Hayseed

Writer/director Travis Burgess sets himself a difficult task in Hayseed. It's both a comedy set in a small town in Michigan filled with eccentric characters and a mystery whodunnit. In order for it to work we have to be amused by the proceedings while also making sure that the mystery keeps us guessing and that the resolution makes sense. Fortunately for us, he manages to pull off this juggling act.

If you are looking for CGI and car chases and shoot outs, pass this one up. But if you would like a low-key, laid back, black and white mystery, check this one out.

I'm not not sure why I picked this one on a cold January morning but I'm glad I did.

Check it out.

This independent, neo-noir whodunnit set in a small Michigan town is was a pleasant surprise!

A cast of mostly unfamiliar actors did a great job, portraying their quirky parts with deft comedy and drama with a smirk, along with the occasional menacing touch. Their fine acting gives dimension to characters often reduced to cardboard-cutout stereotypes. Well written and directed, as well. It has the feel of a film done on a shoestring budget, yet the quality surpasses many big budget or streaming mystery movies.

It is fun with a real murder mystery that grabs your attention and holds it right to the snarky end. It is hard to recommend this little film highly enough.

It was more than i had expected- more twists and turns per character that all came together. Every two minutes you think you've figured it out and you DIDN'T. The ensemble really worked together- their quirks and mannerisms together made it more kitchy and clever, nobody felt out of place. The editing made it really sing. The imperfections of natural lighting made it more lifelike, and that's refreshing to see. It made it seem more natural because you're seeing people outside, watching them as they speak as if you were right in front of them. That added to the small town impact of it all because it pulls the viewer in more than being annoying or fake looking. You felt like you lived there.

If you are a fan of whodunnit murder mysteries, you will definitely enjoy this movie. This movie has a great storyline about the murder of a small town priest, with twists and turns that keep surprising you until the end. This movie has absolutely EXCELLENT acting all around with lots of interesting, well-developed characters played by a large ensemble of veteran actors. It also had a lot of funny moments peppered throughout the film. I also appreciated the authentic, small town locations and the nod to detective TV shows.

This is a fun and entertaining movie that is also family-friendly.

Highly recommend!

Going into this movie I had very little knowledge of the premise and characters, or even really the genre. Man was I impressed. It not only has a solid mystery plot with some great red herrings and plot twists but the performances were top notch also. Everyone played their parts perfectly. The dark humor felt very organic and not forced and the dramatic scenes were very well done. We have been friends with Nolan North for a couple years and it's great seeing him play a different type of character than we're used to. Bill Sage commands every scene he's in even when he's somewhat defeated in parts. And Ismenia Mendes absolutely rocked in the "lead" role! The rest of the cast of characters were always entertaining and fun to guess their involvement in the bigger picture. The music and editing can't be overlooked either as both were done extremely well. A must see if it's playing in your area or you can stream it!!! 10/10.