The Movie
You really can't fault any filmmaker who manages to bring in an entire feature film for a mere $17,000, as was reportedly the case with Evan Glodell's Bellflower. The writer/director/producer/editor also stars as Woodrow, half of a pair of Southern California dudes obsessed with the movie The Road Warrior. They come off as a grown-up, better-educated Beavis and Butt-head, building their own flamethrower and customizing a car to transport them once the apocalypse hits.
Woodrow, the quiet one, meets a total badass chick named Milly (Jessie Wiseman), and for their first date they wind up taking a roadtrip all the way to Texas. Milly predicts that the relationship will turn nasty, and soon enough it does, but in ways that no one could have predicted. But for a couple of bright spots, Act III is a steady downward spiral for all involved, culminating in an orgy of violence and revenge.
Bellflower is an original, and quite different movie, and so there is no obvious sense of genre, leaving us to wonder for a while where this is all heading. Dialogue is often an unhurried stream of consciousness that doesn't always have a strong bearing on the plot, and so this treatise on Generation Y rage and disillusionment can test audience patience. And yet Glodell has created a compelling piece of work with minimal resources, and is certainly to be commended.
The Picture
Some very conspicuous focus effects render portions of the 2.35:1 frame in an unnatural blur at times, and what I assume is a deliberate use of dirt across the lens--for its frequency and severity--leaves a further mark on the look of Bellflower. Captured on digital video, the picture is sufficiently if not spectacularly sharp, with a faint noise that might be mistaken for film grain. Blacks lack what I would consider adequate, natural detail, while brights can seem harsh. There are also rare instances of streaking and stair-stepping, but... $17K!
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack shows a welcome spaciousness in everything from a club with music playing to the resonant slam of a car door in a parking lot, for a natural feel overall. The flamethrower has a nice underlying bass boom, and the well-mixed musical effects can bee eerie and engrossing. All manner of sound effects are clear and distinct, and dialogue is always legible. A linear PCM 2.0 option is also available.
The Extras
The brief but enjoyable smattering of bonus features is definitely worth a look for anyone intrigued by the movie and its young cast. "Behind the Scenes of Bellflower" (24 minutes) includes talent interviews about the origins of the project and more, plus glimpses of the production. "Medusa Rundown" takes us on a ten-minute tour of Woodrow's tricked-out ride, and eight minutes of outtakes reveal many candid moments on the set. All of these extras are in HD with linear PCM stereo audio.
Disc Two is a standard-definition DVD of the movie with the same extras.
Final Thoughts
Yes, it drags in quite a few places but it is very hard to fault a film (and a filmmaker) that can do so much with so little. Bellflower is an accomplished piece of cinema from a budding talent, well-suited to the home HD/5.1 medium where most viewers will likely wind up seeing it.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
