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Driftwood
Image // R // November 13, 2007
List Price: $26.99 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
A bustling wad of nerves lies at the heart of Driftwood, the indie psychological suspense from director Tim Sullivan. It hits a lot of nails directly on the head in fluid casting decisions and story eccentricities to portray this distressed B-horror narrative, though it slips and slides in conventional ways unavoidable by the direction. The ghosts around each corner of the film's spooky jailhouse setting reflect on both the supernatural and the emotive, making for a generally solid exercise in low-budget hysteria.
The Film:
David (Raviv Ullman) is a bad ass - or so he thinks. He's the product of a pedestrian epidemic in the form of outlandish and invincible teenage rage that stems from emotive cries for help. David is such a stereotypically angst teenager, but with a darker cloud floating in his mind. After jotting down a few notes in his journal about wishing for death when his older musician brother died, he builds this gruff exterior riddled with smartass attitude. His parents lack the power to do anything first-party to fix the situation, so they decide to take drastic measures. They enlist the efforts of an outside source to set their son straight - the half-bootcamp, half-prison Driftwood.
Leading this organization is the "Captain" (Diamond Dallas Page of pro wrestling fame), a massive, squinty-eyed, overwhelming sort with an agenda up his sleeve. His well-oiled machine of an attitude breaking facility involves different storage levels for different kids, though we never really learn what each division really entails. Of course, David gets tossed into one of the more intensely obscure levels filled with other edgy types, ranging from the militant gangster and chronic masturbator to the innocent gay kid. David quickly learns that stepping out of place in Driftwood gets you special treatment, mainly in the form of "the gauntlet" - a setup involving a line-up of your inmates and some choice blunt items to beat him with. Conversely, good behavior seems to have its other potential rewards, namely the fluttering affections of the Captain's daughter.
Something else unsettling, outside of the manual labor and the mistreatment of these kids, looms in this prison. Looking around too many corners causes David to discover the truly haunting essence of Driftwood. Tim Sullivan's decision to film in this (at the time) abandoned correctional facility turns out to be one of this pseudo horror film's main assets. Though the locale feels stale and normal in most shots in the film, there are a few choice spans, like one where David fumbles down a sewer green corridor, which really screams with creepy vibes. Sullivan utilizes a brash visual style in Driftwood, one with a lot of flare and blistering color underneath a shadowy layer. Most of the grungy acidic scenes benefit a lot from this choice, adding great ambiance atop a formative story.
Driftwood's bustling demeanor grinds forward with force through the performances from Raviv Ullman and, at least with demeanor, from Dallas Page. Ullman commands a lingering presence on-screen, though he's fairly small in stature in comparison to the rest of the cast. He's given room to stretch outside of his Disney roles in Driftwood, and he does so with a lot of intensity. Ullman's acting chops need a little bit of tone and polish, but overall he delivers David with a lot of brimming strength fuming directly from between his fiery eyes. To Ullman's opposite is the mammoth Diamond Dallas Page, a formidable foe against the efforts of the fiery David. Page is at his best with Captain when leaning on facial depth and harnessing his drill sergeant persona. He's rugged and domineering enough, but I wanted him to be more frightening as the nervous system for this network of malignance. Though the rest of the supporting flavors teeter on the hit-or-miss line a bit more, namely the exaggerated prisoner stereotypes packed into the facility, Driftwood still plays its dramatic cards with just the right amount of enthusiastic clout for its eerie style.
The combination of atmosphere and haunting narrative fuels Driftwood and the site's inhabitants, building tension directly in your gut without screeching at every waking moment. Aside from a few maggots and some well-positioned prosthetic facial efforts, Driftwood isn't much of a horror film. Instead, it relies on a strategic blend of interpersonal tension and cunningly planted supernaturalism. Though a bit flashy and not exactly screaming in originality or terror, Sullivan's somber film gets a lot right within the parameters of this non-horror genre. It only starts to lose steam once the supernatural and the tangible irrationally collide near the foreseeable climax.
It's still a sly ghost story worthy of raising a few hairs, though its strength focuses more on the internal terror within the boys' survival than the horror elements. Tim Sullivan obviously has a potent story of drudging survival to offer, and he tells it commendably with this hauntingly terse film. Watching David fumble through his discovery, both within him individually and within the secrets of the grounds, offers up a gutturally unnerving experience.
The DVD:
Dark Horse Indie and Image present Driftwood in a standard keepcase DVD with slightly misleading coverart (don't look for a ghost with a bat) and replicated discart. Also included is an insert with a heartfelt note from Tim Sullivan about his film.
The Video:
Driftwood's 1.78:1 anamorphic image is a bit dark, but still a strong effort. It's grainy as hell, though that's probably reflective of the print source for this lower-budget flick. There are a few slight instances of aliasing and combing, but they're few and far between. Though daylight seems a bit amber in coloring, everything dark looks really good - especially anything down one incredibly industrial hallway. Now, the solidity can be a bit of a problem for black levels here and there, but overall all the ambient darkness reflects a solidly haunting image.
