lbarker08

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Reviews

Hemisphere
(2023)

Interesting concept!
Hemisphere, a new independent movie written and directed by Chris Maes, follows the story of pilot Sandra Ramirez as she embarks on a mission to investigate an abandoned mining outpost near Mercury, only to discover a lone crew member in hiding. She then learns that a band of ruthless hijackers will soon return to finish what they started. Certainly not a perfect film, but it shines in what it manages to do with a low budget in terms of creating the space ship and the surrounding world of space itself. The main character was driven and that kept the story engaging and moving forward. Interesting concept as well!

Serial Beauty
(2024)

Fascinating concept!
Serial Beauty, a mystery/thriller film co-written and directed by Sigal Erez, has such a fascinating concept at the core of its plot. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery that drove the story forward. I also love the title
  • it's clever and perfect for the movie! Really fitting. The acting is solid as well. I enjoyed the suspense and felt that the story contained a lot of twists and turns which kept it moving and kept me invested, wanting to know what would happen next. It also has solid production value for an indie movie. Overall, this is a really solid independent film that's worth watching!

The Luring
(2019)

Intriguing indie thriller!
The Luring, an independent thriller/horror film written and directed by Christopher Wells, is a very intriguing movie that pulls you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat! The story masterfully and slowly builds tension. It's hard to believe that this is an independent film because it has high production value. The nightmares and ties to the past were also a fascinating element and handled well, which brought even more intrigue to the storyline. The acting also kept me engaged throughout. The story is told in a tight 90-minute time frame which leaves you wanting more. I really enjoyed watching!

Toxic Impulses
(2022)

Really cool police thriller!
Toxic Impulses is an intriguing, tense, and mysterious police thriller. Written and directed by Kyle Schadt, this movie tells the story of a disgraced ex-cop who is enlisted to protect his neighbor and ends up getting more than he bargained for. I loved the opening credits and how they paid homage to other police/detective/spy movies. The music throughout the movie was so good! Surprising for an indie film, but I'm glad they got the music they did because it complimented the story so well. Solid acting and directing, and the film moved at a good pace to keep me engaged. I loved the shots of LA too; really great cinematography throughout. Definitely a gem you don't want to miss!

Pulp Modern: Die Laughing
(2024)

Fun mix of horror and comedy!
Pulp Modern: Die Laughing is a comedic horror anthology film. The opening scene pulled me in and got me intrigued. The comic strip inspiration is a really great addition as well! I loved the introductory credit sequence at the beginning. I appreciate the way the radio DJ tells the stories, weaving them all together in an expert balance of comedy and horror to create a fun feature-length viewing experience! Such a good way to tell a "frame tale." I really appreciated all the stories that were told here. The visuals, special effects, and acting were all wonderful, too! Very well done to all of the filmmakers!

Scooter LaForge: A Life of Art
(2023)

Incredible documentary about the power of art!
Scooter Laforge's life and work as an artist is explored in-depth in this incredible documentary directed by Ethan H. Minsker. The stylized introduction pulled me into the story, and the visuals throughout the film kept me engaged. The story weaves through the tapestry of San Francisco and New York, demonstrating how Scooter has incorporated his own experiences and current events into his powerful artwork. It also explores Scooter's life and his struggles with coming out of the closet, dealing with homophobia, and substance abuse. It's intriguing to see all of the events and experiences that have shaped his life and art over his entire career. The film is really visually appealing and the story moves effortlessly as we meet different people that know Scooter and his work. Watching this made me want to learn even more about Scooter Laforge and his work! I highly recommend it.

One Lyfe to Life
(2023)

Captivating story!
One Lyfe to Live is a really captivating story following a young man who wants to better his life, but is left with limited options as adulthood sets in. This film tells a really powerful story, and it kept me engaged the entire time. It truly is a captivating movie!! Really worth taking the time to watch. The writing, directing, and acting are all solid. While it may not be perfect, as an independent film, the creators did a great job. I also appreciate how they filmed a lot of scenes on location because this ultimately made the story feel more real. It also showed the nuance of "the hood life" and how it's not purely violence and crime, but there is friendship and love as well.

