Written and directed by Evan Makrogiannis and Brian Weaver
Featuring Demetri Kallas, Lynn Lowry,Manoush, Ron “Necro” Braunstein, Ruby LaRocca, Raine Brown, Brandon Slagle, William McLaughlin
At some point in our lives, all of us are expected to brave the terror of falling out of the nest and trying to fly on our own.
For some of us, that means college; for others, immediate employment or attempting to get it. But regardless of future plans or goals, it usually involves scrounging together rent money and curb-diving for couches that don't smell like urine, and we wind up living in shady apartment buildings. Add to that the real estate market of New York City, where for a few thousand dollars a month you can live in a shoe box (parking space fees not included), and you've got the general feeling of despair and hopelessness that permeates The Super.
The Super follows a landlord named George Rossi (played very capably by Demetri Kallas) who manages a rundown apartment building in the middle of New York City. George was severely damaged in the war and people tend to avoid him as a result; still, he seems likeable enough when he sees his tenants, upbeat and full of advice. He takes care of his paralyzed wife Maureen (Lynn Lowry), who is a bit of a nag but is generally sweet and devoted to her husband, and his daughter Helen. George finds himself engaging in voyeuristic tendencies with some of the tenants, harmless enough at first; he pokes around in their belongings when they aren't home and sits on their furniture, inspects the contents of the refrigerator, etc. As the film progresses, however, George's urges begin to expand into the depths of depravity--- including, but not limited to, a scene that may put you off Haagen-Dazs ice cream for a long while. He continues to push the limits of what he can get away with until the line is irrevocably crossed after the murder of one of his tenants; at that point, George loses all semblance of sanity or reason. He goes on a sadistic slaughter spree through the tenement that culminates in a twist ending that will leave you shocked and yes, even a little sympathetic.
The film isn't perfect, but it's a fantastic watch. From a technical standpoint, cinematographer Stephen Kilcullen did a great job of working with what budget they had, and while the screener we viewed was one color correction away from completion according to producer Alex Lugones, the film had a polished and professional look. The sound editing was great, with an original score that called to mind the soaring ambient music of films like Taxi Driver--- no accident, since the film's creators list that as one of their biggest influences on the movie. The casting employed a wide range of faces that fans of the genre will appreciate; Manoush, Ron “Necro” Braunstein, Ruby LaRocca, Raine Brown, Brandon Slagle, and William McLaughlin were only a few of the great character actors who appear in the film. Manoush is creepy and ominous as a violent Russian prostitute who learns what George is up to and gets herself entwined in his madness; it is a very interesting parallel to Lowry's sweet and simple Maureen, who plays the loving wife that George comes home to each night after his sick dalliances.
Filmmakers Evan Makrogiannis and Brian Weaver, both New York City natives, employ their fair city almost like a character of its own; there are amazing atmospheric shots of the tenement itself, of the neighborhood, of the streets, that literally breathe realism into the film and give it the gritty believability of films of the 70s and 80s. There are homages to the masterpiece Maniac and socio-political commentary on damaged PSTD-laden veterans laced throughout the dialogue; the film has a flow to it that genuinely feels like a descent into madness. By the time they deliver the final twist, rife with symbolism and innuendo, you feel almost sad for George, who “never meant for any of this to happen” as he chants through the end of the film. The very idea of the film itself is so unsettling, so invasive--- the idea that locking the doors can't save you, that the sanctity of your home could be breached at any time without your knowledge--- is as terrifying as the events that unfold as George succumbs to his madness.
The Super earned the honor of Best Feature Film from the Bloodbath Film Festival in Dallas, Texas this weekend. Check it out at www.thesuper-movie.com.
Rating: (3 out of 5):
This movie rocks, everyone should see it!