Jimmy and Stiggs

No pun intended - now first things first: I am known to rate generously ... and you may not like this movie at all. Secondly this may be the closest I will get to a... let's call it trip, being under the influence or whatever else you want to call it. This is as insane as something can get! Visually though and acting wise - for a low budget movie - exceptional in my book.

This played at a Festival and the opinions were either loving it or hating it. And I get it ... this can be quite annoying if you do not tune into the mindset of the movie. But even those who do not like it, have to agree it looks stunning ... cinematography is off ... this planet! Kidding aside this looks awesome.

Now the movie does start with a POV shot that goes on for a few minutes ... I am glad it switches to "normal" mode after that (it will circle back to POV later on, but most of the movie will not be that) ... that said this low budget effort does something most (pov) movies get wrong ... it adds a "shutter" every now and then, simulating eyelids closing ... now some didn't even notice that, but I love that attention to detail.

Talking of which, I do wonder if they shot this in order. Usually movies are shot all over the place ... no pun intended here, with just one "place" of sorts or to speak of. And while I don't think people would be too surprised or taken ... out of the movie if continuity got mixed up ... this feels like another example of really bringing their A-game.

So while I can't tell if you will be able to suspend your disbelief and go on this journey with the characters ... if you do, you're in for a treat! This is not paint(ing) by numbers ...

This movie was a really fun time. It never stops once it gets going. Gave me the feeling of a crazy 80s movie like The Evil Dead. I really liked the trippy visuals and the kills were awesome. I really hope to see more movies like this coming out in the future. If you're looking for a fun time go check this one out.

Now this was a film that I learned about when looking to see what was playing at the Gateway Film Center. I'm a fan of the writer, director and star, Joe Begos. This film flew under the radar until I saw friends on social media saying this needs to be seen in the theater. My week lined up and I was able to catch it. I did know a bit of the synopsis ahead of seeing it.

Synopsis: a perfect storm of lousy news sees out-of-work filmmaking Jimmy Lang (Begos) spiral into a bender, during which he claims to have been abducted by aliens. Fearing their return, he contacts his old friend to help him gear up for war.

We jump right in with a point of view shot of our lead, Jimmy. He is out on his balcony, smoking marijuana and relaxing. He talks to Lexi (Riley Dandy) who got out of work late and this is going to push their plans back. Jimmy tells her to just come over and they'll figure it out from there. He settles down on the couch, has drinks and smokes more weed, while watching porn. That's when he feels what seems to be an earthquake. This has happened a couple more times. He realizes that it seems centered in his bedroom. He investigates.

Jimmy has an unexplained experience where he's floating above his bed and he cannot move his limbs. He loses a long stretch of time. He wakes up to missed texts, phone calls and voicemails from Lexi. He can't make sense of what happened though. This leads him to old interviews of John Redgrave (James Russo), a guy that he and his best friend used to watch. He claimed he was abducted by aliens. What happened to him is eerily similar to what happened to Jimmy.

This causes our lead to reach that friend, Stiggs Randolph (Matt Mercer). They had a falling out when Stiggs decided to get sober. Jimmy is angry with him as he's currently out of work as a filmmaker since they were partners. Jimmy continues to do research as well as prepare himself for the night as he expects his visitors to return. This involves getting out a chainsaw, a large knife, machete and even a shotgun. He also drinks, smokes and snorts drugs.

Stiggs then just shows up, complicating Jimmy's plans. The attack happens soon after. These two need to resolve their issues before it is too late. The pressure is on as this apartment becomes a war zone. There is an underlying question though, is this really happening or are we seeing the hallucination of a drug fueled bender, as the synopsis said.

That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start is by bringing back up that I'm a fan of Begos and his works. I blindly went to see Bliss in the theater. I was blown away. I then saw VFW soon after at the Nightmares Film Festival. Christmas Bloody Christmas is one that I had fun with and I dug Almost Human. He has one film I'm missing, The Mind's Eye, which I've heard people talk highly about. Getting to see his new film in the theater was something I didn't want to miss.

