the Shadow Over Innsmouth
Duration: 21min 00sec
Views: 7 950
Submitted: 11 years ago
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Description:
Ollies Winner 2009 for BEST HORROR, BEST VISUAL EFFECTS, and BEST TM MOVIE. Thank you all for your support!
Half a year in the making. My first adaptation of a story by someone other than myself; I hope I did it justice. I paid special attention to the lighting and shadows. Also note the editing--I cut different scenes together as seamlessly as possible.
Spoilers: For those familiar with the tale, I tried to keep this generally faithful to the original novella, but made a few changes due to cinematic reasons.
The original story starts off with Robert doing research about Innsmouth in the town of Newburyport, but I wanted to start this film off while he's in Innsmouth already, so I skipped that part and let the grocery boy do most of the filling-in.
Zadok does not reappear in the story after the beach scene, but I needed an ending to the chase sequence for my movie (other than Robert just slipping away from his pursuers), so I used Zadok as the distraction and reason for Robert's escape as well as providing some sort of finale to the pursuit. Zadok is also much older in the original tale, but since I have him running around, I thought it best to make him less aged.
The original tale included an odd critter known as a Shoggoth which makes a brief appearance as Robert watches in horror as the thing crawls by. However, it did not do anything more than that, and I thought it to be a let down for film audiences to introduce it to only have it slither by, so I opted to exclude that from the story. Sorry for those who hoped to glimpse it. Maybe if I filmed "At the Mountains of Madness" one day, you'll be able to see them :)
On a scientific note, I expanded upon the notion that these aquatic humanoids were our "missing link". In the 1970's and 80's some researchers actually speculated that our missing bridge between man and ape was an aquatic creature (thus the difficulty of finding skeletal remains). They noted that our nostrils pointed downwards to prevent water from entering (unlike the apes), we were born with the ability to swim, but chimpanzees cannot swim (they sink to the bottom due to their dense muscle mass), and we were hairless like sea mammals. However, current fossil records show we broke off from the apes and there is no "missing link" since we didn't descend from them but instead branched off and took another route (When I do research for a film, I get carried away! LOL).
Thanks for all who supported this and my other works these past years. This film is dedicated to you (yes, and I mean YOU).
Here's the cast of SOI, using their TMU persona names:
Goofparade as Robert Olmstead
K4Ownzall as Zadok Allen
EmeraldEdge as the Bus Driver
UserJosh as the Grocery Boy
JosephKw as the Gilman House Night Clerk
Kuroken as Uncle Walter
Nahton as the Radio Announcer
Bezzer36 as the Priest of Dagon
Special thanks to MikeDBoing and Ubernewbie
Music by Kaiiyoti and Goofparade
«Nice work!
And russian subtitles please)»
«Soon, the french subtitles.»
«I see this movie on the big screen at Paris for the Atopic festival, it's very great.
Extraordinary. »
«Once again K4 killed that role.»
«A true masterpiece!»
«I'm glad this film is still popular and garnering both views and reviews (and re-views). Thanks so much for continuing to drop by and enjoying one of my personal faves.»
«This film was better any movie made in hollywood. The deep ones were very strange and pretty ugly. I give this masterpiece 5 stars!»
«Truly, Truly a classic. Maybe one of thee best TM adaption's i ever seen. Brought it back old school with a cult novel, once again you didn't use a mass of mods, you stuck to everything that was essential to the story and found everything you needed. (I felt) instead of finding some glamourish visual mod and tweaking the story/movie to look cool, you got exactly what you were looking for and totally worked out. Dope horror.
I found solace in the amazing cinematography!!!, you revitalized the 1930's circa gradually in the short "Authorities Innsmouth discovery" montage at near the end. When I thought the bus-driver's voice was creepy...here comes the doucher of an Innskeeper. This dude voice should be investigated as much as Innsmouth (Kudos on his voice mang, sick V.O work). Settings were great, and the flashback scene where he remembers the beach bum's "words of wisdom" was classic.
In Conclusion, If this is your "Magnus Opus" as you previously said before, then I have nothing but respect for your work. Can't wait to see what you do next when you research a film.
Killer Dope dude, good chives »
«Totally awesome... can it be downlloaded anywhere?»
