Manuer

Director - James Bell (Dog Dick, Tantrum)
Starring - James Bell and Mae Bell
Release Date - 2014
Genre - Horror
Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     There are some things that fans of indie horror will hear on a regular basis.  One such term that is tossed around regularly is underground horror or underground filmmaker.  What exactly is underground horror and why does everyone feel the need to group themselves in with others?  When is an indie horror film more than just an indie horror film and when does it  become an underground horror film?  These are questions I have wondered for sometime now and recently director Adam Ahlbrandt, director of Cross Bearer and The Cemetery, posted a similar question on his Facebook page.  Why can't an indie film just be an indie film instead of trying to fit into a niche?  Anyway. last year I checked out the experimental indie flick Dog Dick from director James Bell.  This is a man that has been making a name for himself and is known as an underground filmmaker.  With that being said, I fondly believe that this young filmmaker is a true indie director in every sense of the word.  People may refer to him as an underground director but in my eyes he is the true embodiment of an indie director.  Late last year, early this year. Bell released his follow up film to Dog Dick titled Manuer.  This was a different direction that his debut film and actually followed a linear story line.  I ordered the film and waited until I had time to check it out.

     The film follows a homeless man (James Bell) that prefers a good drink over having a job and material things.  Running low on booze and desperate for more, he steals a lawnmower and a bottle of fertilizer along with it the impression that it is another bottle of alcohol.  He drinks a little and discovers that his explosive shits now has the power to grow flowers.  He cuts the grass of a young woman (Mae Bell) and then shits all over her yard before rushing back to his shack to drink a little more.  He downs the entire bottle.  His body soon starts to burn and melt until it is only the skeleton left.  As times passes a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers grows around his bones. 

      Bell is a man with a very unique vision and this has set him apart from so many filmmakers in the game.  His films are unlike anything you will see.  With that being said, though his films are very unique, they are not for everyone.  His films are very experimental and flirt with the fine line between experimental and arthouse.  The acting in this one is hit or miss but it is not the film's point of focus.  James is able to portray a convincing bum at times while at others he is whimsical and very fun to watch.  The film's only speaking role belongs to James' wife Mae who does a decent job the few minutes we see her on camera.  She tries hard and shows a lot of promise but her inexperience shows.  The story for this one is fun, short, and gets straight to the point.  Sadly, this is one of the many shorts I wished were just a little bit longer and had a little more substance to the story.  A little more story would have went a long way.  Finally, the film only has one real on screen death but Bell milks it for everything it's worth.  We get great gore, a unique death, and some great practical effects.  Overall, Manuer is a triumphant indie short that deserves to be seen.  The film has a story that develops quickly and some great gore.  I could honestly see this film playing at an Andy Warhol party.  Check this one out and support this brilliant indie filmmaker.