Don't watch it if you expect it to be a thriller like it is categorized in because it's absolutely not a thriller. Not even a little bit. I wonder why they put it in the thriller category, must be a mistake or maybe we don't have the same definition when it comes down to thrillers. Nor is it a real comedy even though Linas Phillips made me laugh more then a couple times. His laugh is just funny and I could not stop myself laughing when he was. It's a drama with some funny moments. It deserves more then it's actual ratings on IMDb. For me a movie always deserves at least a seven when I don't get bored for a second. And with Manson Family Vacation it was the case. It's an easy to watch movie, much better then some crap that are higher rated on here.
Add a Review
-
deloudelouvain20 October 2015
-
Mg629 December 2015I stumbled across this film and did not know what to think. I have to admit I am a historian on this topic, couldn't tell you why, just am. The movie centers around two brothers who have grown up quite differently under the same roof. Turns out one brother was adopted and the other was the natural son of the father. The adopted son (Conrad) was treated poorly and as a result, has developed into somewhat of a hopeless misfit. Conrad also has a very voracious appetite for all things Charles Manson and very much desires to visit all places in the Los Angeles area that have a connection with the Manson family. Conrad also insists that his brother come along for the field trip. As the story develops, not too subtle hints start to occur that Conrad's interest in Manson is more than just that of a groupie. There is some humor to be had here and the southern California sites are pretty dang neat. However, some of the parts of the story strain credibility, seriously. I think having extensive knowledge of information dealing with this story tipped some stuff that regular people would not get. It also caused me to think a lot of the material was very unrealistic. I don't know how to feel about this movie. It was entertaining enough, but I did have problems with the lighthearted approach and levity associated with a loathsome murderer like Manson. I think too many people have diluted his evil, including these filmmakers. Moreover, the character of Conrad was incredibly irritating and lacking in any empathy. I think if you have interest in this topic, you might find it entertaining, but I am not sure why.
-
meeza29 May 2016"Manson Family Vacation" is not all I ever wanted.... Had to start my review of this independent film with a Go-Go getter. Anyways, this film did have two well-tuned acts, but the last act was pretty much an unbelievable horror to watch. J. Davis wrote and directed the flick and was produced by Indie stalwart producers the Duplass Brothers. Jay Duplass actually stars here as L.A. family man and lawyer Nick. Life is good for Nick, until his wild brother Conrad comes for an L.A. visit. Conrad is obsessed with Charles Manson, and persuades Nick to take him around town to all the Manson murder sites. I did enjoy the love/hate relationship between Nick and Conrad that were displayed in the first two acts of the film. But then Davis decides to give in too much into the family of over-the-top filmmaking with an unauthentic third act that almost bored me to death; yea I know, wrong choice of words. I must give kudos to actor Linas Philips for his fine turn as Conrad. Too bad Jay Duplass did not duplicate the admirable acting of Phillips with his performance as Nick. "Manson Family Vacation" is not total helter skelter but I would not recommend this vacation. *** Average
-
StevePulaski17 December 2015Nick and Conrad (Jay Duplass and Linas Phillips) grew up under the same roof; Conrad was the child their parents adopted because they couldn't conceive, but then along came Nick after a successful pregnancy. This tension has lived with them throughout their entire lives, as the attention that was absorbed by Conrad, who, no matter which way you want to slice it, was still somewhat of an outsider in his own home, became second to Nick once their parents conceived their very own child.
In the present day, Nick has become a prominent family-man with his wife Amanda (Leonora Pitts) and son in their beautiful home, and the thought of his brother Conrad only sporadically crosses his mind. One day, however, Conrad surprises them by showing up at their doorstep with a Charles Manson shirt on and a desire to continually discover more about the famous murderer. Conrad's fascination with Manson stems from Manson's emphasis on family, despite being an outsider. Manson helped gather a group of people together that were rejected from society and made each of them feel loved and welcome, all while encouraging ideas of love and forgiveness, but also incorruptible unity and togetherness at all times.
Being that Conrad has chosen to reject all conventional American sentiments and live life by way of cross-country hitchhiking, his unannounced arrival at Nick's house is an effort to initiate some brotherly bonding before Conrad goes off to work at a job in Death Valley. This kind of bonding involves both men sneaking around and breaking into the famous home where the Tate/LaBianca murders occurred decades ago, in addition to attending a party where all the guests are Charles Manson loyalists.
