#12 - Pieces of Talent (2014)

Pieces of Talent (2014)

(dir. Joe Stauffer)

Charlotte is a struggling young actress stuck in a terrible dead-end job, who lives with her bitter alcoholic mother and dreams of making it big.  When she meets David, a laid back filmmaker with a constant goofy smile on his face, she sees her chance to finally do something good for her career by joining the cast of a special project he is working on.  Unfortunately, David is actually a psychopath, whose "film" involves luring prospective cast and crew members to his remote home and then murdering them on camera.

This was a surprisingly good film, and I can't say I've seen anything else quite like it.  It moves between different styles effortlessly - the scenes from David's film feel like found-footage, while the bulk of it is shot traditionally (and gorgeously).  Throughout there are hallucinatory Grand Guignol-style interludes that contain some of the most gruesome and memorable imagery I've seen in a horror film in some time.  The acting and dialogue are also very good, which is rare in this kind of low-budget indie film.  David in particular stands out, mostly because I've never seen a movie villain like him.  His insanity is subtle, and he really never shows any outward signs of it - he's the same guy whether he is going bowling or beating someone to death with a hammer.

The world of indie horror is filled with films that have interesting ideas but are executed poorly, so it's nice to find one that is both original and well-made.  This isn't for everyone - there are scenes of very brutal and explicit violence, and I think the sometimes bizarre tone will put some folks off - but I really liked this one.  Highly recommended for horror fans.