Spirit of Fear
(2023)

Intriguing indie horror film!
Spirit of Fear is a really intriguing horror film. It's a slow burn but the storyline establishes a mystery right away, and it really kept me invested the whole time as the main character uncovers clues and tries to piece everything together. Really well done one location independent film, too. This does so much with one character (for most of the movie) and had me wondering what all the clues meant, almost like I was piecing it together as the character was. It made me question what was real in the story as we got deeper into the film. I started wondering what the demon truly was and questioned whether it was related to mental illness/paranoia instead of an actual monster.

Still the Water
(2020)

Compelling indie drama
Still the Water, a Canadian independent film written and directed by Susan Rodgers, is a really compelling drama that weaves together a number of storylines: family conflict, sports, romance/lost love, regret, and so many more topics.

I really appreciate the music, all of the parts of the score fit the movie very well. The actors really drove the movie forward and kept the story moving.

I also really loved the scenery and cinematography, showing the sweeping shots of the small town as the characters move through it, almost making the town its own character in the film.

Really well done! Check this one out!

Just My Type
(2022)

Quirky comedy!
This self-described "mischievous comedy" is a really fun watch! It's ridiculous and quirky and has a lot of really strong characters with strong personalities. This just adds to the conflict in all the storylines that the movie weaves together.

The story wastes no time getting started, which works since the short run time on this feature means the filmmakers have to get straight to the point, so they do. The storyline is fast-paced which also works well with all of its moving parts. Sometimes you just need something silly to watch and this movie is great for fulfilling that need. Definitely check it out!

Supercool
(2021)

Short, stylized indie movie
Supercool, written and directed by Gabriel Black, is about a high school poser lying his way into a date with the daughter of a sociopathic hoodlum, and the chaos that follows!

The story gets started right away and the movie wastes no time getting into the plot. The look of the lighting and colors and cinematography are very stylized which is makes the movie fun to watch.

I really appreciated seeing a diverse cast!!

The music throughout the movie is good and really fits all the scenes appropriately.

There is a lot of good camera work throughout the movie as well, including interesting shots and drone work.

Summer with the Guys
(2023)

Fun story, well made!
This movie has a fun concept that is executed well by the filmmakers and the cast. I really enjoyed the story and the soundtrack! The movie did well with establishing shots, as well as the lighting and production design in the club. All of this added a lot of production value! Plus, the choreography in all the dancing scenes was so well done! It felt like their practicing was realistic--and perhaps for the actors it was! The friendship between the main four characters was very realistic, too. You can tell that a lot of effort went into the making of this film. It is a great watch! I definitely recommend it if you want something fun and lighthearted.

Solid Rock Trust
(2022)

Solid Action Film!
Solid Rock Trust is a really intriguing action/thriller film from writer/director Rick Ives. The music is really strong and kept me engaged as the story moved along. The story's pacing was wonderful, too. I also truly enjoyed the camera work and how it helped the pacing and also built tension, while keeping visual intrigue since we remained in one location the whole time.

The special effects makeup was awesome! The main actress, Koko Marshall, did a fantastic job with all of the accents and different scenarios she was spinning throughout the whole story, and kept me wondering who she really was and what she was going to do next. Whose side was she on? It was so hard to tell! Very good storytelling. The sound design was also spot-on, which is especially important in a one-location movie such as this one. This one is definitely worth your time! Check it out!

Sold Out
(2021)

Strong music movie!
Sold Out is a really intriguing new independent film about a female talent scout who takes a down-on-his-luck construction worker under her wing and helps him rise to his potential as a singer/songwriter. Written by Susan Brightbull and directed by Tim Dahlseid, this movie has layers built into the story that kept me invested throughout. The music is great and really heartfelt; I loved the soundtrack so much! I also really appreciated the casting and the performances. Some very nice cinematography keeps it going visually, too. Great work from the whole filmmaking team on this one!! Give it a watch.

Butterfly
(2022)

Interesting story!
Butterfly, which follows a young woman as she works to overcome poverty and homelessness so that she can regain custody of her son, is a film with an interesting and in-depth story. The writing has a lot of layers to it and there are many strong characters that add to the whole thing. The colors and lighting were really well done and helped enhance the story. They did some really cool stuff with lighting and contrast as well! I also appreciated the costumes throughout. The movie tackles some bold and timely subjects which is important for independent films to do. Glad they went for a new angle here!

