I wasn't sure what to expect when I sat in front of my TV with a DVD of Sammyville. I'd heard a couple of different things. Lyle is great. Poor acting, yadda, yadda, yadda.
My thought after watching it was the same way I felt after watching Lost Voyage(the one with Judd Nelson) and Cabin By The Lake(repeat Judd Nelson). It's a B movie. Maybe even a C movie but definitely a solid B. It's got your token action, attractive starlet, young rugged hero, a big bad, you name it, it was there.
Haven't seen the movie in a couple of years and I might screw up some points. If so, feel free to cut me down like the dork I am.
My biggest problem with it was the dialogue. Didn't flow very well. The story didn't interest me, even though I can't remember it now and would drown quickly in an argument to the contrary, I remember that being something that stuck in my craw. I remember it being about some boy disappearing and then we're in Sammyville and the starlett is in Hot Lakes Hotel in a bath tub in the middle of big room where a bath tub didn't belong. It was weird.
It's strong points were the fact that is was obviously playing to it's demographics, young males 18-35 who watched way to much deep space nine. (Said starlet's big show).
This was truly an indie film and my thought is if you are producing something that is indie, you're taking a big risk. A good way, and not a bad way mind you, is to go formulaic because that stuff sells. It will get picked up. Where Sammyville falls is they seem to try to be original within the formula and it doesn't work. A worthy gamble, it just doesn't work. The story doesn't have great enough risk and circumstances for the characters to pull us in, because it is a B movie and the originality to support the presence of artistic merit is not backed with enough poignant risk and need for us to care.
I thought it was shot pretty well. I did love the look of hot lakes in that bath tub scene and sound was solid. Things that usually affect the outcome of an indie. Scripting and Directing is where I think the energy needed to be a little more prevalent.
