MovieChat Forums > Little Erin Merryweather (2007) Discussion > REVIEW: INDIE'S EUROPEAN FLAIR TRUMPS BI...

REVIEW: INDIE'S EUROPEAN FLAIR TRUMPS BIG-BUDGET FACSIMILE


Something is disturbingly familiar about Red Riding Hood, the new Warner Brothers film released this spring, and it’s not the Big Bad Wolf, nor my childhood memory of the 700 year old legend that morphed into a Grimm fairy tale. Instead, what jolted me was one lyrical image—a blond ingénue’s fiery red cape floating slow-motion to a forest floor smothered in endless gleaming white snow.

Exquisite it is. But exceeded—years ago—by Little Erin Merryweather, an underestimated indie film that accomplished what Red couldn’t, despite the latter’s $50 million budget and seemingly 50 million computer generated effects.

By contrast, Little Erin’s strikingly similar image of a satin cloak gliding off the shoulders of its female lead is real, filmed in the cold of a glistening fresh New England snow. This is cinematic au natural versus everything-from-the-CG-sink, and out of the dregs of that drain Red unintentionally spits up another scary animal—the Big Bad Copycat, a feline whose color is pale. Red literally had 100 times the budget of Little Erin Merryweather. Too bad the film itself wasn’t as deep as Warner’s oversize pockets.

It is nice to note the actors in Little Erin are on to other things: Vigdis Anholt, the female killer (another novelty of the film), performs off-Broadway. Brandon Johnson, one of her victims, has his own show on Disney Channel. David Morwick, the winsome and funny male lead, has visited other film genres (political commentary, romantic comedies) and produced Emmy-award winning documentaries.

As for Little Erin, released in 2003, and non-existent CG effects notwithstanding, it has reached quasi-cult eminence here in Australia. To thousands of us living in Oz, its European flair serves as a comfort DVD on a chilly Saturday night. On that, however, the comparison of the two films diverges yet again. Somehow, I doubt the same will ever be said years hence about Red Riding Hood.


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I agree I thought they ripped the imagery right from Little Erin,your right very cool to see the cast of Little Erin go on to bigger things,Morwick went on to produce Emmy award winning films,Johnson hosts his own show now etc..very cool indeed kiddies!

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Dude they totally ripped off Little Erin Merryweather!Morwick doesn't get enough credit for coming up with something novel(Little red riding hood as a serial killer)plus he is great in it as Peter he's funny as hell.Big Studio films always take from small indie films that are so much more creative,hate to say it but that's the way it is guys.

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I thought of Little Erin Merryweather when I saw the trailer for Red,I guess we are all on the same page,I love Little Erin but to be honest I actually love Morwick's The Mondavi Gang even more.That was one powerful film and David Morwick in it,the boy can act!where he is excellent at being vulnerable and sensitive in Merryweather, he plays a character who is extremely confident and cocky in The mondavi Gang.I know Vigdis Anholt is more of a theater actress I wish she would do more movies, love her.

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I thought this was filmed in Canada for the longest time.

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