«Fantastic movie! I love Hp Lovecraft and especially this adaption.»
«Sorry. I accidentally lost the old review and I definitely don't have the stamina, but in short: This is THE BEST horror movie I've seen on TMU yet. Great story and script, emotional acting, cool camera angles that make it seem like you're using a completely different engine from The Movies, and great use of special effects make this a very enjoyable 21 minutes, with not a second wasted.
9.9/10 (I would give it a ten, but the evil little man in my head wants me to wait for the movie equivalent of the messiah before giving one of those out.)»
«Hello Joseph ! I'll start to add french subtitles in your movie very soon. I have sended an important message to you in your Vimeo account ;-) .
About the movies, this is just a must see... Congratulations.»
«Terrific watch! A smart story, excellent visual effects and great voice acting. Thoroughly deserves all the recognition it received. I liked the ending too. 5 stars from me as well.
»
« Great film! Never read the book but is a very cool story and told very well, the ending could've been better but still 5-stars for a Great Film!»
«Just had to watch this again after your Ollie wins, and I have to say... I'd forgotten just how brilliant this was!
What a terrific film. The suspense, the horror, the intrigue. You name it, its got it!
Incredible special affects, both visual and audible. Music, too, was just perfection. I even loved the credits! Of course, all the VO work was outstanding (I didn't even recognise EE as the bus driver until I read the credits!)
And those darn eyes... freaky!
K4 was right.: no-one does Lovecraft better than you!
Bravo! And... FILM ON!!»
«Still amazing, Joseph, you get better, and better! »
«that was outstanding!»
«Tremendous work, Joseph. The dark, oppressive atmosphere was all-pervasive throughout and the lighting, modding and voicework was of a highly polished standard. It's damned hard work adapting a literary piece for the screen, let alone in machinima format, and you did it in a way of which I'm sure hardcore Lovecraft fans would heartily approve. An A-List production from an A-List director.»
«Just watched again and was mesmorised by K4's performance as Zadok. Incredible delivery and depth in it. WOW you rule!!
You can re-watch a Joseph KW film and see different things each time.»
«Though I'm not familiar with the original writings, I am familiar with Lovecraft's other works, and I can really say this captured the essence of what he creates.
The suspense and atmosphere of the entire movie was eerie and mysterious, making you reluntant to contiune, but you do so ultimately anyways.
Well done here!»
«Ahhh!
I remember reading the story by Lovecraft many years ago... powerful, horrifying yet strangely attractive in its mystery... and watching the film gave me the very same feeling
A perfect adaptation of an amazing story to a superb film. This is what horror is all about.
Five stars, two thumbs up, kudos and encore from The Rogue»
«I love lines like: "There's nothing there," while he's looking at Devil's Reef, because you know there sure as hell IS something there. Why else would they call it Devil's Reef? BTW, a great place for the first commercial break.
Another classic, when the uncle is bringing Robert his grandmother's stuff: "The family didn't speak too much about her, especially because of her disfiguring disease." That's just golden. You know the items she has will be weird. The hair on my arms started rising in anticipation.
If I have any critique it's that the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly. And not enough about the Priest of the cult. I want more! So, I guess I'll have to watch the other Innsmouth movies. That's all you can hope for as a director, that people will want more.
-fin»
«The mood set is very gothic. The music is exciting. You have a town in the middle of nowhere, mysterious residents, an odd cult, creaky doors, no windows, the night clerk! The fact that they use the term 'outsiders'. That all adds to the scariness factor. You did a great job of priming the viewer for the action to come.
It all goes to aid the suspension of disbelief. It pulls you in, and lets you believe anything. Even the bit about residual webbing between our fingers. It's true, and you had me looking at my hands, nodding my head. If it makes sense, we won't think the whole thing is a bunch of nonsense, and all of a sudden: we are afraid of things that in everyday life might seem ridiculous, but now, they freak us out. The magic of the movies. You've harnessed it well.
-continued»
«The Shadow Over Innsmouth
by josephkw from Lovecraft
5 Stars
* * * * *
First and foremost, a technical marvel. It didn't have that The Movies veneer of jumpy animation combined with flat backgrounds. It looked very professional. At 21 minutes it's perfect for T.V. with 8 minutes of commercials, and 1 minute for all the tacked on credits and production company logos. You didn't do that on purpose, did you??
