Hot Picks
|
|
|
The Dunes
USA 2019
produced by Greg Mohrman, Grant Mohrman, George Constas, Chuck Wheeler, Tyler Bacon (executive), Klayton (= Celldweller) (executive) for Method House Films
directed by Grant Mohrman
starring Barton Bund, Kathryn Thomsen, Ele Bardha, Danielle Cochran, Anton Bassey, Aidan Callahan, David Wolber, Suzanne Regan, Daniel Lemieux, Will Waldman, Anne Marie Damman, Mitchell Koory, Greg Mohrman, Tony Boyl, Chuck Wheeler, Grant Mohrman, Carmen Craft
written by Greg Mohrman, music by Klayton (= Celldweller)
review by Mike Haberfelner
|
|
Available on DVD! To buy, click on link(s) below and help keep this site afloat (commissions earned) |
Always make sure of DVD-compatibility!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Hitch (Barton Bund) is a domestic counselor, counseling people,
especially women, who are experiencing domestic violence, at a help center
he runs together with Father Logan (Anton Bassey). His own domestic
situation has gone slightly off the rail though ever since his wife Marnie
(Kathryn Thomsen) has left him and has gained custody over their son
Scottie (Aidan Callahan). And now that she wants to move to the West Coast
and in the process moving Scottie out of his reach, he tries everythin in
his power to keep Marnie from doing so. He tries it the legal way as well
as via mediation, but he soon has to realise there's little he can do
other than trying to sway her over by being stubborn - something that's
simply not going to happen. So he tracks down Grace (Danielle Cochran), a
victim of domestic abuse, and offers her his counseling. Through her, he
tracks down her ex Stewart (Ele Bardha), and eventually, he sees to it
that Grace confronts Stewart's new girlfriend with the fact that he's a
convicted abuser - and Stewart's new girlfriend just happens to be Marnie.
Maybe Hitch has hoped that seeing Stewart's true colours would drive
Marnie back into his arms, but things just don't work out that way, not
only because Marnie finds out who's behind it all. A slight setback to be
sure, but it has proveded Hitch with a valuable ally, Marnie, and while he
only wants to get his son (and hopefulla also Marnie) back, she wants
Stewart dead - so in a twisted way, they want the same thing. Thing is,
while she's just a woman who has vengeance on her mind that's at least
somehow justifiable, he gets more and more unhinged the further their
plans proceed - until things can lead to nothing but disaster ...
The Dunes might not sound wholly original in writing -
and indeed, films with similar premises are a dime a dozen -, but actually
the film finds many new aspects in the formula and doesn't just present
its world as black and white but discovers shades of grey - for example,
while Hitch is unhinged, his motives are very relatable, and he actually
turns out to have been right in the end, while Marnie's acts are often
driven by selfishness. And thanks to a very solid cast, these rather
complex characters come to life rather beautifully, while a subtle but
atmospheric directorial effort adds the right mood to the proceedings. Well
worth a watch for sure.
|
|
|