After working together on The Hamiltons, Joseph McKelheer and Cory Knauf continued to work together and both came up with a concept they would write and executive produce. With accomplished editor Robert Saitzyk on board to write the screenplay and direct, the two created Godspeed, a drama about religion, redemption, and retribution.
McKelheer stars as Charlie Shepard, a man of God who doesn’t practice his own ideals. A faith healer who convinces people he is miraculously healing them of their ills and problems, Charlie is unfaithful to his wife and son and relies on heavy drinking to get through the day. After a nightly binge, he comes home to find both his wife and son brutally murdered. Six months later, alone, destitute, and angry at God, Charlie is greeted by a mysterious woman, Sarah (Courtney Halverson), who claims he helped her family years ago and asks for his help again, and what starts as a story of self-discovery turns into a journey of violence when Charlie meets her younger brother Luke (Knauf). It starts off as a path of retribution but turns into something much darker.
Godspeed is more rooted as a drama than a horror film, and its tone as an independent film was very slow, with scenes of long monologues showing how tortured the characters are on the inside in their grief and sorrow. Although the film’s message and tone are good, the delivery falls uneven at moments, and the monologues slow the pace down. The film’s third act is the strongest, and brings it to a bloody, brutal conclusion but how it gets there is unconventional.
McKelheer and Knauf are both good in their roles and draw parallels, how excess fueled one life and how vengeance fueled the other. The two are comfortable together on screen and the film’s most interesting scenes are when they share it. Knauf in particular has some good moments as the malevolent Luke. Ed Lauter, a terrific character actor, bridges the story together as Mitch, the town sheriff who searches for Charlie when he goes missing after agreeing to help Sarah. The rest of the cast are in fine form, with Halverson OK as Sarah and Hallock Beals splendid as Luke’s guilt ridden partner in crime Tim.
The film is shot in beautiful rural Alaska, and the filmmakers make excellent use of the scenery. For a low budget film, the cinematography by Michael Hardwick is splendid. The film moves slow but the violent scenes are handled well by Saitzyk, who also edited the film. The film does move slow, but it never feels boring as Saitzyk makes every scene and moment count.
The film’s message is a good one, in which the promise of God can lead to disappointment and a life of sin can lead to a very dark path. There are some disturbing scenes and some bloody moments, but the film isn’t particularly scary. It doesn’t focus as much on Luke’s unstable psyche as it does with the grief one suffers when a family member is lost. It is something that many people can relate to, and how quickly one can lose faith, even a faith healer, when someone you love dies without an explanation. For that, the movie works more as a thriller but the brutal moments give some genuine chills down the spine.
Godspeed is due to be released in theaters on March 26, and then will go to Video On Demand on April 20, and for those looking for an intelligent, moody art thriller, will find Godspeed for them. While the film ultimately is uneven and gets pretentious at times, it’s a well put together piece that will draw some thoughts and emotions after the film is over if you can get through the slow pace to understand what the disturbing message the film’s story tells you.
– Alan G. Richter
- 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
