Horror Movie Reviews
|
Title: October Moon (2006) |
Review of October Moon
- Elliot, a shy young man, is shunned by his family, friends and fiancée when he falls for another man, Corin. Unfortunately, Corin already has a significant other, and as Elliot finds himself rejected at every turn, he slips into paranoia and rage, determined to get what he desires most...
Description
[ Back to Homepage | Back to Horror Movie Reviews Index ]
HellHorror.com not responsible for reviews/comments and they may be removed at any time.
Login / Join/Register for a free account
Comments for October Moon
- Posted on 2007-12-31
Low Budget, No Talent, Low Quality
"October Moon"
Low Budget, No Talent, Low Quality
Amos Lassen
Having read the title of this review, I know some of you are wondering if the same Amos Lassen who always gives a good review wrote this. I have to sadly admit that I did--but it is not a totally bad review. "October Moon" has plenty of faults but that does not mean that I am sorry I saw it. I understand that the movie was made in one week so that could account for some of its faults. On the plus side also is the passion shown between the two male lovers. We get to see two men who are involved in a loving relationship.
Considering the low budget, the movie is not that bad. However, the dialog is a bit pretentious and somewhat unbelievable and the whole thing comes across as being somewhat sloppy. Written and directed by Jason Paul Collum, "October Moon" lacks a good script suspense, good acting and decent camera work and it seemed to me that a story that could have been told in fifteen minutes was dragged out to two hours.
Corin is a 30 year old executive with an ad firm and has been involved with, Jake, a 23 year old party boy for five years in a rather strange relationship. In attempting to help Corin relieve his work load, his boss hires an assistant, Elliot, for him. Elliot is suffering from gender issues and is somewhat of a nerd but has managed to become engaged to his lifelong friend Marti when his mother pushes him to do the right thing. As is expected Corin and Elliot become friends and the men and their partners begin socializing. Also as expected, Elliot comes out of the closet and falls for Corin and begins to stalk him. When Corin rebuffs him, disaster ensues and the movie slides downhill from there.
I think the major problem with the film is that the unrequited love issue turns into the obsessive admirer syndrome which in turn becomes violent. The actors begin to stumble over their lines which produce groans without the stumbling, the cinematography and editing are uninspired--insipid might be a better word and everything adds up to sad movie watching experience. Low budget does not have to mean no talent. I will say that Jerod Howard playing Elliot managed to use his eyes to display madness as he descended into obsession.
The basic premise of the film gets stamped out by amateur acting and were it not for Elliot's character which could have been fleshed out a good deal more, this film would have sunk to depths from which it would never rise (but then it didn't rise anyway). Most of us have had an experience with love that is not returned as well as the fear of not being accepted--I know I have. These are human issues that should be dealt with humanly. What a pity that they were not.
Score: 2
- Posted on 2006-08-18
Pass on this Takeoff on Horror Films
Jason Paul Collum both wrote and directed this little film that resembles a gay 'Fatal Attraction' without the benefit of a tight script, good actors, suspense, or sophisticated effects and camera work. Sadly it boils down to a fifteen-minute story spread out over an almost interminable 2 hours.
The story involves on Corin (Sean Michael Lambrecht), a 30-year old ad exec in a five-year bumpy relationship with 23-year old party boy Jake (Jeff Dylan Graham). Corin's boss and friend Nancy (Brinke Stevens) understands Corin all too well, appreciates his relationship, but in attempting to relieve his work duties hires an assistant Elliot (Jerod Howard), a gender confused nerdy lad who is engaged to his lifelong chum Marti (Tina Ona Paukstelis) in a push from his mother (Judith O'Dea) to make things 'right'. Elliot is befriended by Corin, brought into Corin's and Jake's friendship, and Elliot and Marti and Corin and Jake begin socializing. Elliot falls for Corin, comes out of the closet to the extreme dismay of Marti and his mother, and despite Elliot's friendship with Corin and Jake, he begins to stalk Corin. Corin's rebuff of his advances leads to disaster and the film tumbles downhill from there.
