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Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America

Gary Betsworth (Actor), Ray Bland (Actor), Douglas Buck (Director, Editor, Producer, Writer) Rated:
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Format: DVD
3.7 out of 5 stars 19 customer reviews
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(Feb 21, 2006)
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Special Features

None.

Product Details

  • Actors: Gary Betsworth, Ray Bland, Sally Conway, Jayne Deely, Larry Fessenden
  • Directors: Douglas Buck
  • Writers: Douglas Buck
  • Producers: Douglas Buck, Rita Romagnino
  • Format: Multiple Formats, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated:
    Unrated
    Not Rated
  • Studio: Homevision
  • DVD Release Date: February 21, 2006
  • Run Time: 103 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000C20VNW
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,788 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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  • Learn more about "Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America" on IMDb

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsMisery Loves Company
By Chris Pandolfi on May 2, 2006
Format: DVD
Before I could begin my review for "Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America," I had to do some online research to get an idea of what other film critics thought of it. Naturally, I found almost nothing in terms of professional reviews; the best I had to work with was the reaction of John Q. Public on DVD websites (this one included). They were interesting reviews to say the least; it seemed that the most unanimous opinion was that it's a disturbing yet powerful film, something that had to be watched for the sake of originality and style. That's why I had to see what other people thought of it before I said anything: even though I liked it, I had absolutely no idea why. Maybe getting a general idea of why other people liked it would help me find the reason.

A compilation of three previously made short films from writer/director Douglas Buck, "Family Portraits" is in a lot of ways like an adult oriented, much less campy, and much darker version of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket. Every character is moody, troubled, and depressed, and their circumstances go from bad to worse in a relatively short period of time. It pretty much destroys the possibility of hope, happiness, and redemption, which, I suppose, can be seen as realistic and thus effective (if you think like an incurable pessimist, that is). But that's where the similarities to Snicket's book ends; even he wouldn't think up something that delves into the aftermath of a severe mental breakdown, depicted in "Family Portraits" with some of the sickest, most perverted acts of violence ever captured on film.

The plot is actually a combination of three distinctly separate stories, all of which focus on one character and their decent into heartbreak, madness, and in some cases, murder.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsBuck's view into a corrupted dream
By Verrücktheit Reviews on December 16, 2014
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
The primary film of this collection, Cutting Moments, is considered brutal, shocking, and unwatchable by some. Anita Gates, of New York Times, wrote regarding Buck's work (and specifically towards Cutting Moments), "There is a sober intelligence behind his low-budget gore, but its shrill excess drowns out the ring of truth". However I found Buck's work to have quite the opposite effect. Truly, it is an upsetting film to say the least, but the sheer savagery of the scenes, both mental and physical, help to narrow the focus of the film down to its core aspects. The combination of the faint, if not at times entirely absent, ambient sounds/ music, and the short duration of the film, allowed it to leave a far more intense impression on the viewer. Furthermore, it forces the viewer to re-roll the film in their minds in order to fully understand the actions of the characters. The use of still images inter-cut with the credits also helps the film utilize its unsettling message, ending it essentially mid-climax.
Cutting Moments provides two essential messages for the viewers. Firstly, the parody (if such a word is usable for this film) of the idealized American family, and how sustaining what is essentially a dream, often results in its collapse. The other is the insight into the true definition of depression, were the afflicted feels there is truly no resolve for the situation other than the extreme, often ending in dangerous results. Cutting Moments treats these ideas like a dream that has been lost, and in its stead a nightmare arises.
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5.0 out of 5 starsCAN YOU SAY FU!!ED UP
By Imahappybunny on April 28, 2015
Format: Amazon Video Verified Purchase
Omg where to start with this the first part was really really messed up but out of the three stories it was the best I don't want to say much to give any parts away but cleaning lipstick off your mouth with one of those metal like Brillo pads ummmmm that's it just watch it
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5.0 out of 5 starsPerfect Example of how to Avoid Low Budget Shortcomings
By Trottin'-Butterz on January 28, 2015
Format: DVD
These three shorts are fun, disturbing, and above all -- well made.

