Bludgeoned

Rating:
Summary: Hammering Your Point Home
Review: Bludgeoned" shows how an obsession with a violent, mythical character leads to a catharsis for the protagonist.

Rick Carpenter (well played by Brendan Hutt) is a Chicago-area high school senior with a knack for creative writing. Since he was ten or eleven he has devoured a book, "Thor's Exit", about a being named Maluch who has excelled in part by bashing opponents with a big, silver hammer. This earned Maluch the nickname "Thor". Maluch is careful to say he is not god but acts like god and that those who follow him also have to act like god. Maluch has come to live through Rick's visualizations and in his dreams.

Rick joyfully enrolls in a creative writing class taught by the book's author, Michael Christman (well played by Gary Houston). Although Rick wants to discuss the book, Mr. Christman is not so keen on Maluch. Instead, Mr. Christman wants the class to pair up to write on their dreams. Rick gets to be with Jackie Bredenhoff (Marisa Dugas), who also accepts Rick's invitation to a party hosted by Rick's socially-impaired friends. One after another, the key people in Rick's life are distracted, gone, or hostile. Into the void steps Maluch (Rich Komenich), who asks Rick to act like a god and follow him. Rick accepts the Thor hammer and rapidly assumes the characteristics of Maluch while clearing away the obstacles.

From the movie's title, one expects a messy bloodbath with cheesy acting and script. This film was on a higher level. The bludgeoning gore was managed tastefully; the worst scenes were commercial video shots played by Rick's morbid friends. The script managed to keep Rick and Mr. Christman from being caricatures and to keep enough loose ends that the audience could tie up themselves. It was not a shallow slasher flick. Despite the presumed low budget, the actors could act, the lighting and camerawork were solid, and the director did a nice job with pacing, framing, blocking, and displaying the cuter actors. Rick fantasized enough so it was possible to have a number of interpretations of what happened. Given the low expectations, I liked the movie.

The DVD contained a trailer for the movie but no commentary, making-of, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes, photo gallery, or paper insert. Indeed there were no chapter breaks within the movie.

Rating:
Summary: Hammer of love
Review: While watching this decidedly intriguing take on what young socially inept boys do to pass the time, I kept thinking to myself, "This Marisa chick's got a big future". Then I had a Slurpee.