Zo in Exile

The movie starts off in a familiar place and ends up somewhere I did not anticipate.

When I read the description of Dylan O'Keefe's compact, low budget indie project ZO IN EXILE, I developed a certain image of it in my mind:

"Zo and friends venture off for a weekend getaway to a cabin in the quiet town of Exile, New York. But a bucolic vacation turns grim when Zo's friends, fueled by debauchery and excess, plunge her into a fantasy world of frenzy where her only escape is to come to terms with her own destructive nature. Or else face the music of eternal madness." Between this summary and the movie's poster, featuring lead actress Shiho Matsuoka's pained expression as she gazes into the void, I came to expect a grim, agonal psychodrama about the sadomasochism inherent in human nature. I had set myself up for a big surprise.

I had the opportunity to see the film during it's early Brooklyn screenings. It's evil dead meets something else entirely. Without getting into spoilers, all I can say is that the cast drives the picture home. Shiho Matsuoka and Tee Sudderth make a dynamic duo on screen.

Another character in itself is the soundtrack by Tasos Eliopolous. The music is a combination of Jazz, classical and backwoods horror. The sound creates an eerie feeling throughout the picture that filled the theatre and shook my seat.

The movie makes great use of its minuscule budget and is entertainment for entertainment sake.

Into the woods and beyond.

This is a whimsical adventure that will keep you intrigued. Dylan writes a story that will evoke childhood fantasies, teenage angst and adult curiosity. This movie is definitely unique and invigorating!

Even though this was not a huge budgeted movie they still managed to align themselves with the foundational and functional ideas of great movie making. The brilliance of Jenny's production style as the coproducer shines through every thread and every scene. There are so many different creative ideas that happen along each scene. The music is refreshing, very varied and very spontaneous.

This movie is definitely worth seeing!

What opens as a hat-tip to old school weekend at the lake house scares and thrills and then morphs into a beautiful, emotional cinematic journey is not what i saw coming with Zo in Exile. Director Dylan O'Keefe, Cast and Crew have seamlessly created a fantastical trip set in the 21st century that harkens back to '70s indie style filmmaking. The use of aerial cinematography coupled with transitional swipes transported this viewer in the captivating storytelling. O'Keefe deftly brings us along with Zo and her new friends into a place that feels familiar and completely obscure at the same time. I look forward to a re-watch and hope there might be a behind the scenes produced sometime with the creators and actors.