I recently graduated from a screenwriting program, so I've seen quite a few student short films. Many students just dove in and made shorts that suffered from the usual handicaps: bad writing, unnatural acting, poor use of setting & props, etc.. As a noob to the art myself, I fully get those troublesome aspects in my own work, but I'm constantly thinking of ways to avoid falling into those holes during the entire process. Anyhoo, these shorts seem to have been consciously made to avoid as many chances at low budget flukes as possible, and it always makes me happy when I can see that!

While the acting reflects the low budget nature of the work, the writing and directing puts more weight on emotions expressed non-verbally -- Sign of a smart artist at work. Setting is given it's due as being equally as important as action, and it reflects the the tone of each short perfectly, while also functioning as spacers between shots to allow the viewer time to think.

My only complaint other than the acting at parts is the score, but that's one of the most difficult pieces of the puzzle when you're stuck in low budget territory. The guitar music in the 2nd (I believe?) short was decent though.

To sum it up -- This trilogy is a disturbing, extreme take on the underlying sickness that exists below the surface of small town American 'perfection'. Fans of the Lynchian, Gaspar Noe, Cronenberg, or Atom Ergoyan (sp?) would likely find these interesting.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThe love is lost in the room and the wife feels ...

This is a series of incredibly bleak situation within familial home lives. There is some serious depravity going on in Cutting Moments after the framing of the family as being... Read more

Published 20 months ago by Kyle Booth
2.0 out of 5 starsWhat Do You Call This...?!

This is not horror, this is not art house. It is one pretentious idiot's attempt to shock and disturb a culture that refuses to be labelled as anything but what it is - apathetic... Read more

Published on January 13, 2014 by Dale Perry
5.0 out of 5 starsSoul crushing, disturbing.

I waited a long time to get my hands on a copy of cutting moments, one if the segments in the film. Had no idea what I was getting myself into with the three as a whole though. Read more

Published on May 17, 2013 by Robert Mendez
1.0 out of 5 starsSnuff porn

Can't comment on the last 2 of the trilogy, couldn't get past the first one, one of the most godawful pieces of snuff porn ever filmed. Except for maybe The Passion of Christ.

Published on March 21, 2011 by solomon
5.0 out of 5 starsGary Betsworth Reviews

"Gary Betsworth is both genuinely nightmarish and completely human in Douglas Buck's FAMILY PORTRAITS - his portrayal of the imploding suburban male does in less than an hour what... Read more

Published on September 8, 2010 by Gary Betsworth
1.0 out of 5 starsHyped up garbage,

First of all, it's NOT HORROR (JUST HORRIBLE)

Three completely bland, removed, uninspiring, predictable shorts that are too long and really give no real insite into the... Read more

Published on April 4, 2008 by Jeff D. Hill
3.0 out of 5 starsNOT the People Next Door - Let's Hope

The cover summary and title of this DVD would lead you to believe that you'll find insights into the disturbances of the average American family here. Read more

Published on September 6, 2006 by R. Schultz
1.0 out of 5 starsA complete waste of time...

I thought, from looking at the description on the box that perhaps this was a "thought provoking" look into the struggles normal, everyday people face in normal everyday life. Read more

Published on August 16, 2006 by Kirby L. Wallace
5.0 out of 5 starsForget the violence, check it out for EXTREME empathy and GRAPHIC...

It's interesting to read the sharply divided reviews for Douglas Buck's FAMILY PORTRAITS trilogy. They accurately reflect the nature of his work - you're either going to Love it... Read more

Published on June 26, 2006 by Scott Bradley
1.0 out of 5 starsI can't believe how people are making this film sound artsy and...

All I have to say is come on people, this is a disgusting, horrible movie which came out of a very sick mind. Read more

Published on June 11, 2006 by L. Masters

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