MovieChat Forums > KatieBird *Certifiable Crazy Person Discussion > Independant Horror shines again

Independant Horror shines again

posted 18 years ago by ewh1984
10 replies | jump to latest

I am in the process of watching this still (I believe I am nearing the end) and I am thoroughly impressed.

When discussing low budget horror you hear things like "the cinematography was good...for a low budget film" or "the acting/direction was good for a low budget film"....well all I have to say is that the acting, direction, and cinematography is amazing for a FILM whether its low budget or not. Mr. Perkins is chilling and cooly calculating as the father, and Ms. Udy is brilliant as the grown Katiebird. However, I must say that the film belongs to Taylor Dooley as the teenage Katiebird...she is believable every step of the way, and expresses the complexities of the character flawlessly. I excitedly look forward to see what she does next.

Mr. Ritter's direction is flawless, and while at first the split screens kind of irked me, by the time I got farther into the story it became apparant that it was the best way to tell this story, it lends a voyeuristic feeling. While it was all planned by the director and cinematographer , it gives the FEELING that you are seeing more than a normal movie viewing audience giving it an air of realism and like I said, a voyeuristic quality. While I liked this device, I just hope it does not become a gimmick in Mr. Ritters work (I'm not saying it will, but I want to see him work wonders in a different style as well.)

Mr. Ritter, Ms. Tooley, Ms. Udy, and Mr. Perkins....thank you for doing something experimental, different, daring, ballsy, and most of all ORIGINAL in the horror field. I eagerly await more great films from all of you.

[–] RandomNoiseProds 18 years ago

Hey...glad you liked it. I played Merl...and call me Lee. Just one question. Where did you find KatieBird? Just wondering. Thanks again. Lee Perkins

[–] ewh1984 18 years ago

Best Buy actually, they had multiple copies. After reading about it in VideoScope and Rue Morgue I was pleased to see it there and bought it immediately.

[–] RandomNoiseProds 18 years ago

Cool...thanks for the info. I guess I need to pick up VideoScope Magazine. I saw Rue Morgue, but didn't realize VideoScope was out. I guess that is the new one? Lee

[–] movies_not_excuses 18 years ago

hei ewh1984...thanks for taking the time to write in...it is always great to hear from the folks out there that are really connecting with the movie...regarding your statement:

"While I liked this device, I just hope it does not become a gimmick in Mr. Ritters work"

As you mentioned in your post, this movie almost required the multi-panel to really be complete...it would have been hard to tell this story with all the multiplicit complexities I was after with just one image on the screen...when making a piece of art, you you have to make an effort to employ your style while still being fair to the material...would I ever completely multi-panel another film? well...if/when we make another KatieBird movie, it will undoubtedly be multi-paneled in a similar way...but my future non-Katie related projects will most likely have their own stylistic requirements, but I would never rule anything out until I'm really working through the vision - what I can say for sure is that I found the tool to be very effective in many ways, and I'll be glad to have it as part of my arsenal when moving forward with new projects, just as I'll be glad to have all my other tools which allow me to explore options...but you can rest assured that just because I have a saw in my tool kit doesn't mean I would use it to pound a nail...hehee...

so thanks again for giving us your feedback...hopefully we can come up with something soon that you'll find equally compelling...

...wishing the best...from the void...justin.paul.ritter...creator of KatieBird...

http://www.katiebirdthemovie.com

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] amsyco13 18 years ago

Should be in my mailbox from Netflix when I get home today.
Hopefully get to watch it either tomorrow or this weekend.
I read a great review for it at IGN Horrorbrain page. That is what turned me onto this. And it has been under "very long wait" at Netflix for a few weeks.

I am excited to see it. I hope it lives up to what I have heard, as some independent horror films lately have been a let down.....Murder-Set-Pieces I am looking at you.
But what I have read regarding this doesn't sound like hyperbole.
If nothing else, it has the greatest title I have heard in a long, long time.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] dstancey 18 years ago

I agree. Many people said the panels were cool at first but became annoying. I feel the opposite. They grew on me and throughout the movie they just became how you view it. It helped, probably, having seen several other examples of multipanel used in small ways such as in Citizen Toxie and the tv show 24... but this became a whole visual style and language.

I also agree that not depending on gore or nudity avoid some cliches, however I don't feel one has to avoid such things either. In many cases avoiding gore and nudity can become cliched.

I picked this up randomly with a gift card at BestBuy myself. I was looking at grabbing several other horror films in advance... gathered up my list and began stripping it down to what the gift card could afford. This movie caught my eye, and booted some of the preplanned titles. Glad it did.

I for one love autuers and seeing a writer, producer, director, editor made me feel right at home. I NEEDED to buy the DVD. Top Shelf stuff here.

Repeat: "just relaxing and going with..."

[–] amsyco13 18 years ago

Saw and thought it was great.
I really thought the tourture scenes with the asian guy were really well done.
From the humiliation in the forest to all the stuff in the shed, very well done. These scenes weren't as gory as so many of the torture scenes I have seen, but they did not need to be. They built up great tension. And the actress who played Katiebird really did her best work in these scenes.
I did not mind the mutli-panel stuff. I thought it was effective more often then not.
Good movie all around.
Its nice to see an independent horror movie that does not disappoint.
I liked it alot.

[–] Bonehead-XL 17 years ago

I agree full heartedly with all the settlements from the first poster, especially about Taylor M. Dooley. I would place the director among Lucky McKee and Alexandre Aja as one of the best of the new wave of horror directors.