A few days ago, I opened my mail box to see a brown envelope addressed to me from Sherman Oaks, California. In it contained a screener for the new serial killer flick: My Pure Joy, from 19 year old director and writer James Cullen Bressack. I had first been in touch with Mr. Bressack when he contacted me via Drunken Absurdity dot com to ask if I would be willing to screen and review his debut masterpiece, which he made on a budget of 7k. I gleefully agreed, always excited to watch an indie horror film. When I first sat down to watch the film(with a good friend, my lady, and a bottle of good bourbon) I kept a certain open mind, as I usually do when viewing low budget indie movies. You expect a certain degree of bad acting, bad special effects, and ridiculous one-liners.....I was, however, left stunned. The movie I viewed was equally horrifying, funny, and enchanting in a way I could not believe. The raw and pure talent oozing from the film, in the form of James's writing and directing, and the acting of Alexei Ryan, who portrayed the main character Adam, was an amazing surprise.
The film introduces us to Adam, a Southern California teen, who was raised with a traumatizing upbringing, and an obsession with slasher films. Overwhelmed with his past, and armed with the creative knowledge of death at the end of a sharp knife, Adam goes to work dispatching friends and neighbors in a very disturbing, and sometimes shockingly original, fashion. There is one method of attack that I was so surprised, and thrilled, by that I WISH I could mention, but I have promised Mr. Bressack that I will not. I will say that a bladed weapon goes somewhere that I have never seen it gone before in my years of watching horror and slasher flicks. The acting by Alexei Ryan is haunting, convincing, and pure genius. I was entranced by the character of Adam, and equally sympathetic and disturbed by him. The acting of the supporting cast ranged from adequate to very excellent. Mr. Bressack stayed true to slasher movie roots, and added a giant share of teen drinking, drug use, sex, and VERY pleasant to view nudity.
James Cullen Bressack has certainly made himself a force to be reckoned with after this debut feature. My intoxicated group, once the movie was over, could not stop talking about just what the young auteur could produce with a higher budget and more distribution. The sky would certainly be the limit. His ability to combine terror and comedy, along with teenage angst and behavior, is both refreshing and satisfying. I will also expect to see great things from Alexei Ryan, as his ability to have the audience completely convinced of his honesty is unparalleled in any indie movie I have seen in a long time.
When the time comes, and I hope it comes soon for all you deranged souls, please view this movie. You will not regret it. I am honored that James has chosen Drunken Absurdity as a platform for his marvelous work, and I have already shown film to a select circle of friends, all of whom have raved about it. Well done, Mr. Bressack.
