I spend too much time on the internet. There’s a sentence I say to myself quite regularly as I continue to surf the information highway for pieces of entertainment to gobble up and keep away the mundane and the sordid for another hour or three. It’s something I’m painfully, and something I struggle to wonder if I should change. While, yes, I do just put off what NEEDS doing a lot of the time by watching yet more episodes of popular tv series both past and present via illegitimate channels, I also have managed to immerse myself in forums of entertainment that only really have a home on the internet. I find and expose myself to some incredible pieces of art made by people who will probably never get the full recognition they deserve, and whose work will probably only ever find it’s niche on the web.
Essentially, I watch a lot of indie films, listen to a lot of unsigned musicians, play a fair few indie games and read the occasional piece of dam fine indie comic goodness. As a result, I know of quite a few gems in each category, and being as regular a resident here as I am, I figure why not share my personal favorites and help them garner a new consumer or three. ‘Off The Radar’ is my must-have guide to the unsigned, indie and obscure in nerdom, for 2013.
As you’ve hopefully already guessed (it’s in the title), I’m kicking off with movies. This is for two reasons: 1) I’ve a strong hand in this category for sure and 2) I just thought it’d be fun to start with, really. So, before we kick off, I’d like to iterate my criteria for a film making this list. It, of course, must fit the standard ‘indie film’ fitting of not having major distribution or funding. Selected screens, selective promotion, selective everything. The films included here also had a budget of less than a million, no major names attached DURING production, and are within the directors first 3 films (unless the film is a major breakthrough in their work). It just wouldn’t feel right writing about indie films and talking about Ethan Hawke, Paul Rudd or Matthew McConnaughey – feel like I was missing the point a little bit.
So, enough of my waffle, let’s get to it:
5) Escape From Tomorrow
Okay, so you may have already heard of this one. It made small waves earlier this year upon it’s release at Sundance when it became abundantly clear this film isn’t just set in Disneyland, it was actually filmed there, guerilla style, with iPhones and small handheld cameras. No release forms signed for people in the background, and no permission from Disney. Now, you may think that maybe no big deal, since the film is probably flattering to Disney’s image. Not even a little bit. The film is, in fact, about a father’s last day on a family vacation in Disneyland, who has increasingly severe disturbing experiences and hallucinations as the day goes on. These visions aren’t minor, either, I’m talking full on seeing guests getting tazed while waiting in line and seeing an entire ride of mechanized puppets as murderous demons while his family berates him with hate. Twisted stuff.
Written and directed by Randy Moore, the film isn’t the best made, or the best of anything, really, but it does get a spot on this list for being downright brazen, to the point of arrogance. This is a twisted film, putting into reality what Disneyland could be. Instead of this haven for the wondrous and the innocent, a cage filled with horrors beyond description, echoing H.P. Lovecraft and David Lynch in imagery and execution. Considering the cameras are all handheld, it looks pretty dam good, and the special effects are definitely D.I.Y, but are spit-shined very, very well. The acting is pretty laughable at times, but doesn’t hinder the movie any, and adds a very ‘old school horror’ charm. This is worth checking out for the idea alone, but keep in mind that it was filmed right under Disney’s noses, and you might find yourself really enjoying it.
4) The Kings of Summer
I’m an absolute sucker for coming-of-age movies. Y’know, films about someone between 16 and 21 going through an existential crisis of sorts, usually a love interest, bad influence and a good/bad parent along the way before the person or persons lands somewhat on their feet and continues life. They’re formulaic, but when done right incredibly entertaining. This, is an incredibly entertaining film.
Being both director Jordan Vogt-Roberts and writer Chris Galletta’s first film, even based on the first script Galletta ever finished, I went into this thinking it would be good, but predictable. I was right, but it was definitely a cut better than good. Taking place predominately in a forest, Joe Toy (played superbly by Nick Robinson), is staring adulthood in the face and decides his simple life with his dad (Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation) isn’t enough for him and sets off with his best friend Patrick (Gabriel Basso) and a taggers-on named Biaggio (Moises Arias, Hannah Montana) to build a house in said forest and live life by their own calling. This venture last weeks, they’re reported missing, and, yeah, the film happens. It is predictable, but it’s also charming, funny, and very emotional. It’s refreshing to watch a film about three young guys that isn’t trying to be ‘The In-Betweeners’, though there are some very funny moments to be seen.
There is a grittiness and a light-heartedness to the events as they unfold, with many characters leaving their mark on-screen; no-one is altogether forgettable, which is impressive when you consider there’s near a dozen repeating players in this film. Probably my favourite aspect of the film, though, is that instead of having the events happen to the characters, loss of innosence through one means or another, they cause the events. It’s a subtle difference, but it does give the film a fresh feel, and provides a lesser seen aspect to ‘growing up’. All of this tied nicely together with a wonderful soundtrack by Ryan Miller, and The Kings of Summer is a very enjoyable 90 minutes.
