3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
We likes it, precious., November 12, 2007
This review is from: Bit Parts (DVD)
Bit Parts (Dave Reda, 2006)
I have to say that when I watch microbudget horror films these days, I go into them not expecting much. It's a pessimistic policy, but not a terrible one; that way, when you come up with something really good, you're pleasantly surprised, and you're never too disappointed. I'd like to say that Bit Parts is something special-- another Deadbirds or something-- but it never quite gets to that level. Still, for the amateur production it obviously is, it surprised me in just about every way.
The plot, as noted by All-Movie Guide, is a riff on Eyes Without a Face, Georges' Franju's 1959 thriller: after a car accident, a plastic surgeon (Christopher Page)'s daughter (Michelle Angel) is left horribly disfigured, and he lures innocent, beautiful girls to his home to use pieces of them to reconstruct his daughter's body. When Brenda Martin (Sarah Gordon) falls into the trap, her sister Melissa (Molly Fix) and the cab driver (played by Reda) who took her to the supposed movie audition from which she was kidnapped try to find her while she's still alive.
It suffers all the problems one expects from a microbudget flick, but perhaps not as much as most; the acting isn't A-list, but it's surprisingly good for a production of this level. The script isn't as tight as it could be, but it's quick and grimly funny. The camerwork is of surprisingly high quality, and the music (supplied by Primus drummer Tim Alexander) fits in quite well. Yes, it's derivative and kind of silly, but that doesn't make it any less fun. Certainly worth killing an hour and a half with. ** ½
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
low bud, first rate!, July 27, 2007
This review is from: Bit Parts (DVD)
A tight, well-scripted directorial debut by
actor/filmmaker Dave Reda. So well scripted in fact,
that its material far surpasses the actors who range
from above average to quite good, but oh the
possibilities to have the mad doctor played by an Alan
Rickman type, or the daughter/patient played by
someone like Christina Ricci. But this is just
reviewer fanwankery. Independent filmmaking isn't
about big budgets and one must work with what the
tools at hand.
What we have here is a mystery/thriller with
surprisingly less gore than the stereotypical B-movie
schlock that comes from the underside of Hollywood.
This is a film with a brain, and some heart. And many
more organs splattered on the basement floor.
This film has a twist at the end which I won't spoil
here, but is very much redeemed by the humanity of
actor Christopher Page, who plays plastic surgeon
going to extremes to restore her daughter's features,
disfigured in a car accident that he caused. The
female leads Michelle Angel, Sarah Gordon and Molly
Fix are easy on the eyes and fills out strong solid
leading roles, not often seen in low budget horror films.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
great flick, December 2, 2006
This review is from: Bit Parts (DVD)
After seing a segment on NBC 11 I went to see this movie at a theater in San Jose and I was quite impressed. It had a great combination of suspense and gore with a few laughs for good measure. The cinematography gave the movie that extra erie feel to it while the effects enhanced the gore. The actors did a good job making the characters and story believable. To make sure I hadn't missed anything I stayed for the second show. I am happy to find that it is finally available on DVD.
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