The Audio:
Ready for a pleasant surprise? Driftwood gets a Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 line-up, as well as a DTS 5.1 audio option. Now, the differences between the two 5.1 tracks is minimal, but the DTS track is a bit crisper in dialogue and ambient effects. Most of the film features yelling from Diamond Dallas Page atop a myriad of ambient effects, including bats rolling, buzzing effects during choice ghostly presentations, and hay bails splashing against giant piles. Everything here sounds great, keeping every muttering and word audible across the board. No subtitles seem to be available.
The Extras:
Holy freakin' cow. Dark Horse has really spread the condiments on this package, making Driftwood one loaded disc. Here's the offerings:
- Two Audio Commentaries w/ Director Sullivan, One feat. Producer Chris Kobin, Other feat. Dallas Page -
Sullivan is, to say the least, very enthusiastic about his craft. He makes for a very entertaining commentary speaker. He has a lot of fun with his "audience", making them feel like they are just sitting around discussing the film. He jokes around, but really gets into a lot of the good stuff at the same time. His commentary with Kobin is more insightful and technical in scope, but his track with page is laid back, joking, and very enjoyable.
- Alternate Ending -
Containing an extension of the original ending, I believe Sullivan made the proper decision with not including this end portion. The closure feels a bit more forced and easy, without adding anything substantial to the story. It's still interesting to see where his thoughts went with each character at the close.
- Through the Gauntlet -
This is a 29 minute documentary that reiterates a lot of the material covered in the commentary, only in visual form. Seeing a lot of the make-up work and visual conception is great in this piece, though. Also, there's a lot of commentary from the other separate actors about the creepiness of the location and their character motivations.
- Doing Time in Driftwood -
6 more minutes of behind-the-scenes footage that doesn't add any more than the 29 minute doc. - Deleted Scenes w/ Commentary Roughly seven and a half minutes of extended materials, as well as a different beginning scene, are included here. Most of them are negligible clips that don't add very much depth.
Also included are a Blooper revolving around a particular barbecue scene, an Audition Reel for almost every single supplemental character in the film, a Trailer, and a quality animated Photo Gallery.
-----
Final Thoughts:
Though it sports a few soggy deterrents and won't top your list of flicks to watch on Halloween for scares, Driftwood packs some solid and meaningful jolts inside its evocative story. Packed to the gills with extras and sporting a decent technical presentation, Driftwood is a disc worth a look. Fans of B-horror should be satisfied with this Recommended disc.
Thomas Spurlin, Staff Reviewer -- DVDTalk Reviews | Personal Blog/Site
The Film:
David (Raviv Ullman) is a bad ass - or so he thinks. He's the product of a pedestrian epidemic in the form of outlandish and invincible teenage rage that stems from emotive cries for help. David is such a stereotypically angst teenager, but with a darker cloud floating in his mind. After jotting down a few notes in his journal about wishing for death when his older musician brother died, he builds this gruff exterior riddled with smartass attitude. His parents lack the power to do anything first-party to fix the situation, so they decide to take drastic measures. They enlist the efforts of an outside source to set their son straight - the half-bootcamp, half-prison Driftwood.
Leading this organization is the "Captain" (Diamond Dallas Page of pro wrestling fame), a massive, squinty-eyed, overwhelming sort with an agenda up his sleeve. His well-oiled machine of an attitude breaking facility involves different storage levels for different kids, though we never really learn what each division really entails. Of course, David gets tossed into one of the more intensely obscure levels filled with other edgy types, ranging from the militant gangster and chronic masturbator to the innocent gay kid. David quickly learns that stepping out of place in Driftwood gets you special treatment, mainly in the form of "the gauntlet" - a setup involving a line-up of your inmates and some choice blunt items to beat him with. Conversely, good behavior seems to have its other potential rewards, namely the fluttering affections of the Captain's daughter.
Something else unsettling, outside of the manual labor and the mistreatment of these kids, looms in this prison. Looking around too many corners causes David to discover the truly haunting essence of Driftwood. Tim Sullivan's decision to film in this (at the time) abandoned correctional facility turns out to be one of this pseudo horror film's main assets. Though the locale feels stale and normal in most shots in the film, there are a few choice spans, like one where David fumbles down a sewer green corridor, which really screams with creepy vibes. Sullivan utilizes a brash visual style in Driftwood, one with a lot of flare and blistering color underneath a shadowy layer. Most of the grungy acidic scenes benefit a lot from this choice, adding great ambiance atop a formative story.
