Sometimes a film comes along that is so out there, it's unclassifiable by standard film terms. Such is the case with the Sundance sensation "Bellflower," now available on DVD and Blu-ray.
This oddball debut from writer/director Evan Glodell starts out as a love story and takes a detour into "Fight Club" territory, only to become a twisted revenge saga with sex and gore aplenty. We're still trying to process the whole thing. But trust us when we stress: You won't know what hit you.
The film starts out by introducing us to Woodrow (Glodell) and Aiden (Tyler Dawson), two friends obsessed with "Mad Max," who spend their days lazing about, drinking massive amounts of beer and shooting up propane tanks. Their biggest joint ambition? To create a flame thrower. College doesn't seem to be in the cards for these two.
One night, while out with Aiden, Woodrow comes across the equally fun-loving Milly (Jessie Wiseman). In probably the film's best and most affecting sequence, the two drive all the way to Texas for their first date, sipping whiskey from a built-in dispenser in Aiden's car, and later swapping his vehicle for a motorbike, just 'cause.
From the outset it seems as if it's all too good to be true for these two lovebirds. Turns out, it is.
From there on in, things get ugly, fast.
Lucky for us, Glodell's film isn't. Thought the film was shot on a shoestring budget, "Bellflower" somehow doesn't look it. The film jumps off the screen thanks to the remarkable work of the director of photography, Joel Hodge, who paints the film in a hyper-saturated palette that makes the film pop with a flow all its own.
The striking look, coupled with the unpredictable storyline, and a doozy of a climax made "Bellflower" one of this summer's most exhilarating rides.
The less you know, the better.