But, that's not what this review is about. I'm judging you on how scary the movie is. The verdict: Not so much scary, as really creepy. A Lovecraftian tale of the unknown, full of unique characters and tentacled monsters. What's not to like?
-continued»
«Thank you for all the kind comments and support for my latest Lovecraftian venture. Rest assured I'll make more of the like. If you haven't seen the prequel to this movie, do drop by and watch "Dark Tides of Innsmouth", and the sequel, "SOG", both available for viewing here at TMU.»
«Aie ! Aie ! Aie ! This is a great story and the visual of that film is really impressive too. Nice Job !»
«Simply impressive and magnificent! You really made a very attractive work and the story is really well conceived ! Congratulations for the visual work and the special effects as well as to the dubbers always so good ! Congratulations for this masterpiece ! Nice work !»
«A very chilling movie,
Great dialogue and acting by the cast. Honourable mentions to Goofparade, Emerald Edge (who played a spine chilling role) and K4. Great music as well, adding to the atmosphere. Great backdrops, effects and visuals.
An outstanding thrilling film. Nice work Joseph!»
«Wow Joseph I was fully absorbed into the story.
Having never read anything by Lovecraft,I have you to thank for introducing me to the stories,and I have no doubt that HP himself would enjoy how you present his stories.
Great visual effects,such as the bus travelling along the coast(which I had to watch several times to get some idea as to how you did it) and the flamethrower used on the building,and especially the lighting and use of fog and shadows.
The VO's,sounds and music were perfectly done...that is always something that REALLY helps pull me into the story,and as usual you come through in this area with flying colors:-)
Thoroughly enjoyable,and MORE than well worth my time to watch it...6 months in the making,just for myself and others to watch for 21 minutes,may seem like an extremely lopsided ratio of return of your investment of time,but hopefully this and all the other comments are worth it to you:-) Something to be proud of for sure:-)
I should know better than to wait so long to come back and watch any of your full-length features,especially since I have NEVER been disappointed by your excellent work...»
«Wow. Amazing, just amazing. You continue to amaze me Joseph and this film was well worth the wait.
Amazing.»
«OUTSTANDING I dont know if we weill get another visit to innsmouth but this should definatly be submitted the next hp lovecraft film fest. But I think I would feel less about the story aspec had I not seen dark tides of innsmouth espicially the significance on the jewlry to the story. »
«Well, I've finally decided to get around to giving this a review.
As a long time fan of your Joseph it kills me to say this but I was not impressed with this production. I feel you let effects overwhelm the story, spending most of your effort on the effects and look, which I was also not to fond of. The effects seemed a bit to much at some points, like to many different elements were going into certain shots. (elements meaning different mediums and such) I also was not fond of the writing. I don't know if the dialogue was taken straight from the book or edited by you but it did not sit well with me, a lot of it felt very cheesy or unrealistic. The story itself felt very rushed as well. There is no mystery to unravel or anything it just simply starts and ends. Robert arrives, and then immediately he is told what is going on and the rest is just him running away basically, again, I cannot say if this is entirely from you or actually how the book is but non the less, they did not agree with me.
Well there it is, don't take this personally or anything, I cant wait to see whats next from you as you are still one of my favorite TMU directors, this film just did not seem up to par with your abilities for me.»
«Wow Joseph. I am stunned! You always continue to amaze me, and I always continue to tell you that.
But you deserve to hear it. You're definitely one of the best directors on this site, and that is so obvious in watching this! There were so many top-notch visual effects here. I can't even guess as to how you made those happen. I'm thinking it must be some sort of magic.
»
You sir, are a genius.
«That was amazing and with more twists than a Chubby Checker record.
»
I loved it!
«That was incredible. The film is technically brilliant and a stunning visual delight which is highlighted by great performances by all the actors which added so much to the film. Of special note were Goofparade, K4 and a comically charming turn by Ken White.