The Other Side of Darkness
(2022)

Intriguing, layered story!
The Other Side of Darkness is a very layered, intriguing mystery/thriller film! I really enjoyed the narration at the beginning, setting up our reliance on electricity, and how without it, things can quickly turn sideways. The characters were all very realistic and I liked the lead actress a lot! She did a phenomenal job. The entire film really held my interest and kept me engaged throughout. I thought the cinematography was excellent and I also adored all of the music; each song truly fit the story so well. Great score. Awesome job from the writer/director Adam Deierling and the entire filmmaking team!

Craving
(2023)

Good Horror Film with Great SFX!
Craving, co-written & directed by J. Horton, is a really awesome horror movie with a great concept and a lot of wonderful special effects makeup! I enjoyed the diverse cast and how the story unfolded, slowly building tension with the main group as they start to fall apart when they should be sticking together to fight the common enemy threatening them all. The introduction got me invested in the story and its mystery, and the flashbacks throughout kept me wanting to know more about all of the characters. The music, especially during the action scenes, was so cool and really added to the whole film. Well done!

Ocean of Grass: Life on a Nebraska Sandhills Ranch
(2018)

Really beautiful documentary!
Ocean of Grass: Life on a Nebraska Sandhill Ranch is such a beautiful documentary! The story is so authentic, and the cinematography is breathtaking. I enjoyed watching it so much. The people working on this ranch are the real deal and have such an interesting story to tell in how their families have worked on this specific ranch for generations. It really takes the viewer through all the ups and downs of the ranch which parallel the ups and downs of life. I feel as though I learned so much about farming/ranching and raising cattle just from watching this! Really glad I did. It's so worth the watch! Check it out!

The Good Hearts Club
(2021)

Cute movie
The Good Hearts Club follows a group of co-workers at an Escape room who put everything they have into saving their business from being bought out by a corporation. It's ultimately a feel good movie! Definitely an indie film with a lot of quirks, but writer and director William F. Reed does a good job, as does the entire cast and crew who clearly put their hearts and soul into making this! The soundtrack is really enjoyable too! It definitely fits the movie well. This movie is heartwarming and original! Really really recommend it if you like watching and supporting indie films. It is worth the watch!

We All Lie My Darling
(2021)

Sweet LGBT Film!
This movie has lots of really cute moments of LGBT relationships and friendships throughout and that's the strongest element of the story. Lots of men kissing each other and women kissing each other. Love to see it! The music is really good, both the score and the needle drops. Really appreciated how appropriate it was in every scene. I love how the city of Sydney plays a role here. The locations and establishing shots did a lot for the visual aesthetic of the movie. I wish the script was stronger and the story had more development, since some of the characters and storylines needed more resolution, but overall it's a sweet film.

The Midas Touch
(2020)

Campy British comedy!
Really campy British movie that's a lot of fun to watch! It doesn't take itself too seriously which is why it works. Great work on the acting, costumes, and production design in a lot of cool locations. Watch this if you're looking for something fun!

American Mafia: The Rise and Fall of Organized Crime in Las Vegas
(2021)

Interesting documentary about Las Vegas history
This documentary shows the deep, comprehensive history of Las Vegas and the criminal underbelly that helped shape the city. Narrated by director Mark Curran and including interviews with various experts, this subject makes for a great documentary!

Extramundane
(2022)

Timely story!
Really timely story that just pulls you in. Lots of great mystery. The cinematography gives it a gritty, realistic feel. The music adds to the intensity as well.

Whiskey Sour
(2022)

Intriguing movie
At first, it looks like a conversation between old friends, and it is, but as the story progresses you learn more about these characters and their pasts. Intriguing storyline! Some really beautiful cinematography of city scenery as well.

Una Great Movie
(2022)

Really original and fun!
This movie is super creative and funny! The story makes fun of how stereotypical Hollywood and its executives can be, all while existing as its own unique film with a diverse cast. Well worth watching! Great work from Jennifer Sharp and the whole cast & crew.

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