Donnie Darko was the first film that director Richard Kelly made. The film was not really a big hit in it’s limited theatrical release, but became an instant cult classic on DVD among moviegoers, film makers and your normal teenage and college kid. The movie was such a hit, that it even garnished a director cut DVD release as well. After the success of DONNIE DARKO however, Richard Kelly didn’t make another film until now. SOUTHLAND TALES is based on a series of books written by Kelly, that tells an apocalyptic tale that takes place in the not to distant future.
SOUTHLAND TALES has an all star cast which revolves around an action star named Boxer Santaros (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) who suddenly wakes up one day with amnesia. Not knowing much about what’s going on he hooks up with a porn star named Krysta Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who is developing her own reality television show about all the crazy things that are going on in Los Angeles. Meanwhile; a police officer (Seann William Scott) is looking for Santaros as he is the one who holds the key to the vast conspiracy of the whole film.
For me to really go deep into the story of the film, I think I’d be giving a lot of the main details away. DONNIE DARKO had a confusing concept that involved time travel and the soughts, and although you walked away from DONNIE DARKO knowing the meaning of the film, SOUTHLAND TALES is derived from that same concept, but it a bit more confusing. I first saw this film when it was released on DVD a few months back and actually had to watch a few scenes over to really try to get the whole concept of the film. I honestly felt that the movie was slow paced and at some times even boring. The script seemed to try to cram too much information down our throats, while trying to get the whole story across. A lot of it has to do with the fact that the film takes place in what would be considered the last three books of the series. Kelly created six books, and much like STAR WARS decided to make use the stories from the last three books to make into this film. The problem is that the movie comes off as being 144 minutes of confusion. I think it would of been much better if each book was make into a film so that it would be easily comprehendible.
What I will however give Kelly credit for is his attention to detail and the use of shots and colorful atmosphere this film gives off. The film has an odd and unsettling science fiction feel to it. There are some great visual effects in the film and great art direction. It’s no doubt that Kelly is great with putting his vision to celluloid, but with SOUTHLAND TALES I question the way he was telling it. It’s a very hard movie to understand.
I recently read that when the film was shown at Cannes in 2005, the audience booed the film. I can’t say I blame them, while the film is beautifully shot, I can’t stress enough how confusing the story is. Sure the acting and everything else is good. But overall it’s really hard for me to comment on the story, because It really took me a few looks over to try to even get an idea about what this film is about.
The Blu-ray disc does include a few features that better explain the film. There is commentary with Writer/Director Richard Kelly, and the SOUTHLAND TALES prequel graphic novel gallery that kind of explains the back story of the film. There is also a “Usident TV: Surveilling The Southland” Featurette, as well as an animated short film “This is the way the World Ends”. This disc also has the BD-Live function that you can also use to enhance your viewing experience. The disc format is in Full HD 1080p 2:40:1 with Dolby True HD 5.1 Audio, with subtitles in English, English SDH, French and Spanish.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