The script was tight and flawless, a great adaptation from the original source. The music added just the right chilling and thrilling feeling to the film and gave me goose bumps. Watching this film really was an experience that I won’t soon forget. It is a standout in all the films I have seen on TMO and TMU. And to top it all off and the icing on the cake for me was that…..it really gave me the creeps, the heebee geebees, and the urge to slowly turn around, walk to my front door and check to make sure it was locked.
In short, bravisimo!
»
«Very nice! Loved the title and music, and the beautiful sunset as well. The mods are fantastic. I have no idea how you did the eye thing! And the night scene with great lighting… TM still evolves with help of talented modders, and this, I’d say, is the epitome of that evolution. Great job, Joseph.
Now, I’m wondering what you’ll be able to achieve with iClone or Movie Storm.
»
«Stunning, ABSOLUTELY stunning.
Not just another JKW classic. A true TMU classic.
Very nice editing and the mood was set perfectly with top-notch sound fx, and terrific storytelling, enacted wonderfully by an all-star cast, specifically the incomparable Goofparade, who always and I do mean always, brings any great film to an entirely different level, I imagine he'll always be the best on the block...
Loved the mods, props and sets here too, and great attention to detail was obviously paid in full.
I think what sets your movies apart from everyone elses, is the fact you, oh so gradually give us the special effects slowly and anxiously, until the gripping end, and one would have to be a fool to leave early.
Hard to believe, this could beat your 1st epic foray into Lovecraft, but here it is indeed.
This has been featured for a good long time for good reason...We loved it!
»
«**** stars
This was an interesting film very much in the style of old-school "Doctor Who" storywise.
A mysterious town with a seemingly supernatural problem is discovered to have an unlikely scientific problem instead. (That's the formula for most Doctor Who stories since 1962! - aquatic humanoids feature heavily!)
The sets, backdrops, lighting and visual effects were excellent - and the actors did a good job with some, at times, dry and talky material.
Very atmospheric music too.
But I couldn't give full marks to this because of the constant changing of screen ratios.
One second it's 16:9 - then it jumps to 4:3 - then 16:9 again - and then almost fullscreen - then back to 4:3 - then 16:9 (or something inbetween). On some occasions, the screen actually shrank in from the sides!
I was left shaking my head.
How could such a well-produced film allow that? I can't believe it was deliberate (it didn't have the intended effect on me if it was).
For just one example: a submarine fires a torpedo near the end in roughly 4:3 ratio, the subsequent dialogue scenes are in 16:9. This is the curse of editing together several pieces of footage - one must make them all fit seemlessly into the same frame. You can't just change the size of the frames as and when you feel like it (or perhaps it's an automated procedure in the editing software). Call me old-fashioned, but 16:9 at the start of the film should stay that way until the end. It's a massive distraction if it changes.
As for evolution - we ARE apes. We are the last surviving hominids; a different branch produced the chimps who, as mentioned in the film description, are ill-suited to deep water. But we're rubbish at swinging from tall trees by our feet!
With apes being a relatively recent addition to the tree of life, there is not enough time for an aquatic ape to evolve - and even if one did exist, it would be on a separate branch of the tree and not a missing link.
In summary, a good old-school sci-fi story, well told and crafted, but with frequent major problems in the framing of the movie.»
«Outstandingly Good!!
That was an amazing film Joseph.
Wow.
Superb job you have done. Cast was great.
Use of scenes/anims & other custom stuff was also
fantastic.. Just SO Good!!
Well Done!»
«At 21 minutes long I wasn't sure it'd hold my interest. Then I started watching, and the next thing I knew it was over! You have an amazing talent for story telling. This is a genuinely creepy movie, achieved through excellent combination of visuals with great audio. And the attention to detail with custom props really sets this movie apart. Now the pressure is on though - I want to see more!»
«Great movie Joseph. One of your best. This has to be the most unique TM made film I have ever seen. The sets, the visual effects, everything was so brilliant and unlike anything I've ever seen done. You took some scenes like someone running and then added in some great special effects and made a great set to make it look like that he was actually down the side of an abadoned rail track. Amazing! I just thought this was really one of your finest movies. The story was very original and so was the whole movie. The cast were great. Everything was great. I expect no-other from you. You make top-notch movies. Keep up the great stuff! Can't wait to see your next movie!»
