Joshua

"Joshua" is a break from the formulaic hog-wash major studios have put out in the genre of horror. This piece has the added bonus of being an original, something that is recently on short supply in the age of remake the remake. The sets and direction are beautiful in their simplicity. This story is based in OurTown, USA, surely identifiable to anyone. I was particularly pleased with the acting and casting. Characters are consistent as much as the story allows and at times, creepy as hell. This story deals with both current and past events, leaving little down time between the audience learning where the characters are and how they arrived in their place. A real breath of fresh air. With blood.

First off - JOSHUA is not a great film in the "traditional" sense. The acting is pretty weak, the make-up and gore FX (when used) were not very believable, and it's all-around a painfully obvious low-budget film. That said - what made JOSHUA a stand out film to me was the story - period. The storyline (though lacking in a few areas) is twisted and original, and I can't say that from a lot of the crap that is out there currently...

Kelby, with fiancée in tow, reluctantly comes back to his hometown after the death of his father, who was in prison for murder. It's alluded to that Pops was a child murderer/possibly molester, but it's never made very clear. Back in town, Kelby is confronted by two former friends - and it's obvious that the three share a dark secret dating back to their childhood. As the film goes on, the audience is let in on the group's nasty secret and it becomes VERY apparent why Kelby was not too thrilled about his little "homecoming". Exactly WHAT the "revelation" is, I leave you to find out, as it's a good one and I'd hate to ruin it for a first-time viewer...

JOSHUA is another film where the "whole" is much better than it's individual parts. Again, the acting is mediocre at best from most involved (though not bad enough to ruin the film), and the way the film is directed often draws unneeded attention to the fact that it is a very low budget feature. There's little gore and no nudity (which are typically prerequisites for me enjoying a film...) - but again, the originality and dark nature of the storyline and concept are enough to carry this one. I do feel that it could have been pulled off better with more emphasis being put on the group's "secret" - unfortunately, very little actual screen-time was allotted for this. I would have liked to see more of the "development" of this aspect. Regardless, definitely recommended for those that dig more twisted and "disturbing" subject matter and would like to see something different. JOSHUA is the type of film that is helping to restore my faith in low-budget horror...8.5/10

I love horror films, mostly low-budget ones which are generally more creative and more fun, but I definitely wouldn't recommend this one : the acting is very poor, the main character as expressive as my goldfish. The plot is very interesting, hence the disappointment. The intrigue could have been used in a great way, but here the good idea is wasted. At no point is it scary, the "spinning camera" scenes are laughable, only the main character's girlfriend is credible as a scared woman. Each time you start getting a feeling of entering the movie's atmosphere, the scene is cut and out goes the feeling : the small town atmosphere is just well rendered but the fast forward to the cop/friend ringing at the door messes it up. The cop's attitude was worth a Scary Movie plot. My advice : walk away and go watch Wolf Creek, Salvage or even House of the Dead 2, at least you get a laugh.

Writer-Director Travis Best's "Joshua" is a skillful low-budget horror movie with more than its share of gore and frightening scenes. Although the plot is a bit muddled in the beginning and the motivation of the main character isn't made all that clear, it doesn't stop the movie from being what it is: a well-done horror film made on the cheap. Of special note is Ward Roberts (Kelby) who does a fine job as one really screwed-up fellow. Christy Jackson, the movie's love interest, provides a fine rational balance to Roberts' over-the-top behavior. She's an excellent professional actress who will go places if given the right opportunity. All in all, "Joshua" is worth the money for the rental as long as the popcorn's for free.

Kelby Unger (Ward Roberts) is a young man from a dysfunctional family that lives with his girlfriend Amelia Gates (Christy Jackson) and has sleeping problems with dreadful nightmares. When he proposes Amelia, he coincidently receives a phone call from the warden of the prison of his hometown telling that his father had just died from heart attack. He decides to return to Bisbee for the funeral and Amelia goes with him. Kelby and Amelia lodge at his mother's house and he meets his slut sister Trish (Alexa Havins), his former friends James Lilly (Aaron Gaffey) and the policeman Wally (Jeremiah Jordan) and his unknown uncle Tom (John Coffman). When Wally has a nervous breakdown with the name of Joshua, Kelby is haunted by the evil past in Bisbee.

Yesterday I saw "Joshua" and I am still impressed with this disturbing and sick movie. The director and writer Travis Betz has been well-succeeded in capturing the essence of evil and horror, creating a very original low-budget movie that confronts the innocence of a baby with the twisted and mean minds of three very bad boys. I dare to compare the importance and originality "Joshua" in the horror genre to George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead", Sam Raimi's "The Evil Dead" or Tobe Hooper's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", just to mention a few of movies that became the basis for many rip-offs. Further, with an appropriate distribution and marketing, I believe "Joshua" has potential to be a future classic in the genre. The story is very simple but credible, with a fantastic camera that explores unusual angles, great acting of unknown actors and actresses and I must confess that I had trouble to sleep after watching "Joshua". My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Joshua"