J. Davis's Manson Family Vacation, another line in decidedly small-scales movies put out by Duplass Brothers Production, run by both Jay and Mark, takes the oldest trick in comedic filmmaking (two vastly different personalities) and uses it as the thesis for a film that deals with an outsider's obsession with a murderer. Conrad is so fascinated and gripped by Manson's politics and life story that he almost entirely forgets - and even makes an effort to conceal, in the manner of a conspiracy theorist - the fact that Manson, regardless of anything he said or believed, was a murderer. This fact greatly disturbs Nick, who is so far out of his element when it comes time to sneak into the Tate/LaBianca home that he might as well be thrust onto a different planet.
This is a film that's almost unclassifiable in terms of its genre. It blends deadpan, mumblecore-style comedy with slowburn tension and horror in a way that has the two meshing together so nicely that when you're supposed to laugh or fear isn't readily dictated by the events of the film. Manson Family Vacation is also not brazenly funny enough to be a black comedy, nor consistently unsettling to be a horror film. Writer/director Davis, who has worked with the Duplass brothers before, exquisitely conducts this film like as an act of genre revisionism that's rarely seen, especially in such a smooth and seamless manner.
Largely predicated on the relationship between the two men in the film and the two aforementioned moments of their brotherly bonding that take a turn for the worse, Manson Family Vacation is more-or-less a filmed idea than a conventional film, given how few events take place and how little the characters seem to develop. Nonetheless, there's a lovely quietness to this film and a true desire to profile the characters as they are, and the way Davis does that, while crafting a story that burns as slowly as an unpuffed cigarette, despite a very concise eighty-four minute runtime, is something that's difficult to ignore.
Starring: Jay Duplass, Linas Phillips, and Leonora Pitts. Directed by: J. Davis. -
Majikat763 June 2018What starts out as a tour of the murder sites becomes a much deeper story of identity and belonging, surprisingly a good watch.
-
idoroosters9 January 2021Like many others, I have been somewhat intrigued by the Manson Family. This film was less than I expected. The kindest thing I can say about it was that it was a totally tasteless attempt at getting to know the Manson Family and what made them tick. I found it to be completely without merit, and a total waste of time and money.
-
reis-joaonuno2 November 2019Must admit the idea is very creative. Captivating wise so-so.
-
This had so much potential. I spent the first 45 minutes really interested. Was thinking it was going to turn out pretty wild. The next half hour I was thinking man, feel like I've been watching this for quite a while, but nothing's really happened. 9 minutes later, it was over.
I don't know who gave this the OK once they finished, but that person needs to be fired. -
arfdawg-125 October 2019Small silly useless movie that is made like a small useless movie.
Simple story line peppered with real clips from 1969.
There really isnt anything to recommend in this film. It's slow and not so interesting.
But the shots of LA locations is interesting and we learn the price of gas was close to $4 in 2014 -
cobusbotes13 November 2015I felt compelled to inform interested watchers that the 5.8 IMDb score for this movie is way wrong. This is my first review and after watching this heartfelt movie, I decided that writer and director J. Davis does not deserve this movie to be poorly rated.
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the story, characters and acting. The dialogue felt real and kept us interested throughout. Linas Phillips was a joy to watch and Jay Duplass adds his touch of realism to it as he did in Transparent.
Do yourself the favor of watching this film. I am sure I am not alone in how I rate this movie. -
Edvis-199724 December 2020It's just rubbish. It doesn't have any value. The movie is called "dark humour" but where was the jokes? If you call a movie like "Dictator" or "Borat" hard humour, that's okay, because it's true. After seeing this nonsense I just wanted my 1,5 hour of my life back. It's just boring, the main idea is lame, it doesn't have ending, a lot of plot jumps, actors were so, so, could be better tho. I would never recommend to watch this movie.
-
mothernight-284-38809815 September 2019Manson was just another tin pot dictator with mental health issues. The families time out in the desert was fueled by fear, paranoia and his ravings which were born out of resentments and megalomania. The premise of his adoring status in this film is he knew way back that society was doomed and a tribal lifestyle was where its at. Lord Of The Flies was what it actually was. And all the adoring idiots , what were they The Family mark 2. Seeing his son visiting the murder scenes and taking pics in one of the Manic evil looking pictures of Manson on his t shirt with his inane grin just showed me the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with the mental health, What about visiting Belsen in a Hitler T shirt and take a few pic in a gas chamber. The ending redeemed the film a little, seeing the vulnerable real Manson for once getting emotional about his kids and realising how much he is reviled and eliciting some compassion for him. Also the brothers making up. If the alternative to Helter Skelter is living with any one or anything to do with Charles Manson then look elsewhere.