«at 19:15 look at the other side of the street that is behind the character»
«Hell yeah! I really enjoy reading Lovecraftt and Poe, and, of course, I couldn`t miss the sequel of the most impressive movies-film based on Lovecraft. Well, what can I say now? It`s not just film - it`s book, it`s story and it`s atmosphere. I can`t really describe my impressions (especially because of my english (x ). All the details extremely close to original, voice acting is nearly ideal, screenplay, effects... Should I continue? So, here is my opinion - this film is very close to pictures, which apeear in your imagination when you are reading Lovecraft. Piece of art.»
«Outstanding film Joseph sound work and everything you put into this movie was the best and your cast pulled it off.
Amazing work.»
«I don't know how to say this without sounding like a broken record, but this is the BEST film you have made to date; and not because of the astounding visual effects, but because of your uncanny ability to improve your storytelling with every project you helm. One can't help but to be in awe of this achievement.
Outstanding work! Though, what is one to expect when watching a JosephKW film.
-tre»
«Fantastic piece of work from beginning to end. Not a moment was wasted and I enjoyed every second.
The voice actors performed their roles admirably, too, adding to the already high quality of the production.
Twenty minutes of my time well spent.»
«Crazy town, creepy people!
I'm very much a fan of the genre and this film satisfies on so many level.
Excellent music choices and overall great audio.Best yet in my opinion. The shadows and the light were indeed an effective component as was the usual strong, sound all-round technique of a KW production.
The shot of Robert at the tracks was incredible as was the sub attack, the town, living sky etc. All top notch.
oh yeah, it would be nice to pair the "real" names in the credits
to their TMU counterparts.There's one name there that I don't recognise.
I'm rambling tonight,
Congrats Joseph!
»
«I was excited when I first heard that Joseph was making this HP Lovecraft story and evn more excited when he asked me to participate in making it. The new freedom that
outside editing provided also sounded like a great tool for someone of his talent.
Of course... I had good reason to be excited! This turned out so very well.
That's not suprising considering the incredible track record so I won't re-hash all the positive comments from the community... but I would comment on the cast.
Actually, when I read the script for the part of "Robert" I contacted Joseph and asked him if he was sure he wanted me for that part...he seemed such a normal character and I like them spicy. Maybe I could play Drunken Zadok, or the Creepy Coachman instead ? How about that Innkeeper or grocery clerk or maybe Uncle?
He assured me that he had all those the parts already covered.. and man did he ever.
K4 gives a STUNNING performance as Zadok, a must see!
Joseph is disconcertingly aquatic sounding, EE is quite creepily played, Bezzer, Nahton, Ken, the lot.
I can't imagine ANY other voices than those, they were so well played.
»
«Now that you've done SOI, it's time for Call of Cthulhu and ATMOM, you realise?
»
Elder Things or Big C himself... it's the only way to top this 'un
«A great Lovecraft movie, and a great movie in and of itself.
Yes, all the attention to detail was well worth it. There are many memorable moments in the movie, but my favorite was the grocery boy, he was great.»
«I would say that every ounce of work that went into this film is evident as one watches it except for the fact there is so much artistic effort contained in this film that one viewing just won't cut it. It's going to take multiple viewings to fully realize and appreciate all that it took to put this film together. The town settings and inhabitants are original and appropriately eeire. The special effects are stellar and the acting of the main characters is superb. Although the movie is based on an actual LoveCraft story, which I haven't read, the overall work has the trademark JosephKw directing style and story pacing. It was hard to believe that it was 20 minutes in length as the film absolutely flew by.
This is one film I'd that love to see with a Director's Commentary version. I think it would be both extremely interesting and educational for The Movies production aspects as well as the external editing and effects work that went into this masterwork.»
«Simply superb. Great visuals, great casting... excellent directing... what greenscreen+outside editing can give us is amazing, and you are able to make the best out of it!
»
You may be proud of your work!
«Fantastic work here Joseph. I cannot believe what is being made with "The Movies" these days and this was one of them. In fact I have no idea how you created the scenes, sets and animations to produce this masterpiece.
»
Amazing cast, lighting, camera, etc, etc. The superlatives just roll of the tongue.
Cape
«Amazing, amazing, amazing - the best Lovecraft adaptation I've seen in any medium.