A disclaimer: While I acknowledge the vulgar language in his previous films is extreme, similar to Rob Zombie's, I also recognize that alcohol consumption and surroundings can influence word choice. The characters, like the filmmakers Jimmy and Stiggs, are less professional and can use such language without consequence.

Now that I have that out of the way, I have to say that what they're doing here is impressive. There is a little vignette at the end of the showing where Eli Roth and Begos walk around the latter's apartment, which is crazy because that's where he lives. This was filmed in his home. Everything that was done was practical, which makes it even more stunning. What he was able to do with a small budget and make it look as good as he did is a true credit to his Begos' abilities. With the aliens as the villain, it feels like a vulgar throwback to the 1950s.

Let's then just finish out discussing the filmmaking techniques. The cinematography and framing also help to hide the seams. One thing he did was that when the shotgun was used, it was always pressed against something. We're seeing the 'blood' spray so instead of using CGI, they could do it that way. That's genius. I don't love the point of view shots that we get to start and end, but I don't hate getting into the mind of our lead. The soundtrack is also relentless, much like the pacing so that worked as well.

The story is simple with Jimmy's life spiraling downward due to drug and alcohol addiction. He's alienating everyone, hitting rock bottom. If he is abducted by aliens, but no one believes him due to these reasons. Stiggs, his friend, only believes him when Jimmy is blacked out and Stiggs himself breaks sobriety. The story leaves open the possibility that Jimmy's experiences are not real, but a product of his intoxication. The author prefers to think it's real but enjoys the element of doubt.

All that is left then is the acting performances. Begos excels as the lead, a fresh face in a main role for me, but perfectly embodying Jimmy. Mercer complements him well. They, along with Russo, are the only visible actors, with Russo effectively portraying figures from Jimmy's past videos. Dandy, Josh Ethier, and others complete the cast.

In conclusion, this is a remarkable achievement for Begos, proving his talent for practical effects and compelling storytelling on a limited budget. Despite the explicit language that might not appeal to everyone, the film's gritty aesthetic, relentless pacing, and ambiguous narrative-leaving the audience to question the reality of Jimmy's alien encounters-make for a uniquely engaging experience. The strong performances from Begos and Mercer further elevate this genre piece, making it a must-see for fans of independent horror and a testament to Begos' continued growth as a filmmaker.

My Rating: 8 out of 10.

I watched Jimmy and Stiggs (2024) in theaters last night. The storyline follows Jimmy, an out-of-work filmmaker who believes he's been abducted by aliens-and fears they'll return to finish what they started. Reunited with Stiggs, an old friend he'd previously fallen out with, the two must face the aliens together, prove Jimmy's story is real, and try not to get abducted again...

This movie is written, directed by, and stars Joe Begos (Christmas Bloody Christmas). It also features Matt Mercer (Contracted), Josh Ethier (Bliss), and Riley Dandy (Christmas Bloody Christmas).

The film reminded me a lot of Breeders, only with a bigger budget and slicker cinematography. As with every Joe Begos project I've seen, the use of color and camera work is fantastic. The blacklight effects in particular were striking and gave the film a cool visual identity. The concept had strong potential, though the nonstop bickering between the two friends grew tiresome-especially given the dire circumstances they were in.

The special effects were a mixed bag. Some moments worked well, while others fell flat. The aliens themselves were among the weakest I've seen on screen, though the variety of weapons and the over-the-top blood sprays-human and alien alike-were fun. The chainsaw sequence, however, didn't hit as it should have. I was also on the fence about the first-person POV elements. That said, the abduction sequences were intense, and I did enjoy the conclusion.

In conclusion, Jimmy and Stiggs is a unique entry in the horror genre, with some elements that land better than others. I'd score it a 5.5/10 and recommend it if you're looking for something different.

This movie was one of the most original and intense films I've ever seen. Absolutely loved every second of it. Joe Begos created a horror masterpiece with this flick.

The fact that he starred and directed this totally unchained chaotic circus of alien gore is mind blowing. The whole movie being filmed in his own apartment over the course of 4 years makes it all the more impressive.