The Dark Military is out there, waiting and watching for their next victims. From the directorial debut, Loren W. Lepre, comes a journey of extreme adventure and straight up terror called The Dark Military. What if a live web cast, on Halloween, turns out to be a real life survival game with a rogue military smack-dab in the middle of this game. While everyone around the world watches this survival game, law enforcement does everything to put an end to this "game" once and for all. With time against them and no technology to help, these players must use what they know to fight and survive The Dark Military!!! With all out fear and horror engulfing the contestants, the audience watches and waiting on how will survive this Dark Military!!! The Story: As the leaves change and the weather turns to fall, the people of a small American town is in for once hell of a night. The leader, Barabbas, played by Loren W. Lepre, and his military family sends a chilling message to the audience that promises sere terror and extreme danger. The story is written by Loren W. Lepre and he does a great job by throwing the audience right into this survival game. While the film opens with an acclimate warning from The Dark Military, it doesn't strive for a gore factor, but a type of survivor game, much like Most Dangerous Game, an adult version of Lord of the Flies and Halloween Resurrection (replacing Michael with Barabbas and his team). The story itself feels more at home with a surreal and believable factor in this day and age. The story has some low points that is right out of left field that makes the end of the 1st act look weak. For example, during the bus drop off scene, the story drags on a little too long for this transition between acts. Also the additional character placement doesn't make much sense when they are just throw into the fold. Loren and crew does a real great job keeping to the survival horror tropes and keeping the audiences on the edge of their seats. The structure of a story relies on great factors in ones’ film in order to make it work, not just for the cast and crew but for the audience to believe in. For the most part, there is a pretty good story structure here and it carries throughout the film as a whole. Unlike most independent horror films i have seen, this one isn't going for the blood and guts, sick and twisted, gore factor, but more of a psychotic and sadistic approach to the source material. Characters: Each dramatic persona is very different outside of the Dark Military themselves. Everyone from Lamar Bumbrey's Roman, Cabrina Collesides' Lainie, John Woods' Dean, and Cory Kastle's Griffin to each member of The Dark Military are very unique and moves the story on. The chemistry between Lainie, Dean and Roman is like big brothers protecting their sister, Lainie, in a way that both Dean and Roman demand Lainie to go with them and have a great time. Dean, as a character, is pretty much the protector of their group from any outside force. For example, a scene were Stephen Medvidick's character Teddy is super drunk and gets in the way as well as hits on her while Lainie and the group are trying to survive. Dean protected her while protecting the others in the group too. When it comes to Lamar Bumbery's Roman, character, he seems to have much interest for Lainie previously. Lainie and Roman seem to have had a rocky past or has always been there for her in the past and won't stop now. He would give his life to protect Lainie. Cabrina Collesides' Lainie character is a hard worker and doesn't get the credit that she deserves. Her character is pretty much like any other hard working person in the world, but with her, she lets people (co-workers and other friends) walk all over her. Lainie seems to have the only character arch in this film that benefits her versus others. There is always a wild card in the bunch of main and supporting characters and Cory Kastle's Griffin character is compared to Randy from Wes Carvin's Scream or Zepp is to the 1st Saw film. Not much is known about Griffin; however, he does show up as a wondering survivor to Dean and the group of survivors after the games have started. Dean and company take him in as to even the odds. There may be more than meets the eye when it comes to Griffin himself. The Dark Military themselves are a bunch of ex-military soldiers that want to do one thing and that is to bring down the system, hijack and spread their message to the world. The fearless leader, Barabbas, the femme fatales Jezebel (Gina Marie Scholl) and Delilah (Shannon Sexton) with their bodyguards Kane (James Donahue) and Judas (Eric Foxhill). Actions speak louder than words when it comes to this group. Hell bent on hijacking this little survival game for their own fortunate. Both Jezebel and Delilah are at most dangerous in a non-sexual and sexual way that traps everyone in their trance. With Judas and Kane; however, let their actions take control to anyone that steps towards their team wrong. Barabbas is one sadistic, psychopathic, a lunatic fridge leader of the Dark Military who was sent to disturbed this peaceful game. Loren does one hell of a job bringing Barabbas to the screen without mercy and unstoppable throughout the film. From his movements to his stares and dialogue, you wished you wouldn't have joined this game at all. With all these characters, other than the ones above, we could do without, minus of course the cameos of Alex Vincent (Andy from Childs Play fame), Brian Heffron (Blue Meanie of ECW/WWE fame) and a few others, would be best to be killed off screen(I.E The Gothic group). However; there are some great performances from R. Marcos Taylor's (Suge Knight from Straight Outta Compton) Chief Pillman, Sharon Smyth's Annabelle Lexington, and Stepthen Medvidick's Teddy, which all moved the story along without struggle to the film and story itself. Survive if They let you! If you are reading this now, The Dark Military already has you or have fallen by their wayside. The Dark Military has some casualties during the film itself, but it works for the most part. With some great casting choices, settings and plotline, this film is far better than most of the independent horror/thriller films I had the honor to watch. While this is Loren's debut in the director’s chair, it does show on screen that some choices should have been cut from the final product and the film suffers from it. Furthermore, most choices work better than others and moves the film on slowly, but surely. Loren and the Dark Military cast make up for this during the second and third act when the film really picks up. An independent film like this needs to ramp up before the climax or you will lose your audience drastically; however, this film hits that mark full force. One of my favorite scenes is when a small group has no choice but to stand against the force that holds them at bay. Overall, this film works well with the audience and views at home; however, you would have to sit through some rambunctious scenes to get to the better parts. As an audience member, the fight choreography should have a little more work into it to make the fights smooth and fluid for the scenes. There are a few small scenes, the interview with the Dark Military members and the other flashback scenes, feels surreal that you thought you might have seen this on TV as a special news story. During a special screening of this film, I talked to Loren about the film and was really thrilled about the product he had put out and I would 100% agree with him. I love the cinematography, the warm color pallet and the overall look of the film with not too much effects to make it look and feel like the fall and Halloween all together. For his first directorial feature film, he hit most of the marks needed for making one pretty kick ass film. The Independent Film Corner Rating: 7.75 out of 10 Film Grade: C+ IMDB Rating: 6.7 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5108524/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 The Dark Military Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDarkMilitary/ The Dark Military Trailer: https://vimeo.com/154894181 Site: http://www.averagesuperstarfilms.com/untitled Average Superstar Films: http://www.averagesuperstarfilms.com/
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bRANDON
During a few talks with independent companies and people, we have received a few emails about reviewing independent, short or long, films. We have created the Independent Corner for all things Independent!!! These film review may have the same format, but will be a different feel then the Hollywood treatment of our main Film Corner reviews. Please bear with us in constructing this new page. Archives
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