-
Meager-budgeted production feels as cheap as the premise: two brothers, estranged and at odds over numerous family incidents, reunite but are unable to find a common ground. Jay Duplass, as family man Nick, and Linas Phillips, as eternal screw-up Conrad, are like the two squabbling buddies from the Sonic TV commercials, only more dissimilar; they don't even talk in the same rhythm. The film's title (which was probably 'sensational' enough to interest investors) comes from Conrad's obsession with convict Charles Manson, his followers and their crimes of the late-'60s ("Look at his women!" Conrad says to his brother. "Hot!"). Written and directed by J. Davis, this rude, in-your-face movie takes no stand in present-day correctness (never mind factual correctness); it doesn't wish to shock, it doesn't hope to provoke a discussion, it just wants to be a slob-comedy skirting the edges of a provocative subject. Since it fails as both a character portrait and as a modern-day comedy about brothers, Davis and his cast simply look desperate. They're treading water in sensitive territory--and floundering. NO STARS from ****
-
aquascape27 March 2018"Manson Family Vacation" is labeled as a comedy, but for what purpose? I felt it was more of a drama than a comedy.
The plot itself revolves around the fact that one character is obsessed with Charlie Manson while trying to reunite with his brother to whom he hasn't spoken in years.
Now if you break down the plot, you could find a potentially "funny" movie or at best an interesting subject for a comedy-drama with more heavy notes on the dramatic part of it. As the movie progressed I didn't feel it was going anywhere and it felt a bit like brainwashing for a moment.
It did not have a tendency towards entertainment nor art-house quality. I felt the only good part was not showing the "Helter Skelter" author himself as a character. -
'MANSON FAMILY VACATION': Four Stars (Out of Five)
A comedy-drama flick; about two brothers, touring all of the Charles Manson murder sites together. The film stars Jay Duplas and Linas Phillips, as the brothers. Jay and Mark Duplas, also executive produced the low budget movie; which was funded (with $40,000) by a Kickstarter campaign. The movie was written and directed by (first time filmmaker) J. Davis; Davis and Jay Duplas previously co-wrote the 2011 documentary flick 'KEVIN' (which Duplas directed). The movie is interesting, funny and involving; it's a pretty well made little indie flick.
Duplas plays Nick; a devoted family man, with a wife (Leonora Pitts) and a young son (Adam Chernick). Nick's adopted brother, Conrad (Phillips), recently quit his job, and he's traveling through town; so he decides to pay Nick a visit. While staying with Nick, and his family, Conrad asks Nick to tour all of the Charles Manson murder sites with him (which he's obsessively fascinated by). Despite the fact that Nick is repulsed by the idea, he reluctantly agrees.
The movie is quirky, and awkward; two great things in any film (for me). It's funny, in places, but it's also a great character study. Duplas and Phillips both give good performances, and they're both able to really flesh out their characters. The concept, for the film, is bizarre; but oddly fascinating too. It's actually a really interesting way to get to know the two lead characters. The filmmakers did a remarkable job, for such a low-budgeted movie! I'm always impressed with anything either Duplas brother does, though.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/CoUgbXLzKSQ -
just walked out of opening night at Brooklyn Film Festival and this movie is fantastic. Its a simple but compelling story of two brothers who have drifted apart and the the twists and turns of life that bring them back in contact with each other. Nobody does the angst of relationships better then Team Duplass and obviously the director has absorbed the same sort of off-kilter spin they put on day to day foibles. I've Been a big fan of all the guys who made this for a few years but wow did they deliver. The director, Jay Davies, who also wrote the screenplay shows his chops and pulls great performances out of his cast The two stars of the film, Linus Phillips and Jay Duplass should absolutely win an MTV Movie Award for Best Couple. Also impressed with the editing of Nick Sherman but I'm a geek for technical stuff. a truly fantastic work -going back tomorrow night to watch it again
-
I am not a fan of murders and still have no understanding of why people idolize murders however most of us still are intrigued with trying to figure out what creates killers.This film was humorous,interesting,and made viewers pause and see that although some people kill they all have talents or gifts. People with potential without love and nurturing can waste their lives away and sometimes take others with them. Great film ideas that I did not see coming great twists to story that I'm sure many more film enthusiasts will love to watch. Impressive film. Great work. This film will do great on big screen and on dvds. Very interesting topic and most importantly serves as a reminder of what both good and evil capabilities people have. It also showed a perspective on Manson family that although his acts were horrible he still is a human.
-
holmcindy16 September 2020I had no idea what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. There's a cool twist that you start to figure out about halfway through. Its far fetched, but so what. It held my attention and I was glad that I watched it after it was over. I can't say that about every film.
-
Some of the reviews are slightly unusual for this movie - it's not really about The Manson family. It's a good film about 2 brothers, their relationship and their personal journeys.