Walden

I'm only halfway through at the time of this review. I reserve the right to return and edit this review, if they let me. That said Walden is - so far - a phenomenal movie.

It's visually beautiful. I love the vintage mixed with 22nd century. The clothes and scenery is giving '60s retro mixed with thin-tablets.

Early on I can't decide if Walden, the protagonist, is creepy or just different.

He's a court stenographer, and one of the first shots is of him cleaning his tool (get your head outta the gutter). His stenograph. We get to see the pride he seems to have in it. And then we see him lying in bed, praying, wearing Louis Vuitton pajamas. Creepy? Or different?

"No one gives a damn. Why should you?"

Walden is directed by Mick Davis and stars Emile Hirsch, Shane West, Kelli Garner and Tania Raymonde.

When small town court stenographer Walden Dean discovers he has a terminal illness he decides to become a vigilante to punish the people who deserve it. Emile Hirsch gives one of his best performances here as what I could only explain as "Dexter if he was on the spectrum." Seriously he really sold this role. His performance might come across as grating to some but I thought it worked for this movie.

Overall this movie isn't great but for a DTV thriller this was engaging to watch and competently made. The ending also sets up a sequel which I would be down to see.

First I gotta say this snuck up on me, this film is a independent cult classic, the dark humor & sinister plot twist was paced well for me, this movie is not too over the top for your senses, the direct too the point main character is just right. The connoisseurs of independent cinema should enjoy, hell I did. I gotta add it's a damn shame this film didn't get the push like most films but you gotta be plugged into the mainstream for that, that being said this film stands on it's own merit. The pacing of this film was not full of cliches too bog a viewer down, the main character was all in, the supporting cast was not out of place for me at all.

A stenographic vigilante is not a common theme and opens up vast number of avenues for the plot to grow. But the movie's first half was too distracted with introducing the manic nature of the central character rather than focusing on the plot's progress. Introducing irrelevant characters such as romantic partners wasn't making much effect or useful. Final twist was great but police showing their findings for the sake of neighborly acquaintance was one out of many illogical things in this story. However the visuals were haunting and performances were sincere. Walden is a story that's very much interesting when summed up.

This will go down in years to come as a cult classic.

Characters in this film are nothing short of wonderful.

The acting is spot on, a lovely storyline of revenge and honesty.

A soft hearted Court reporter gets fed up with seeing bad guys go free and takes it upon himself to deal out a bit of self justice, then his friend gets wrongly accused of an evil crime so he goes after the real perpetrator.....

At first I thought it was a comedic affair, but it turns out to be a unique quirky thriller with a twist or two.

Well worth a watch , I cannot understand the poor reviews. I loved it from start to end.