Dan Heuston
38 Reviews
Reviews
Persecution Complex
The ending was a little disappointing as it seemed we'd just concluded 10 years and the guy remains mad, and maybe I missed something but that powerful symbol he was drawing had a plot twist waiting somewhere......However, overall, I enjoyed the premise of something driving our character to insanity, and some generally nice photography kept us engaged.
The Forest Chorus
I think you hit the mark you were aiming for here - it was a good twisted tale - and I have to say the hanging gave me the biggest laugh of the evening (not sure if that says more about you or me!) Be keen to see what you would do with this idea in more than 48 hours....
Full-Time Hero
The story was jumbled and I didn't get what the superhero was, but the radio-active forest idea was nice, and the end punchline was great and would have been a killer if the build up had led us there.
Wheat, Myself and Rye
I really didn't like this to start with, but the growth in the development was so well done I was grinning by the end. Technically a great film which was what I enjoyed. The story less so but I guess that was the point! Definitely a highlight.
Chadwick
This was fun but a strange fantasy theme and so I'd question Black Comedy. I know you had sound issues at the start that were not your fault, but then the voices seemed overdubbed and everso slightly out of synch - which I then couldn't work out was technical or intended! To be honest, if it was intended, it ADDED to the weirdness of your strange theme! Ultimately, if I am honest, I didn't really follow the plot but somehow still found it entertaining. Let's see a Director's Cut maybe??
The Forest Chorus
I think you hit the mark you were aiming for here - it was a good twisted tale - and I have to say the hanging gave me the biggest laugh of the evening (not sure if that says more about you or me!) Be keen to see what you would do with this idea in more than 48 hours....
The Trade
I assume there were sound problems here which may have lost us some key plot elements, but the idea was well grounded, and some good acting brought us 'on the journey' with the lead character. Was the ending Hobson's Choice - eternal damnation, or eternal damnation just one week later? Wasn't quite sure of the payoff and, as I say, that may have been because of the lost dialogue.... Nice idea overall.
Shank'd
A very strong first gag with Shank'd, and stronger still with Plough'd, but after the second punchline the film quickly faded into repetition. I think you could have actually ended with the great eyebrow raise to camera at Serv'd, which was strangely my favourite part of your film and gave me a good chuckle.
Cooking with Sea Men: Monsters of Rock Special- Featuring: Kitty Chow.
Great brummie accents to lock in the MockuRockumentary style, but ultimately with no story it was just fun to watch you guys have fun.
Recovery
Enjoyable overall, the core idea was good and could have been exploited a lot more. It seemed to start as a 'what happened whilst filming V48' story and shaped up to be entirely told through the new camera. The introduction of the second camera was good but then we saw the action from a third point-of-view which detracted from that notion. The ending was sombre (and nicely acted) but I'm a sucker for a happier ending and would have liked to have seen the found footage used for Good and the perps caught!
Modern Romance
Loved the look of this - Wes Anderson-esque! A simple story excellently delivered with a killer use of the match cut. My favorite of the heat (that isn't my own!) You set the bar high being first film to show too!
Good Until the Last Drop
Nice cinematography at the beginning which created a good atmosphere early. Then the story was just a little too simple and I felt and you could have gone a lot further with it, but it is a really hard genre to pull off and I'm glad I didn't get it. PS. I think I saw a van go past in the background towards the end of the film ... last but one man on earth? ;)
Marked for Death
A good start with the graphics, but the B movie acting that followed did not quite match. Nice costumes and make-up, and a good twist in the story at the end was well presented.
Recovery
Enjoyable overall, the core idea was good and could have been exploited a lot more. It seemed to start as a 'what happened whilst filming V48' story and shaped up to be entirely told through the new camera. The introduction of the second camera was good but then we saw the action from a third point-of-view which detracted from that notion. The ending was sombre (and nicely acted) but I'm a sucker for a happier ending and would have liked to have seen the found footage used for Good and the perps caught!
Aesculus Paryiflora
A promising start but it drifted off towards the end when I think you had the opportunity to 'kill' the audience with a cleverer twist. I like the fact that you focused on the prop as key element of the story.
Hero
Excellent photography, and powerful use of the silhouette. Clearly a stand-out film for the heat (and presumably Christchurch). Like MistaTeas, my only observation is it felt similar to other things we've seen but that's easily overlooked for something of this quality.
Gluten Intolerance
This had no story and an average ending. However, it was energetic and fun - some one liners hit the mark well and others missed - but overall it is hard not to enjoy it. You clearly had a blast, as I remember you at the hand in giving it all beyond 7pm! And that's the most important thing.
Walter
Very well filmed - I enjoyed your take on the One Shot with some slow scenes and the speeded-up segues. I'd be keen to hear if you managed to shoot in one hit or cleverly edited takes together (which I think is legit by the way - just because the genre is one-shot, doesn't mean you have to have actually achieved it in one physical take). I did find the end confusing, but otherwise a very good short-film. Nice one.
Fresh Start
A simple idea, and lots of smiles in the audience at the end proves everyone loves a rumble in the leaves!
Harper's Curiosity
Poor sound and music mix made this a bit tricky to follow, but your action sequence was excellent and exciting to watch. Although I couldn't follow the story, I still loved the punchline in a groan-out-loud-I-really-shouldn't-be-laughing-at-this-but-I-can't-help-it kinda way!
Breaking Bread
Good performances, and spot on timing and photography with the interplay between the buddies and the captee. The emphasis on sandwiches felt contrived because we knew you had to include bread, but yet it was still funny and engaging (and hints of Flight of the Conchords humour I thought). The ending was good, although telegraphed. Overall, an enjoyable film.
Leaving so soon
Some good gags, thoroughly enjoyed the face in the sofa and the slide back into the bedroom.