EIFF: Weirdsville review

I really wanted to like this movie, mainly because of the simple and caper-inducing concept. When, at the beginning, the movie didn’t appear to mesh well, I was sceptical that I would be able to.

This, thankfully, was saved by the two moronic geniuses running the show. They are Royce (Wes Bentley) as the dumb one, and Dexter (Scott Speedman) as the shy, thoughtful one.

These actors and characters are fantastic, especially together. They are both strange and unusual characters, both take drugs and do dodgy work on the side for Omar. Omar’s played brilliantly by Raoul Bhaneja, who always has his trusty, thumb-breaking bodyguard by his side, ready to break some unruly bones. Then you have the Satanists…

Weirdsville is kind of a surprise enjoyment actually. I watched it, and enjoyed it, but the more I think about it, the more I really like it. You have Matt Frewer in a really important bit-part (the very same Matt Frewer who played Max Headroom), and you have someone who is clearly a rising star in need of some urgent respect, Joe Dinicol, with another small but integral and funny part.

Credit must also go to the direction of Allan Moyle (director of Empire Records and early Christian Slater cult hit Pump Up The Volume), with a relatively unknown Willem Wennekers holding up the script well. It’s a great mix of the new with the experienced that shows itself in the film’s indie style genius and ingenuity.

The movie goes from burying the dead body of a friend (a girl who had just taken all the drugs in their stash, which they got in order to sell, to pay back the debt they owe to Omar), to running away from a group of Satanists in one swift move, and it really jolts thingsup a gear.

The movie is an hilarious, well directed, small adventure of a caper. Included in it are some of the best laughs I’ve had at the festival so far.

So if Weirdsville makes it near you, go and see it. It’s a brilliant little jaunt into the craziest day of two loveable fuck-ups. A really enjoyable, fun movie, an indie version of Harold and Kumar Get the Munchies, if you will. It’s not perfect, but then again, there rarely is a perfect movie about drug taking fuck-ups being chased by Satanists.