of those great murder mysteries filmed in the 1940s starring the likes of Bogey and Cagney.
The clever juxtaposition of the screenplay and the song's lyrics bring a tempo that would be missing if the story was simply laid out as a narrative.
There are a couple of "hooks" that add intrigue to the production. Primary is the question of just what is the protagonist doing in the morgue? But also, did murder happen, and if so, who did it? While some tantalizing clues are presented, the watcher is left to their own conclusions.
All in all, a clever production, with a surprisingly professional look for an amateur effort.
The production has a distinct Gothic look, emphasized by the choice of black and white and some special effects. Even so, the overall appearance is reminiscent of those great murder mysteries filmed in the 1940s starring the likes of Bogey and Cagney.
The clever juxtaposition of the screenplay and the song's lyrics bring a tempo that would be missing if the story was simply laid out as a narrative.
There are a couple of "hooks" that add intrigue to the production. Primary is the question of just what is the protagonist doing in the morgue? But also, did murder happen, and if so, who did it? While some tantalizing clues are presented, the watcher is left to their own conclusions.
All in all, a clever production, with a surprisingly professional look for an amateur effort.
Isn't It Necromantic?
NoDakTatum19 October 2023
Angel Connell's short film/long form music video makes the viewer see the Rolling Stones' "She's So Cold" in a whole new light, and his cast seems to have a hoot doing it. This comes off as a fun-to-watch twelve minutes, even with the taboo overtones. In the not too distant future, an attractive young woman (Robin Reck) goes to a police station and requests to see the confession from the infamous Zeno case. According to the clerks' gossip, Mr. Zeno (Angel Connell) was found guilty of forcing his fiancee's sister to kill herself with a drug overdose, and Zeno was found later violating her corpse. His confession is a mystery, and no one has been able to figure it out since Zeno was sent to an asylum for the criminally insane five years earlier. The young woman, Martha, was Zeno's fiancee, and she may hold the clue as to what Zeno's confession means. She goes to a viewing room, solemnly puts the disc into a playback machine, and we are treated to a black and white video of the Rolling Stones' "She's So Cold," perfectly shot and lip synched, as a goateed Zeno reenacts his necrophilia crime. What is Martha seeing? Is she imagining what Zeno is describing, or will all futuristic criminal confessions consist of smoke machines and hired actors?
The police station and clerks' gossip is so well done, that when "She's So Cold" is given a literal translation that makes Tom Petty's "Last Chance with Mary Jane" seem mild, then the film had me. Connell's strength is in the editing. While his later two-character short, "Stocking Stuffers," didn't require a lot of editing, this film does, and it is done flawlessly. The song is already great, and Connell does an admirable job with his film. Changing the screen from the color police station scenes to black and white for the song totally works. There is a bit of a twist at the end of the film, leading the viewer to draw their own conclusion, but Connell does not beat anyone over the head with obvious explanations. Of course, after watching this twice in a row, I cannot get the song out of my head. "She's So Cold" (the film) did see a few festival screenings, and probably should have been seen by more...I'm so hot for her, I'm so hot for...dang it!
The police station and clerks' gossip is so well done, that when "She's So Cold" is given a literal translation that makes Tom Petty's "Last Chance with Mary Jane" seem mild, then the film had me. Connell's strength is in the editing. While his later two-character short, "Stocking Stuffers," didn't require a lot of editing, this film does, and it is done flawlessly. The song is already great, and Connell does an admirable job with his film. Changing the screen from the color police station scenes to black and white for the song totally works. There is a bit of a twist at the end of the film, leading the viewer to draw their own conclusion, but Connell does not beat anyone over the head with obvious explanations. Of course, after watching this twice in a row, I cannot get the song out of my head. "She's So Cold" (the film) did see a few festival screenings, and probably should have been seen by more...I'm so hot for her, I'm so hot for...dang it!
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