PIECES OF TALENT
Writer:David Long, Joe Stauffer
Director:Joe Stauffer
Starring:David Long, Kristi Ray
Availability: DVD Available at piecesoftalent.com
Rating:
I have loved movies for about as long as I remember. Certainly, when I was a child, I had far more dubious tastes, but that doesn't change the fact that I've always had a passion for the cinema. My love affair with horror is a far more complicated issue. When I was a child, I simply adored this stuff. I was one of those who frequented the Mom and Pop video stores, renting and buying movies that would end up being life long staples. I have so many fond memories of this part of my life. What horror fan doesn't?
Once I entered junior high, things changed, though. I found myself drifting away from horror. I started studying movies. I wanted to know all the classics. I started seeking out more foreign films, silent movies, art house flicks...I became a bit of a movie snob. The older I got, the more I started feeling as if horror was beneath me. These films had no artistic substance. They were cheap, badly acted rubbish. Okay, I wasn't that harsh. I still dug a good horror flick every now and then. Still, though, it was no longer a passion.
Once I hit twenty, though, I was watching some special on Bravo and they were discussing all these classic horror movies. It was then that it hit me...Horror movies are an essential part of anyone's film education. There is so much heart, passion, and creativity in this genre, and here I was too focused on movies having to be "perfect," that I had almost turned my back on this beautiful, unpredictable cinematic landscape. It was then that I started seeking out a lot of indie titles. I suppose my first foray into indie horror was Brian Paulin's Bone Sickness. Needless to say, there was a hunger there, and I've spent the last decade doing everything I can to make sure that hunger has been satisfied.
That brings us to tonight's little ditty...Joe Stauffer's Pieces of Talent. This is a movie that was the product of immense amounts of hype. Everyone I knew in the indie horror community was talking about it, but few had actually seen it. When a movie is built up like this, the results can be disastrous. What if this movie we've all been dying to see secretly turned out to be a piece of shit? It's happened before, and there's no reason to think it couldn't happen again. Luckily, that's not the case here. Pieces of Talent is one of the best, most inventive indie horror flicks I've seen this year. I'd say only Lord of Tears has surprised me this warmly.
This movie is a modern horror masterpiece. It's a thing of real beauty. I'm not sure what sort of budget these guys had to work with, but they definitely made the most of it. This is that rare beast in modern horror. It's actually, *gasp*, something original. It essentially tells the story of David, a director who is out to make the perfect movie. If that means he has to kill to accomplish this goal, so be it. After meeting Charlotte, an aspiring actress, the two form a strong friendship. Charlotte sees this as her big opportunity, and David sees in Charlotte the perfect woman to be the star in his opus.
To tell you more would spoil the fun, but suffice to say, this is a movie that refuses to play by the rules. You may think you know where it's going, but you'd only be fooling yourself. This isn't a by the numbers body count slasher movie. Don't get me wrong. There are some profoundly disturbing and gory moments that will please those who love their arthouse with a delicate hint of depravity. David Long is absolutely astounding in the role of David. He may be a psychopath, but there's something very relatable about him. In the quieter moments between David and Charlotte, you see a real humanity in him. It's a wonderfully complex portrayal of a beautifully written character.
The underground has been cluttered lately with movies that develop an almost rabid level of worship. Some are definitely more deserving than others. Pieces of Talent is the sort of movie that deserves a passionate fan base. The shot compositions are extraordinary. Joe Stauffer has a wicked sense of style, and it oozes in every frame, especially a brilliant dream sequence that you will have a hard time shaking from your subconscious. Sometimes, as someone who loves writing about movies, I will take great pleasure in tearing apart a bad movie. Nothing beats the feeling, though, of being able to sing the praises of a film this great. I even came in to this movie a bit skeptical. This film has set a new standard in the world of indie horror.
Now, you may be wondering why I felt compelled to start this review with a mundane bit of backstory about me and my love affair with horror. The reason for this is quite simple. Movies like this remind me why horror will always play an important part of my life. This is real art, ladies and gentlemen. This is a movie that truly stunned me in the best possible sense of the word. Buy this immediately. If you have to sell the kids to slavery in order to afford it, believe me when I tell you it will be worth it.
Until next time, my fellow freaks and weirdos...
To tell you more would spoil the fun, but suffice to say, this is a movie that refuses to play by the rules. You may think you know where it's going, but you'd only be fooling yourself. This isn't a by the numbers body count slasher movie. Don't get me wrong. There are some profoundly disturbing and gory moments that will please those who love their arthouse with a delicate hint of depravity. David Long is absolutely astounding in the role of David. He may be a psychopath, but there's something very relatable about him. In the quieter moments between David and Charlotte, you see a real humanity in him. It's a wonderfully complex portrayal of a beautifully written character.
The underground has been cluttered lately with movies that develop an almost rabid level of worship. Some are definitely more deserving than others. Pieces of Talent is the sort of movie that deserves a passionate fan base. The shot compositions are extraordinary. Joe Stauffer has a wicked sense of style, and it oozes in every frame, especially a brilliant dream sequence that you will have a hard time shaking from your subconscious. Sometimes, as someone who loves writing about movies, I will take great pleasure in tearing apart a bad movie. Nothing beats the feeling, though, of being able to sing the praises of a film this great. I even came in to this movie a bit skeptical. This film has set a new standard in the world of indie horror.
Now, you may be wondering why I felt compelled to start this review with a mundane bit of backstory about me and my love affair with horror. The reason for this is quite simple. Movies like this remind me why horror will always play an important part of my life. This is real art, ladies and gentlemen. This is a movie that truly stunned me in the best possible sense of the word. Buy this immediately. If you have to sell the kids to slavery in order to afford it, believe me when I tell you it will be worth it.
Until next time, my fellow freaks and weirdos...
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