Your script truly captures the Lovecraft "feel", even when deviating slightly from the source material, so much so that I just pulled out The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories to reread the original tonight. The visuals were outstanding, and I was especially struck by your use of light and shadow.
The score was perfect for the story, the sound design realistic without being obtrusive, and the performances of your cast were spot on (though I did keep clearing my throat for some reason when your character was speaking....)
What can I say - you hit a home run with this film, and I think you knocked the ball into orbit.»
«*****
Truly five stars
»
«That was absolutely incredible! Your attention to detail is amazing, and oh boy, were there lots of details to admire; layers and layers of visual detail that really makes the atmosphere of the film so palpable and tense. The lighting and the sets were great! In addition to that, they are matched by a great storyline that is pulled of masterfully. The ensemble performances were flawless, and so was the direction and editing. I also really loved the music and sound effects, which perfectly fit the mood of the story like an iron glove. Of course, no film could truly be great without a good script, and the dialogue was superlative in here. The ending really freaked me out, and was the perfect topper for one of the spookiest and greatest films I have ever seen. There are too many things to rave about in one review, so I'll just say great job!»
«Very very impressive work. Eyes were glued to the screen during the entire time.! Wow! Brilliant use of lighting, brilliant acting, brilliant story...list goes on.
Definitely a 5/5»
«Absolutely loved it! The story is excellent like in most of your films and the new look, just is tremendous. =)»
«I think this was your best film yet! Excellent job. Lighting, visuals, visual fx, sound, all of it was perfect. Creepy, stunning, fantastic visuals and visual fx with an excellent plot. That sums it up in very few words.
5 stars. I could go on all day about the effects in this film!
Wonderful job by you, GoofParade and the rest of the cast in this film. Visuals were stunning and camera angles were perfect giving the viewer only a little of what the Deep Ones look like.
This was probably your best yet!
-deeb»
«this was truly an animated/cgi film that mesmerizes the viewer! My eyes grew bigger with every moment that transpired. GoofParade does an awesome job! The effects were perfect. The sound design was fantastic! Musical selections were on target! Great atmosphere! This has to be an instant showcase classic! BRAVO, Mr. KW... BRAVO!»
«What could I add, except its been an honnor to contribute to this incredible adaptation.
You are a Master Story Teller.»
«Wow Joseph! What a wonderful film! The atmosphere you created, the music, vo's - everything pulled me in and had me on the edge of my seat! And what a delightful end!
»
I love this!
«Fantastic, engrossing movie. The special effects are jaw-dropping. Your actors - well, these guys were all simply amazing. Sound effects, music, shadows, lighting, mod work - wow wow wow wow wow. This movie shows yet again why you are one of my favorite directors. Bravo!»
«WOW! Your movies are really really get better everytime! I always love your twists! Didnt see that coming!»
«Worth the long wait Jo. This movie is astounding, is there any need to say more than that?»
«Brilliantly cinematic take on Lovecraft's tale. The intricate details with the Sublime Voice Work and Effects makes this your best work to date.
Still in awe.»
«Weird but brilliant. You do know how to make an incredible, Joseph. 5 out of 5. Amazing.»
«Brilliant Joseph, Bloody brilliant.
The outside editing definately is the big one here as it really does improve the movie further.
A really great adaption of HP Lovecraft's story and obviously I can tell you like his tales a lot!
Great cast, nice script and wonderful direction!
Epic!
***** - 5 Stars
TFoster»
«This...is wonderful, wonderful work.
The attention to detail in all departments is immaculate.
The one thing that stands out most for me though, is how 'alive' everything feels.
I know that Joseph has been experimenting with outside editing and effects and by god it shows!
The swirling skies, the rolling waves, the living town through the window and keyhole shots...fantastic details that could almost pass unoticed when you take everything else into consideration.
The cast, music, sound effects, main visual effects, set dressing, modding, title effects, script...PERFECTION!
You did it justice my friend...of that, I can assure you.
Outstanding.»
«Joseph, this is by far the most astonoshing production you've created to day!
Being one of my favourite HPL tales I fully apreciated the way you've converted it into a well pace and enticing screenplay.
