Film Threat

Hmmm...nice review, plus he gave the movie four stars. And he said it was better than the Matrix. A class act all the way.

Film Threat

A decent review, although not as positive as the first. It's pretty cool that I got two reviews from Film Threat. Not many movies do.

Cold Fusion

My personal favorite. Of course it's one of the most positive, but I never claimed to be objective. I'm a greedy, selfish man. But in terms of being a well written, cohesive review, this is a good one. And the fact that he compared the movie to the opening scene of Blade is cool, because that scene is great.

Secret Scroll Digest

Another positive top ten of the year review, ergo one that we all should agree with.

Unknown Movies

This is an interesting review to compare to some of the others, mainly the second Film Threat review on this page. I knew this would be a problem going in...some people really like the setup, and some find it boring. Then some people really love the last half, and others don't like the switch from mood to action. Here is one of the few reviews that favors the mood over the action. Actually, he probably would have liked the second official cut, where I took out a major scene of action which tipped the scales too much. Still, at least he didn't hate it. Or if he did, he sure is polite!

Writer-director-photographer-editor Eric Thornett's latest picture is impressively inventive, action-packed sci-fi dementia, and like his earlier effort BIRDHEART PIE, it's also a decidedly schizophrenic endeavor. Its dramatic sequences are bland, but just as quickly, Thornett clobbers you with a savvy visual or some kick-ass stuntwork. It's like nothing being done on this type of paltry budget. David Stewart stars as Nick Miles, an average resident of high-tech Fifth CIty, who visits a creepy hypnotist in order to quit smoking. Cutting down to only one cig every three hours, Nick nervously watches the clock for the moment he can light up, when suddenly-from 3 a.m. to 4-he loses an hour of his life. This 60-minute blackout happens every night, until he awakens from one with a gun in his hand, a corpse on the floor, a locked briefcase in his possession, and professional hitmen primed to take him down. As this nobody is thrust into an unexplainable plight, the film's second half spins into an unrelenting barrage of chases, hand-to-hand battles, gunfights, and dazzling cinematic craziness. It's like John Woo working on a George Kuchar budget! Stewart makes a good transition from milquetoast to action hero, with Mica providing the craziest stunts as Nick's primary foe, the Judge. So what if it's crude? 23 HOURS boasts a cast of terrific martial artists; wild camerawork, editing and fight choreography; plus an edge story that keeps us guessing, all the way to the truth behind Nick's mystery. Thornett definitely has talent, and most Hollywood action-hacks could take a lesson from this no-budget gem.

- Steve Puchalski

I must agree; I do have talent. I am great. Steve always gets the very first copy of my junks, since he was the first (and just about only) person to review my little-seen film that I have in hiding called Birdheart Pie.

The answers lie within the science-fiction noir feature 23 HOURS, a tale of high-tech body snatching that feels like an OUTER LIMITS episode with aspirations to be a John Woo film. Despite an excruciatingly dull start (This is a lie. The opening is the most awe-inspiring, action-packed beginning ever seen in film, and during test screenings it killed seventy-eight percent of the old people who watched it due to action overload - Eric), the film takes off as Nick comes into possession of a mysterious suitcase (what thriller would be complete without one?) and is pursued by assassins in sunglasses and black trenchcoats, and by seemingly normal citizens who abruptly transform into kung fu killers. This leads to a series of chases, fights, and shootouts whose kinetic energy carries through to a gripping conclusion. Thornett elevates this generic material and mostly cardboard characters through his enthusiasm and sense of fun. His fight scenes are surprisingly well choreographed, with fluid/jerky camera moves, rapid editing, and just enough absurdity to push things over the top. At first the baby-faced David Stewart seems a poor choice as schlub-turned-action hero Nick, but he acquaints himself quite well to the stunt work, and exhibits flashes of style, resourcefulness, and even pathos. 23 HOURS tarts as a snoozer, but develops into a surprise sleeper.

- Jeff McCoy

I gotta ask: what's with the name-checking of John Woo? Not that I'm about to complain being compared to a master, but John Woo likes gunfights and slo-mo, and there is hardly any of either in the movie. It would seem more appropriate to compare this to a modern-setting Hong Kong kung fu film. Oh well, I didn't write this review so who am I to talk! I had to snip the ending of the review off, as it gave away the ending to the flick. Hey, I made a mystery thriller! Don't give away the ending! You're killing me, you're all killing me!

Office worker Nick Miles (David Stewart) goes to a doctor (Jason Wauer) to stop smoking. Seems like he's been hypnotized and may have murdered somebody. Three assassins (of various races), chase him on foot and fight on rooftops. One is played by "Cash Flagg Jr." from Lethal Force (PV #35). There's a freak out scene and ticking clocks. The stunt work is excellent and some of the FX are good but the lighting is not. It was filmed around Baltimore, D.C. and various Virginia locations (Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Manassas...) The director is based in Richmond, VA

- Michael J. Weldon

There's just something about those Psychotronic reviews that slay me. Always concise and odd. What other review would say "There's a freak out scene and ticking clocks?"

Awesome kung fu fighting!

- Dwight Kemper

That is Dwight's review, printed in full.

Damn! 23 HOURS rocks!

- Dave Nuttycombe

Another review printed in full.

Set in a retro-50s future, this film follows the life of Nick Miles, who works a humdrum job in a drab office and leads a rather boring, repetitive life. That is, until he discovers he is missing time he can't account for. Every night at 3:00am he blanks out and can't recall what happens. Slowly but surely he does some investigating and soon some "men in black" type guys are after him. He eventually uncovers the truth and it's something surprising. And damn cool. Part THE HIDDEN, part THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR, albeit on a low budget, 23 HOURS holds up well when compared to the big budget Hollywood films. I look forward to director Eric Thornett's next film.

- Kevin Lindenmuth

This was a nice one to get, as Kevin Lindenmuth has been doing the tiny-budget type of movies for a long time, and paved the way for us all! ALL!

Well anyway, that's all the reviews for now. There are some other blurbs I could throw on here that I got when we played at Slamdance, but as they're not particularly interesting or in-depth I'll hold off. You never know...more may come! And at least I can say we've never gotten a really bad review. Some of them have problems with the set up, but too bad. You can't rush a good existentialist noir. That's just a crime.

The secret to reading your own reviews is this: when it's good, just say "how perceptive that reviewer is, and what good taste he has!" If it's bad, just say "obviously he has no real film education, and he didn't get it at all. He totally missed that subtext!" And then you'll be fine.