(2003)
REVIEWED BY- STEVE GENIER
DIRECTED BY- DANIEL CASEY-VANHOUT
CAST- Greg Dow, Robert Emmett Young, Brian Altman, Alexis Nemeth,
Danny Ray Cook, Hush, Chris Moller, Dave Cunningham, Alex Safi,
Desdemona Noble, Fox Valade, and Shane Capone.
SOURCE- DVDR SCREENER
Straight out of Detroit, THE PASSAGE is one fine example of why
Hollywood needs to wake up and recognize the indie film. Director
Daniel Casey-Vanhout fresh from his debut film DEAD/UNDEAD (2002),has brought us a raw and very real look into the life of small time crook Andrew, trying to sort out his situation. Grieving the loss of
his girlfriend in a restaurant hold up, needlessly gunned down.
Though the grieving could be better described as anger and hell bent on revenge. That is what the viewer is lead to believe in the first few
moments of the opening scenes. THE PASSAGE is much more than a simple tale of revenge, but branches off into human nature, greed
and false opportunities. When along comes a stranger who offers Alex
the opportunity to make a few bucks and best of all, get that much
deserved revenge on those responsible for his girlfriend’s death. As
the heist goes down, dark secrets are slowly revealed, ones that
will ultimately change the outlook on the end results.
THE PASSAGE shows up some of the best offerings Hollywood has given us in the past little while, and trust me that is no bull. Shot on
digital video, it’s feel is very raw and almost guerilla-like in style.
Fast paced, full of excitment, and in your face, that being in both the
action and story. Loads of deadly gunplay, fast paced fight scenes
all of which are very well executed. The cinematography involved in
both the gunplay scenes and the fight scenes are mind blowing.
Quicktime edits, fast paced camera movements and precise execution is brought to a whole new level here. There is truly some Hollywood type high octane energy flowing here and there’s not even a third the budget. I’d pay the $13 bucks to see this on the big screen and without feeling ripped.
Though one can’t forget the acting involved here, very professional
to say the least. Both Bob Young (Guy Delmorte) and Greg Dow (Andrew Hill) are top notch in their respective roles. Bob Young who
plays the David Crosby in looks career criminal Guy Delmorte, is a thug with a quick wit and long line of broken promises. Loaded with greed and a hidden agenda, he poses as Andrew’s path to swift vengeance. Young is surely the highlight of THE PASSAGE. Greg Dow, who plays the very volatile small time crook Andrew Hill, is thrown into a world of larger wagers than he’s use to and he begins giving second thought to his decision.
When faced with the prospect of having to kill, Andrew re-thinks his
position, something that may cost him his life. The surrounding
supporting cast is equally as professional, filling in the most
admirable of ways. The other element that adds so much to this dark
tale is the incredibly diverse score provided by Hush and Nick
Raftis. Powerful enough to win the film a Best Score award during
the BARE BONES Film Festival and garner a CD deal as well. Very
moody and very original, the music compliments every scene with true
texture, giving the viewer the exact vibes needed to get the full
just of each scene at hand.
Let’s face it, with how the world is today and has been for many
years, films like THE PASSAGE need the exposure too convey an
important message - we all have choices. Our lives are directly
affected by these choices, the path changes and we all look back at
what we could have or should have done. THE PASSAGE is a good
example of this and in the most brutal of ways, thus being a very
powerful vehicle. Not to undermine the truly great craftsmanship
that may or may have not been this true intent, but in my eyes is
seen as such.
4 BITCH SLAPS
