Mandao of the Dead

Well, this was a pretty fun movie. Not really laugh out loud funny, but a humorous thread runs through the movie. I was impressed with the actors & sets, as the film was on a very low budget. The director played it smart, working well on a storyline that keeps your attention as well as characters you can invest in. There are some shifts in time, and "astral projection" with one of the characters. The film makers keep it simple and the viewer doesn't get confused at all. I wouldn't call this a horror flick, as the title would suggest, but more of a drama/thriller with sci-fi undertones. It's worth a watch, and the run time is only about 70 minutes. There are worse ways to waste that time.

Mandao of the Dead is a hilarious and exciting indie movie that I think is SERIOUSLY worth the watch!! I have a MASSIVE interest in indie films, so I knew I HAD to check this out, and I had a BLAST watching it!! Scott Dunn is a really talented filmmaker and actor and I can't wait to see him make more movies in the future!!! This movie just shows how awesome an indie film can be as long as it's done right!! I watched the movie on Tubi, and I just might end up rewatching it soon!! I think anyone who has the chance to watch this movie SHOULD!! It's an incredible, funny, mind blowing masterpiece and I can't wait to check out the sequel!!

"Mandao of the Dead" deftly does that high wire act between horror and comedy, never pausing to look down at all the failed attempts rotting in the canyon below. This is a terrific film delivering on the promise of its unique concept, and it thrives on the strength of some wonderful character writing.

Scott Dunn directs, and also owns his space as the film's namesake: Jay Mandao gets by on royalties from his dead dad's cereal business, taking in just enough to also support his none-too-motivated nephew. Soon Jay realizes a burgeoning skillset in the socially neglected niche of astral projection; an epiphany that sets the wonderfully honed humor into full and joyous motion.

Like the best of films in comedy and/or horror, a soul has to emerge from the inside, and Jay is in abundant possession of it. Dunn terrifically threads Jay's heartfelt connection to his old man's lineage, and sets it off by surrounding Jay with a terrific ensemble of uniquely memorable characters. "Mandao Of The Dead" is a massively entertaining film, made so by the director's expert craftsmanship in reaching for and achieving something a bit aspirational.

This movie has an excellent cast and production. It has the best qualities of screwball comedies, featuring a slacker uncle who appears to be younger than his slacker nephew and a villain "girlfriend" who believes she is a vampire but says she isn't. To this it adds a screwball reality in which astral projection is possible not only in space but in time, so that the two slackers are challenged to prevent the murder of another slacker with the "expert" advice of their slacker astral traveling cousin. The comedy is boosted by deadpan delivery and naturalistic interactions in the astral realm. Highly recommended.

To see the hardwork and effort put into 'Mandao of the Dead' on screen is very inspiring as an aspiring filmmaker. For a $13k budget, the production crew and cast was sizable. Though this piece of film may not be a Hitchcock or Kubrik, for what this movie is in it's infancy is a great start to a future career for most everyone involved in the 'Mandao...' project. A 9/10 is suitable for the film in that it delivered on low expectations and came to impress in many regards. This isn't a film you would take your date to go see, but maybe your girlfriend who's a cinefile and enjoys indie films! The movie speaks for itself in terms of plot and is much more breathable and has more dimension than Scott Dunn's ''Schlep". I can't wait for the next Mandao!