Hayseed

Writer/director Travis Burgess sets himself a difficult task in Hayseed. It's both a comedy set in a small town in Michigan filled with eccentric characters and a mystery whodunnit. In order for it to work we have to be amused by the proceedings while also making sure that the mystery keeps us guessing and that the resolution makes sense. Fortunately for us, he manages to pull off this juggling act.

If you are looking for CGI and car chases and shoot outs, pass this one up. But if you would like a low-key, laid back, black and white mystery, check this one out.

I'm not not sure why I picked this one on a cold January morning but I'm glad I did.

Check it out.

It was more than i had expected- more twists and turns per character that all came together. Every two minutes you think you've figured it out and you DIDN'T. The ensemble really worked together- their quirks and mannerisms together made it more kitchy and clever, nobody felt out of place. The editing made it really sing. The imperfections of natural lighting made it more lifelike, and that's refreshing to see. It made it seem more natural because you're seeing people outside, watching them as they speak as if you were right in front of them. That added to the small town impact of it all because it pulls the viewer in more than being annoying or fake looking. You felt like you lived there.

I just watched Hayseed for a third time and each time I'm surprised to see another twist in the plot. It's just a fun movie to see. I was wondering throughout who did it, as my hunches changed many times over during the film. It's a good combination of comedy and intrigue, reminds me of the show Columbo. The movie clips along at a good pace too. There wasn't anytime where it dragged on as I was collecting clues. The fact that it was filmed in my home state of Michigan was also a bonus for me. It's amazing that this is the director/writer's first full feature film. I encourage everyone to see this film!

This independent, neo-noir whodunnit set in a small Michigan town is was a pleasant surprise!

A cast of mostly unfamiliar actors did a great job, portraying their quirky parts with deft comedy and drama with a smirk, along with the occasional menacing touch. Their fine acting gives dimension to characters often reduced to cardboard-cutout stereotypes. Well written and directed, as well. It has the feel of a film done on a shoestring budget, yet the quality surpasses many big budget or streaming mystery movies.

It is fun with a real murder mystery that grabs your attention and holds it right to the snarky end. It is hard to recommend this little film highly enough.

Either the writing was superb or the actors were great, or both. Whichever it was, I loved the movie. I like how each character was revealed ever so slightly all the way till the end. Additionally, I enjoyed all the small side stories of each characters life outside of the church. It definitely brought it all together. Nothing felt dragged out, and I couldn't wait to see how it all unfolded.

I'm recommending it to my friends and family to see and probably go with them one more time to see it. Hayseed is a nice local town mystery that is well written and the characters are perfectly portrayed very well. They felt like someone we could know.