Direct to DVD Dissection looks at a film revolving around a reality manipulating drug, sheer insanity and chaos. Seems like an everyday moment in the life of the Freakin Awesome Network, but it’s a film adaptation of a 2007 book by comedy writer David Wong. Brought to the screen by PHANTASM creator Don Coscarelli, what will step out of the void of reality when you start this movie?
The Story
It’s a drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. On the street they call it Soy Sauce, and users drift across time and dimensions. But some who come back are no longer human. Suddenly a silent otherworldly invasion is underway, and mankind needs a hero. What it gets instead is John and David, a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. Can these two stop the oncoming horror in time to save humanity? No. No, they can’t.
The Cast
Rob Mayes as John. Aside from this film, Rob has appeared in TV series like THE CLIENT LIST, JANE BY DESIGN, and the 90210 remake.
Chase Williamson as Dave. While having worked in films for a few years, he’s still a rookie on the scene.
Paul Giamatti as Arnie Blondestone. He’s worked in several big projects, from THE ILLUSIONIST, the JOHN ADAMS miniseries, SHOOT EM UP, SIDEWAYS, ROCK OF AGES, and CINDERELLA MAN.
Clancy Brown as Dr. Albert Marconi. Whether it’s being notable in live action films like HIGHLANDER, COWBOYS & ALIENS, BUCKAROO BANZAI, STARSHIP TROOPERS, and the SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, he’s also known highly for his voice as Lex Luthor in SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, Dr. Cortex from the CRASH BANDICOOT video game series, or Mr. Krabs from SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS. Yeah.
The Dissection
Memo to movie producers: You are not allowed to make intentionally bad movies anymore. Now, I know that movies doesn’t always need to be masterful works of mind stimulation and people do enjoy the occasional moment of brainless fun, the key work here is occasional. It seems that the only DVD releases showing up seem to be nothing but that type of film. The new Asylum zombie movie loses it’s luster when you realize that it’s not that different from the last one, or the 12 other zombies films released the same week. A movie about the end of the world is not interesting when the financial message from the producers overshadows the film. It also makes it even more obvious when films like this get released forces one to take a second look at films like that, wonder what interest was present originally,and makes someone write a paragraph like this.
John (Rob Mayes) and Dave (Chase Williamson)
A movie like JOHN DIES AT THE END initially brings to mind films like SHAUN OF THE DEAD or FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, due to having a duo of guys experiencing random encounters from a zombie outbreak and a long trip of drugs, respectively. It’s a mix of sci-fi and travel film, but on reflection, it goes beyond even that. It tells a single narrative of the two main characters, while at the same time moving to these different situations and lunacy. This is a bit different from the book the film is based on, and can be a hinging point to fans of the source material. People who enjoy the book will face an issue of the movie being more streamlined, better or worse, and telling a single narrative over short, interlocking stories. Still, it stands on it’s own, albeit with some shaking.
The movie reminds me of director Don Coscarelli’s other film, BUBBA HO-TEP in the visual department. In that the effects are out there for most of the film, but at other times come off as shoddy and low budget. Mostly it comes to the creature effects. As the film is all about reality bending and insane moments of second guessing what is really there and what is imaginary. The whole thing is basically the two slacker characters David and John running into various moments of lucidity on their main voyage that the Soy Sauce has put them on. It’s all very interesting and it’s very imaginative in areas.
Paul Giamatti as Arnie Blondstone
The acting in the movie is pretty much held up by the various actors in the supporting cast. With the main characters mostly serving as the framing device and audience surrogate to help to move the story, it is up to the rest of the cast to pop up in their scenes and shape the world the two characters are in. also, a lot of cameos and small roles by people that are not big stars, but are great character actors and noted icons in horror and fantasy and sci fi, so fans of the genre will enjoy seeing them pop up throughout the film.
The film has some issues, with the aforementioned visual issues and the lulls at points with some of the transitions, but it’s still getting a recommendation cause even with warts and all, it deserves at least a viewing. The DVD and Blu Ray releases come with some interesting extras, from commentary, deleted scenes, video features, and even the casting sessions. no matter if just rented for a night or picked up at a store, it has enough value to justify whatever investment given to it. It’s a nice breath of fresh air in a home video market that needs it at the moment.