Rising Sun International Film Festival 2020: Dead Dicks [Review]
Dead Dicks
It’s just amazing to see Canadian genre filmmakers thriving by taking some risks and showcasing their skills in the indie film industry. There’s always going to be a community filled with passionate and dedicated moviegoers that are willing to see some truly unique flicks made by their local talent. To add to the list of Canadian genre titles that will be sure to gain a cult following is Dead Dicks.
Written and directed by filmmaking duo Chris Bavota and Lee Paula Springer, Dead Dicks is their feature debut, and it’s quite impressive! It had a great festival run last year, and now it has also been selected to be part of the Rising Sun International Film Festival in Japan. They’re in for one of the most original, thought-provoking and clever movies ever made.
The best way to go into Dead Dicks is cold, which would allow you to be more emotionally connected to the premise. But if you really want to know what it’s about, the story revolves around a suicidal man named Richie (Heston Horwin) who eventually realizes that every time he tries to kill himself, copies of his dead body start to emerge. When his sister Becca (Jillian Harris) pays him a visit after receiving some worrying messages from him, crazy things start happening, and that’s the basic gist of it. There’s a lot more going on, which proves the movie is quite compelling in its storytelling and execution.
When it starts, it’s pretty intense. You are immediately invested in the story, and you want to know more about these characters and their lives. Both Horwin and Harris bring some really good performances to their roles. You care about these guys from beginning to end, because the directors make sure they’re fully fleshed-out people with interesting backstories. Character development is easily one of the best elements of the entire film, which is elevated through a well-written script. It’s a very emotional and personal journey for Richie and Becca.
You can tell the directors are huge genre fans as they’ve probably been inspired by other filmmakers that have heavily influenced their lives. Dead Dicks has a mix of sci-fi, comedy, and horror elements, and they all work with one another in a cohesive and remarkable way. That’s not an easy thing to pull off, but they have done it really well. There are also scenes with skillful practical effects, which makes you want to praise the entire team for their hard work on set.
Dead Dicks is not an easy watch, but it’s still an important film in regards to its heavy subject matter. It’s a great directorial debut from Chris Bavota and Lee Paula Springer, and it makes you look forward to their next feature. With the help of a brilliant script, strong characters and excellent practical effects, be sure to add this title to your watchlist, especially if you’re a genre fan.
Dead Dicks screened at Rising Sun International Film Festival on November 7th, 2020.