3) Upstream Colour
Shamefully enough, I only found out about this one recently. This is shameful because I happen to be a big fan of 2004’s ‘Primer’, the debut film from writer/director Shane Carruth, who also wrote and directed this film. If you haven’t seen it, ‘Primer’ is a hard sci-fi time travel story, and you should watch it. It’s tough to follow, but it’s dam good, and made for next to nothing, too. ‘Upstream Colour’ is very different, but still retains some of that same DNA that is starting to make Carruth a must-watch film-maker.
It’s another sci-fi film, but much different in tone, content and delivery. It’s a story about two people, Kris (Amy Seimetz, You’re Next) and Jeff (Shane Carruth), who are drawn together through both being forcefully given a strange parasite that transfers from humans, to pigs, to orchids. They connect on a metaphysical level because of the parasite, and it’s this strange film about their lives both falling apart and falling together. Honestly, I’ve watched it four times now and I’m still not 100% sure what is going on apart from the baseline story. Much like ‘Primer’, Carruth is telling an easy enough to follow basic plot, but also like ‘Primer’, it has layers that you need to pay attention to in order to get exactly what Shane is up to. This is another film that rewards the repeat watcher with new information, slowly revealing a grand design. You’ll wonder does he have one, and then get reminded that of COURSE he does, you just didn’t notice that one strand of character and plot that showed it. The performances are incredibly solid, and the film looks and feels great. Carruth knows what he’s doing, and I’ve a funny feeling he may be going for David Lynch’s throne of out there film-making, just, without delving total and utter obscurity. See this, alone, with a couple of hours after to wonder what the hell just happened.
2) The Dirties
The terms ‘important’ and ‘unique’ should be used with apprehension when talking about films, because chances are the film isn’t actually as much of either as you’d like it to be. ‘Distinctive’ and ‘bold’ are much safer terms for both. ‘The Dirties’ is distinctive, but it’s also important, and I’d argue incredibly so. A found-footage film with a big difference. The difference? This one could be real. In fact, half the footage in it IS real.
Basically made by Matt Johnson, as in co-written, co-edited, directed and starring, ‘The Dirties’ is a film about bullying, and teen angst. It’s a story of two nerds making a film about the bullies in their school, and it pulls no punches. This film really hit home for me. I was a mixed up teenager, and I was a bullied one too, both in and out of school. Watching this, it’s the first film I’ve ever seen that portrayed bullying, and the messed up feelings that come from being bullied accurately on screen. The characters are damaged, and you watch them go from one low to the next, wondering if they’ll ever be ‘cool’, or even just left alone. You see them feel so helpless, and dare to dream that things could get better, and watch as the two best friends go two opposite directions in terms of their reactions, and the harsh consequences that come from that. The sheer tension as the ending looms and you just want ANYTHING but what’s going to happen, and then it happens and you don’t even know how to react. It creeps up much like the exploding emotional frustration of a kid whose just been pushed too many times. There is one scene towards the start of the final act that just, if you ever got angry and lashed out like I know I did, it, it got some memories and emotional resonance stirring. I’m going to leave this short and sweet. See this film. It’s cleverly made, and it’s message is important, because there’s no film portraying this kind of content the way this film is, and I for one am impressed and thankful for it.
1) The Battery
I talked about this in my ‘Halloween Essential Viewing’ series. I championed it then, and I’m championing it again now. I’m going to be reviewing it AGAIN, FULLY, when the DVD lands. I will continue this process until everyone I know has gone from ‘Yeah alright, shut up, I’ll give it a look’ to ‘Dude I finally watched it, you can stop reminding me now god dam it!’. It is that. Dam. Good.
Jeremy Gardner, the writer, director, co-producer and star of the film, and Adam Cronheim, the co-producer and co-star, took 6,000 dollars and a canon camera and turned them into one of the best zombie films ever made. It’s one of the best because on top of being a zombie film, it’s got real, human drama, a romance story, an existential crisis, and a touch of buddy comedy. It takes all these things, and puts them together in ways you and I just would not think to do, and paces the film beautifully. Inter-cutting a great indie soundtrack with stunning shots of the surroundings as our protagonists journey ever onward and very well shot, minimal action scenes with an emphasis on the dialogue, the whole film just feels brilliant from beginning to end. The last act is just stunning, with the last shot of the film being absolutely spine-chilling. This film has set a standard in general, not just in the indie scene. I watched this without any real information on it, much like ‘The Dirties’ and was loving it every step of the way, and I want you guys to experience it like that too. Just go, now, download it, and watch it. I can’t guarantee you’ll love it as much as I do, but I can guarantee it’s worth a taste.
Aaaaaaaaand, there they are, my favourite independent films of 2013. Any I missed? Disagree wildly with my opinions? Was my writing meandering and not generally useful? Let me know in them comments!
Next week – music!
