South of Heaven (2008) (DVD Review)
Directed By: J.L. Vara
Starring: Diora Baird, Jon Gries, Lena Gwendolyn Hill
Rated: UR/Region: 0/1:78/Number of disc: 1
Available from Synapse Films
When Roy Coop finished his stint in the Navy, he only had two things on his mind: seeing his brother Dale, and writing the great American novel. What he gets, however, is the homecoming from Hell! A pair of violent vaudevillians mistake Roy for his brother, looking to collect on a debt he didn’t know he owed. Eight fingers later, Roy is burnt to a crisp, forged by fire into a new man. Roy is dead. Nobody is born. Now it’s Nobody’s turn to have his wicked revenge, and to save his brother before it’s too late. Wrapped in bandages and ready for blood, Nobody is determined to kill those that get in his way, even the murdering masochist named Mad Dog Mantee.
South of Heaven is a mix-breed film and I mean that in the best way possible. There is all the elements you’d enjoy from such films as Sin City mixed in with part crime film part action film. It is all done on a very independent and creative level and where the action might take a backseat we have (dare I say) Tarantino-like characters and dialogue that helps bridge any gaps. I’ve seen people on both sides of the fence when it comes to this film, but I am happy to say I’m on the positive side of things when it comes to this one. It is an odd film, but I dig that. I’m sure had I seen it when it was released it would have made a year end list of mine for sure.
The movie has all these things wrapped up with a very comic book style vibe. It has very different characters that seem to each have their own gimmick of sorts. I can see why some people might dislike it, but if the movie does hit a nerve with you I think you will love what you see. I wish more movies in the nature of South of Heaven came along more often. As far as I’m aware, this is the only film from J.L. Vara. If this is any indication of what this director can do, then I think we should all look forward to his next feature film.
– THREE AUDIO COMMENTARY TRACKS! Featuring Director J.L. Vara, Star Shea Whigham and other cast/crew. Critic Commentary includes Todd Brown (twitchfilm.com), Scott Weinberg (fearnet.com) and Devin Faraci (badassdigest.com)
– THREE SHORT FILMS by Director J.L. Vara, Including: MISERABLE ORPHAN, AZOLE DKMUNTCH and A BOY AND HIS FETUS
