Riders

I thought the film was quite good, especially since we are talking about a first-time director and a low-budget production. The film does a good job of creating a disturbing feeling about the sexual abuse by the mother's boyfriend without actually showing anything. The guy gave me a very creepy feeling. I thought the photography was very good and higher quality than the budget would imply. The pacing and development of both the main character's personal growth as well as the growth in the relationship between with her younger sister was very realistic and heartfelt. Considering the bombs you see in the multiplex from more accomplished directors with bigger budgets, a simple story, well-told and paced well, was nice to experience. It will be interesting to see what the director could do with a larger budget and one film under his belt.

The acting is excellent, and the movie touched me with its sensitive, complex treatment of the sisters. I like that it does not provide the viewer with a "program", but draws the viewer into the story in a way that engages our creativity and imagination, and allows us to respond in our own fashion to the issues raised.

As low-budget, calling-card movies go, this one is fairly heartfelt and well-produced. Sadler shows a real flair for exploring the psyche of his female teen protagonist, and he's clearly gotten the most production value possible out of a small budget. It's scruffy around the edges, perhaps, but it's a movie that makes me curious to see what the director will do next. RIDERS is certainly leaps and bounds beyond many first films whose makers have been crowned the Second Coming after one successful Sundance screening.

Having Only Caught this film the first time in the middle I was already sold on it being an excellent film. It is rare that I can find a film that has the ability to instill intense Emotion, allot of films today lack realisim and emotion. This one how ever had both.

The film is about a teenage girl who runs from home to find her father after her mothers boy friend makes a less than flattering pass at her. Along the way we witness her struggles and learn that this Independent girl with an attitude is as human, confused and unprepared as the rest of us. The end was deffinately a shock.

Ultimately, Id have to say this was an Excellent film, for two reasons. It was Real, the characters were real, the story was real. Not that it was necessarily true, but there were no unrealistic aspects behind the story. Allot of films these days lack the realisim that I think our culture is looking for these days.

Two is the fact that it had emotion and displayed it naturally. The Cast, Crew, Writerer/Director and everyone else involved deserves a Standing Ovation for a well put together, well thought, well written and performed film. I recommend it to everyone, a film that Bumped its way to my top three. ( No small feat ) Go, Watch, Enjoy!

Charles Douglas

Riders was one of the better independent films I have seen in the recent past and brings forth some great talent in young star Alex Orban and young director Doug Sadler. Sadler will go far if he stays on this track, the help of veteran actor Don Harvey really only adds to the quality of the film, and the slick DV presentation done by Rodney Taylor is unbeatable, this is a film I highly recommend if you enjoy the independent scene. I hope this gets picked up and distributed so I personally can get a copy of the film.