Driftwood's bustling demeanor grinds forward with force through the performances from Raviv Ullman and, at least with demeanor, from Dallas Page. Ullman commands a lingering presence on-screen, though he's fairly small in stature in comparison to the rest of the cast. He's given room to stretch outside of his Disney roles in Driftwood, and he does so with a lot of intensity. Ullman's acting chops need a little bit of tone and polish, but overall he delivers David with a lot of brimming strength fuming directly from between his fiery eyes. To Ullman's opposite is the mammoth Diamond Dallas Page, a formidable foe against the efforts of the fiery David. Page is at his best with Captain when leaning on facial depth and harnessing his drill sergeant persona. He's rugged and domineering enough, but I wanted him to be more frightening as the nervous system for this network of malignance. Though the rest of the supporting flavors teeter on the hit-or-miss line a bit more, namely the exaggerated prisoner stereotypes packed into the facility, Driftwood still plays its dramatic cards with just the right amount of enthusiastic clout for its eerie style.
The combination of atmosphere and haunting narrative fuels Driftwood and the site's inhabitants, building tension directly in your gut without screeching at every waking moment. Aside from a few maggots and some well-positioned prosthetic facial efforts, Driftwood isn't much of a horror film. Instead, it relies on a strategic blend of interpersonal tension and cunningly planted supernaturalism. Though a bit flashy and not exactly screaming in originality or terror, Sullivan's somber film gets a lot right within the parameters of this non-horror genre. It only starts to lose steam once the supernatural and the tangible irrationally collide near the foreseeable climax.
It's still a sly ghost story worthy of raising a few hairs, though its strength focuses more on the internal terror within the boys' survival than the horror elements. Tim Sullivan obviously has a potent story of drudging survival to offer, and he tells it commendably with this hauntingly terse film. Watching David fumble through his discovery, both within him individually and within the secrets of the grounds, offers up a gutturally unnerving experience.
The DVD:
Dark Horse Indie and Image present Driftwood in a standard keepcase DVD with slightly misleading coverart (don't look for a ghost with a bat) and replicated discart. Also included is an insert with a heartfelt note from Tim Sullivan about his film.
The Video:
Driftwood's 1.78:1 anamorphic image is a bit dark, but still a strong effort. It's grainy as hell, though that's probably reflective of the print source for this lower-budget flick. There are a few slight instances of aliasing and combing, but they're few and far between. Though daylight seems a bit amber in coloring, everything dark looks really good - especially anything down one incredibly industrial hallway. Now, the solidity can be a bit of a problem for black levels here and there, but overall all the ambient darkness reflects a solidly haunting image.
The Audio:
Ready for a pleasant surprise? Driftwood gets a Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 line-up, as well as a DTS 5.1 audio option. Now, the differences between the two 5.1 tracks is minimal, but the DTS track is a bit crisper in dialogue and ambient effects. Most of the film features yelling from Diamond Dallas Page atop a myriad of ambient effects, including bats rolling, buzzing effects during choice ghostly presentations, and hay bails splashing against giant piles. Everything here sounds great, keeping every muttering and word audible across the board. No subtitles seem to be available.
The Extras:
Holy freakin' cow. Dark Horse has really spread the condiments on this package, making Driftwood one loaded disc. Here's the offerings:
- Two Audio Commentaries w/ Director Sullivan, One feat. Producer Chris Kobin, Other feat. Dallas Page -
Sullivan is, to say the least, very enthusiastic about his craft. He makes for a very entertaining commentary speaker. He has a lot of fun with his "audience", making them feel like they are just sitting around discussing the film. He jokes around, but really gets into a lot of the good stuff at the same time. His commentary with Kobin is more insightful and technical in scope, but his track with page is laid back, joking, and very enjoyable.
- Alternate Ending -
Containing an extension of the original ending, I believe Sullivan made the proper decision with not including this end portion. The closure feels a bit more forced and easy, without adding anything substantial to the story. It's still interesting to see where his thoughts went with each character at the close.
- Through the Gauntlet -
This is a 29 minute documentary that reiterates a lot of the material covered in the commentary, only in visual form. Seeing a lot of the make-up work and visual conception is great in this piece, though. Also, there's a lot of commentary from the other separate actors about the creepiness of the location and their character motivations.
- Doing Time in Driftwood -
6 more minutes of behind-the-scenes footage that doesn't add any more than the 29 minute doc. - Deleted Scenes w/ Commentary Roughly seven and a half minutes of extended materials, as well as a different beginning scene, are included here. Most of them are negligible clips that don't add very much depth.
Also included are a Blooper revolving around a particular barbecue scene, an Audition Reel for almost every single supplemental character in the film, a Trailer, and a quality animated Photo Gallery.
-----
Final Thoughts:
Though it sports a few soggy deterrents and won't top your list of flicks to watch on Halloween for scares, Driftwood packs some solid and meaningful jolts inside its evocative story. Packed to the gills with extras and sporting a decent technical presentation, Driftwood is a disc worth a look. Fans of B-horror should be satisfied with this Recommended disc.
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