Fang

Well written script about a subject that, on some levels, something we've all felt, struggled with and have experienced. The mental illness journey that the main character endures is fascinating, eerie and real.

The relationship between the elder parent and him depicts a clash of something he must do out of necessity and love vs wanting the responsibility of it all to end. The mother actor was very good in portraying her own slip with reality.

But when he breaks, he breaks hard into an abyss that he could never escape....though he tried. You have the relationship building, suspense and even a bit of gore.... something for everyone!

If you watch other independent films before you watch this one, you'll understand why I gave it a 7 (granted I wanted to do like a 6.5 so I rounded up).

As someone who has watched a LOT of indie films and gets distracted easily, I can tell you I actually watched this whole film--YAY. Most indie films, especially if they're over 30 minutes long, they don't stand a chance at holding my attention normally.

Now, this film is far from perfect. A lot of things don't make sense and there are a lot of filler walking scenes that were unnecessary (also can we get Billy a better broom for that warehouse??). However, the lead actors as well as the lighting and cinematography of this film really carry it though. The colorization is absolutely gorgeous and the camerawork gives this film a boost beyond independent films. Dylan LaRay and Lynn Lowry absolutely capture your attention when they're in scenes together, and, again, it's better than a lot of independent films that are out there.

Fang first came on my radar when I was fortunate enough to interview writer/director Richard Burgin for a podcast. Based on the promo images I saw and Burgin's description of the film, I was expecting a grindhouse creature romp.

What I got instead was a highly intelligent shocker about what it's like living with and dealing with a loved one's mental health decline. As someone who recently lost his mother and dealt with her mental decline at the end, this film hit very close to home for me.

Billy Cochran (Dylan LaRay) is a 23 year old working at a warehouse to support himself and his mother (the always lovely Lynn Lowry) who is suffering from stage 5 Parkinson's and mentally declining sharply.

After being bitten by a rat, Billy starts to itch. Then the tufts of hair start to appear. The problem is, they also disappear. Is this real? Is Billy really turning into a rat? Or is it all in his head? His mental decline seems to mirror his mother's as his mother's new caregiver, Myra (Jess Paul) tries her best to take care of them both.

This is absolutely a cut above your average indie horror flick. This isn't a horror flick. This is a horror film. Mark my words....keep your eye on Richard Burgin, because he's going places and he's going to take us along for some wild rides.

Richard Burgin delivers with Fang on all levels. Engaging story, great cinematography, killer sets and phenomenal acting by all especially the lead and Lynn Lowry. The chemistry between these two was excellent and kept you on edge. The rest of the cast was great. Very impressive score and sound design helped to get the frantic and nerve wracking scenes across. The use of the lighting and colors helped tell the story especially in the bar scenes. I can't forget the gory and realistic practical Fx that was in the movie. I'm a big fan of practical Fx and glad to see this in this film. Check this out and share the love!!

Wow!

The performances here are first rate!

Dylan La Ray, as Billy Cochran, and Lynn Lowry, as Billy's mother, Gina Cochran, bring strong skill, believability and nuance to this small but important film. Jess Paul, as Myra Valenti, Mrs. Cochran's caretaker and Billy's friend, also delivers a first rate performance.

Billy Cochran is a lonely 23 year old whose dad died young. He works a mind numbing job at a meat packing plant and comes home to a dingy Chicago apartment, where he tends to his aging, ailing mother. Once free from work and home responsibilities, Billy likes to draw, building elaborate alternate worlds and species in his art-notebook. But Mother is never far away, and yes, there are shades of Psycho here, as Billy's creative time is constantly interrupted by Mom's extreme neediness.

As Billy's mother slips ever deeper int late stage Alzheimer's she becomes emotionally abusive. This emotional and verbal abuse, along with a plot device that I won't mention so not to reveal any spoilers, cause Billy to begin his own slow slide into despair.

Dylan's ability to show us Billy's growing torment is truly remarkable, and Gina is simply stunning in her seamless switches through a massive range of human emotions, sometimes all in the same scene, with a face that goes from sweet and maternal to twisted and sinister at the flip of a switch.

Mood and tone are ominous, pushed along by very creepy soundtrack. Setting and locations are gritty urban rust, and Billy's transformation into something "other" seems all too real.

My only beef would be with the hard nosed boss. I believe this plot line could have been better developed. That said, this is an indie horror film on a budget, there's never enough time/money for everything; concentrating on that which matters most is what works.

Fang is a worthy film from Richard Burgin, an important new writer/director. I look forward to seeing what he does next!