TALES FOR THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

TALES FOR THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
This anthology of shorts must have seemed like a good idea at the time. Get some of today's most ambitious underground filmmakers together to showcase their best short films. The filmmakers even had the bright idea to bring along b-movie actor Joel Wynkoop for the ride. Good old Joel pulls Cryptkeeper duties by introducing each short during the wraparound segments. Unfortunately most of the projects shortchange the audience with lackluster storytelling. Even Wynkoop hamming it up between films isn't enough to balance the difference
The first film up to bat is The Deranged Fan from Falcon Video. The title says it all. An actor is stalked by his number one fan. The twist is that the stalker is much closer than he realizes. By far the longest running of the bunch, this one plays about 15 minutes too long. Needless exposition and a great deal of inaction from the cast bog it down. It's apparent that the film's star is also the man "behind" the camera. He scenes are very static, usually with him sitting and delivering his lines to a telephone. At just over 30 minutes, this just grows tedious. Some camera movement and tighter editing would have helped immensely.
Where the first short was anything buy, the second film, from Apprehensive Films, could have used a little padding. One's Final Moments is supposed to tell the last few minutes of what goes through someone's mind before they snack on the business end of a 12 gauge sandwich. This one is just over minute long and by time the opening credits end so does the movie. Intercut with the titles are static shots or cars, trucks, and a forest. There is no build up or indication that the establishing shots have anything to do with anyone or their final moments. I'll give director Jonathon Morken credit, at least he's trying to do something different then conventional narrative. He just doesn't hit his goal, the film is too abstract for it's own good.
The Wages of Sin from Midnight Pictures is directed by Paul Barton, Andrew harrison, and Darryl Sloan. Easily the best one of the bunch. It stands out above the rest. Where One's Final Moments failed, this one magnificently covers similar ground by dealing with the last days in the life of an English hitman. The assassin has killed so many people that he can't remember their names, but he also can't forget their faces. It is well written, acted, and directed. Combined with great cinematography, this is a fine example of how to create tone and atmosphere effectively with the video format.
Scared is another film from Apprehensive Films. This one is much more cohesive and better photographed then One's Final Moments. Like the OFM, this one is also fixated on the thoughts that race through someone's mind in times of distress. The paranoia of a young woman might be more real then even she believes in this tale lifted from the likes of O'Henry.
Soultaker is 4th Floor Picture's addition to the bunch. A jealous boyfriend snaps in a moment of passion and snuffs out his girlfriend. This short is the best looking of the bunch, but lacks in the story department. The problem is it's severely underdeveloped and goes nowhere. Some type of conflict would have been welcome.
The final short 4th Floor's great serial killer short, Day of the Axe. It is a wonderful homage to Halloween. You can view a full review for this film on the B-Independent.com website. At some point 4th Floor shot a sequel which I haven't seen. Day of the Axe has appeared on other 4th Floor compilation tapes, maybe the sequel should have been on this one. Then again, the point was to showcase the best each company has to offer. I can't see 4th Floor improving what they already have.
Everyone has to start someplace and these guys all show some level of promise. While none of these films are perfect, they do illustrate the varied directions of underground film. If there is one thing they have in common it is that they all examine the darker side on man and the depths we all sink to. The theme is a better linking device than Wynkoop, a man I generally have fun watching. Only this time I have no idea what the guy is talking about during his monologues. The greatest advice I ever received came from a bathroom wall. "If you can't dazzle them with dexterity, then baffle them with bullshit." It looks like me an Wynkoop took a pea at the same spot.
You can pick up the compilation tape from the 4th Floor Pictures website.