September 04, 2009
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Can you guess where my secret transmitter is hidden?
Even if you completely overlook the fact that the movie is built upon a single gimmick, Adrenaline director Robert Lynn's fantastic 2009 horror/thriller Deadbox (aka Havoc) is an impressive little film, one that rightfully deserves widespread acclaim. The aforementioned gimmick, of course, is that the entire feature is executed using the longest take in film history, with a few time lapse edits thrown in to trim down the original 105-minute running time to a breezy, more digestible hour-and-a-half. What's even more extraordinary is that you quickly forget about the film's single take presentation once the story gets underway, a testament to both Lynn's abilities as a director and the inherent talent of his nimble cast. The setup is nothing too creative or mind-blowingly original -- a group of paintball players find themselves battling a mentally defunct veteran within the crumbling confines of an abandoned prison -- though the tale's simplicity actually works in its favor. The washed-out colors, the shaky camerawork, and the realistic performances generate a fair amount of suspense, even when Lynn feels the inexplicable need to linger a bit too long on unimportant scenes. With its effective setting and a standout performance from David Alford, Deadbox skillfully manages to set itself apart from the stagnant pile of lackluster slashers released every year. That alone is a truly remarkable feat.
Recipe For Success: Lynn's Top Notch Direction + Intense Performances + Abandoned Buildings Are Extremely Creepy
Paintball For Dummies: If the girl you're interested in claims she shot you in the arm, don't be a sore loser and deny it.
It definitely won't help you get in her sports bra.
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