This movie is a true visual feast! How can anyone have ever imagined such a wonderous creation coming from this little game!? I was mesmerized by the superb lighting effects and seemless, professional editing/cutting/splicing of scenes to such an extent you managed to pull out what you need as well as disguise well known scenes. Wonderful work.
A perfect cast of voices portraid the characters excelently - the innsmouth folk seemed so 'unusual', and Zadoks crazy ramblings played well off the 'normal' character in Robert's voice.
I will be watching this again and again, there's just so much to it!
Congratulations on your finished product Joseph! Time well spent!
Howie.»
«wow. although, being one of your films; amazing is par for the course.»
«Aaaaargghhh!!! That is so annoying!! I posted a massive long review like Nukester's but for some reason it didn't post.. Sorry Joseph, I'll repost it later when I have a spare 10 minutes.
But for now, let me just say one word:
WOW
***** - 5 stars»
«wow, i really dont know where to begin. began to play this and my jaw fell open at the beautiful coastline backrop. a great interpritation of a great story was backed up by crisp visuals, and as killian said the use of light and shadow was terrific. easilly the best visuals for a non -sci fi movie that i have seen on here. well done : - )»
«Words fail me... they really do ... where do I start...? (I had to split into two parts)
PART 1
I know, setting the scene. One thing that always grabs me with your movies is the ability to set the scene, be it Horror, Sci-fi, Drama. This film is no exception; in fact it goes beyond that, this film is unique!
I've never been so appreciative of 'difference' in a machinima movie. Some use it to stand-out; others use it to enhance immersion however. You on the other hand use it for both.
The visuals were just so gritty and that's what makes this work. It’s something that could have only worked based on the setting and the choice to mix so many different layers was just pure genius. The opening scene alone stole it for me. I actually felt as though I was standing by a cliff as the truck pulls away.
This film had for me anyway, the best use of lighting and shadows I have seen in a long time (perhaps ever). From the subtle yet exquisite areas of where light maps shine onto objects and people to the actual colours, this film had it all.
There was one scene I could have sworn that 'Robert' was walking and for a brief moment, a shadow befalls on him before sunlight hits him again (maybe it was me but either way, I will be watching again for sure).
»
«PART 2
All this and I haven't even began on the adaptation side of things.
This film was brilliantly paced with some truly memorable storytelling. The characters were so fitting and I must say, I was genuinely spooked out. I mean... truly disturbed with some of the things I saw. My facial expressions throughout the viewing altered so many times, with my eyebrows raising and dropping throughout.
I think for me, one scene that dictated this was the awe-inspiring facial eye expanding sequences. How damn creepy can you get? I mean seriously, who thinks of that? Amazing!
Music was atmospheric and really enhanced the film and I must say a stand out moment had to be the finale chase sequence. It was just so thrilling to watch and it really kept me on the edge of my seat.
Your use of scenes and animations is something I personally appreciate when watching as you squeeze this tool out of every possible useful scene and integrate into your films.
Once again, you have proved that with time, dedication and ability, this software can be pushed to the outer limits and produce something truly special.
Thank you for sharing your talent and vision!
Nuke Well in Creativity!
»
«Utterly, utterly gobsmacked; absolutely your best work to date!
); great supporting cast who played it just right.
), and some absolutely top-notch chromakey work!
Fantastic adaption of the original story (there were some parts I wondered how you were going to pull off, but was pleasantly surprised to see you'd managed it! As we discussed, there were a few changes that simply had to be made to make this possible, but their omission (and the additionals) is so seamless I defy anyone to spot them!)
Excellent performances from GP and K4 (who makes a convincingly potty Zadok!
And the visuals? WOW! Phenomenal work! Great mods from the guys, wonderful lighting and atmospherics (who said you can't apply light and shadow to TM?
All directed with flair, aplomb and an obvious love for the source material.
You, sir, are a master. May Great Cthulhu never appear in your dreams!
Can't praise this highly enough; absolutely phenomenal movie, Joseph!»
«Oh, very very nice, Joseph!! What a great telling of that classic tale! Loved the freaky eyes (they actually creeped me out). Superb voice performances by all, and what a great soundtrack!
Some absolutely fantastic visuals (effects and backdrops) gave the movie a great feel as well.
I must watch this again (and again and again...)
Bravo, Sir.»