Yes, some may view this weak little foray as being full of statements about love, obsession, relationships, and friendships, but all of that has been said far better before and without the seemingly tacked on genre of a horror film. The acting from the women in the film is good, but the men are blunted stereotypes. Everything about the film screams low budget. One annoying factor - a music score that sounds like lessons on electronic keyboards and obscures a lot of the dialogue - turns out to be a blessing in that the weak script is covered frequently. Most viewers will utilize the fast forward button to get through the repetitious dialogue and race for the end, a predictable, stagy tableaux that really doesn't resolve anything. Not worth two hours of your viewing time. Grady Harp, August 06
Score: 2 - Posted on 2006-04-13
The obsession.... intense. The result? Fatal.
October Moon is a film that was made with a modest budget, yet still manages to tell a story from a unique (and seemingly untapped) genre: Gay Horror.
The charming Judith O' Dea (Night of the Living Dead) has a great supporting role as a nagging mother while Scream Queen Brinke Stevens lends her talents to the production as well.
Special Features include a commentary from the director and one of the leads. There's also a featurette where Jason Paul Collum discusses the film, and some of his own personal issues. I felt that by him opening up and talking about his own struggles it pulled me in even more as an audience member. Photo galleries and a few trailers round out the extras on the DVD.
Despite the cost of the film, there was some fantastic locations used. Racine and Kenosha have never looked so beautiful. The area used for the camping trip was gorgeous, and it was the perfect backdrop as the lead character reveals the explanation of an October Moon.
October Moon is a story about love. Love of different kinds and on different levels. Gay love, straight love, obsessive love. Some characters are likeable while others are more villainish, but whatever their conflicts, whatever their problems, they deal with them underneath an October Moon.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2006-02-20
What an unbelievably awful movie - I mean really...
OK, so imagine a cross between The Blair Witch Project, Misery, some really bad, low budget Romeo and Julliet thing and The Shining. Now, remove all the GOOD parts from those. Take that whole mix and make it look like it was filmed by a bunch of 8th graders who borrowed daddy's camcorder and you'd be about half way to how bad this thing really is.
The acting is at best poor, and at worst is so completely laughable that it's not even funny. This movie has bad writing, bad staging, silly camera angles, an amazingly annoying score and a completely predictable and overdone storyline.
Heck, even the presence of some shirtless boys and a single bare buttocks shot of the main character doesn't even help this piece of tripe. The movie isn't remotely scary, but I suppose as a silly movie with which to practice your MST2K shtick, it might have value.
Don't waste your money on this thing. If you do, consider using the DVD as a nice coaster or a shiny playtoy for the dog. The producers of this movie should be ashamed of themselves.
Score: 1
- Posted on 2006-02-17
Coming Out Into Obsession
Thirty-year old Corin (newcomer Sean Michael Lambrecht) works in an ad agency in south-east Wisconsin and is working on his five year relationship with 23-year old Jake (Jeff Dylan Graham). Corin's boss, Nancy (Brinke Stevens), helps out by hiring him an assistant, Elliot (Jerod Howard). Elliot, an awkward fellow, is engaged to marry his long-time only-friend Marti (Tina Ona Paukstelis). Corin's gaydar picks up a vibe from Elliot that triggers invitations for Elliot and Marti to spend some time with Corin and Jake. Elliot's mother, Emily (Judith O'dea) disapproves strongly. Nevertheless, rather rapidly, Elliot finds his real attraction is to Corin.
Not having learned how to make friends, Elliot presses in, gathering souvenirs and taking secret photographs. Eventually Nancy, Jake, and Corin do something about it, but not in time to prevent Elliot from making his sudden move. The film moves to its violent climax, including Christian symbolism and decorated with the words of twisted journalism.
This inexpensive independent film does manage to do a good job telling the story of Elliot's reorientation and decline into obsession, showing a gay couple negotiating their relationship, and having the supporting cast framing the action well. There are scenes showing how straight bars, gay bars, and traditional religion reflect and shape values.
The acting was fairly good, with Brinke, Howard, and O'Dea doing the best.
The four knifing scenes all have makeup and effects that are reasonable. The film is not centered on showing violence per se.
Attractive Corin has substantial skin shots. Jake has a background one. There is a hunky farmer and a gay club dancer for extra eye-candy.
As extras, there is an audio commentary by the director (Jason Paul Collum) and Jerod Howard, there is a small making-of featurette, some spicy photogalleries, and two trailers.
"October Moon" fills a unique niche. Both straight and gay viewers should find it worthwhile.
Score: 4
