Review: Awaken the Devil

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2015
Images from the Internet

Awaken the Devil (aka An Anti American)

Edited and directed by Daniel E. Falicki
Sector 5 Films / Rotomation Pictures
Chemical Burn Entertainment / WWMM
85 minutes, 2014
www.Sector5films.net
www.chemicalburn.org
www.mvdvisual.com

Brothers Vernon (Jason Roth) and Tom Dopple (Matt Simpson Siegel) are down on their luck. Vernon is mute, stuck in a wheelchair, and apparently of low IQ. Tom talks practically non-stop, has an abuse problem – be it liquid or pills – and is the only guardian for Vernon. Both brothers are homeless and scam artists when need be in order to sustain themselves.

In the world in which they survive rather than live, in a nice directorial touch, they are presented in flesh and blood, and nearly everyone around them is but a shadow, animated in 2D. In fact, their world is animated, with some film backgrounds of New York (though it was filmed in Michigan) that they move over, but are not a part of, creating a two-level environment: one for themselves to exist in, and one for everyone else that they cannot be part of, only be on the outside.

They break into a building for the night, but what awaits them inside is sinister, mysterious, and deceptive. Vernon and Tom have lost their way in life, disconnected from reality on some level, and now supernatural and evil forces are using them for their own nefarious means.

The original title of the film was An Anti American, which is as cryptic as parts of the film, which focuses mostly on the two brothers, their relationship and the events that will change their lives. With the exception of brief scene with a drug dealer (Ryan Lieske in a bad wig, who also wrote the screenplay), nearly all the talking in the story is done by Tom, with Vernon writing on a chalkboard.

Other than the wheelchair, some strewn newspapers, and a sparse number of cast members, nearly everything is green-screened, giving a two-dimension effect to the world, especially when Tom breaks into a supposedly deserted building, rolling Vernon in after him. Of course, they become trapped, and that’s when the evil abounds.

Even before that, as they roam the streets asking for handouts, there are signals that something bad is afoot, as graffiti-like messages designed just for them start to appear. They have been chosen, it seems.

The film moves at a very slow pace, building character dynamics and tension in the story. The audience gets a chance to know T & V better, though not what brought them into the sorry condition they are in currently. Both of the two actors carry their roles extremely well, rather than the usually D-level film overacting (or underacting). That was certainly refreshing. Siegel (who looks a lot like Michael Stipe here) gives him just the right desperate tone without overplaying, making it easy to pity the guy. Roth (resembling Toshiro Mifune somewhat) conveys curiousity and fear through his eyes, while mute.

I would imagine it would be hard to react to some of the events that were added after by these actors, considering they are in front of a screen, but they do admirable work, from Tom’s fear to Vernon’s attempts of understand just what is happening.

This could be seen as an experimental film (hence its original cryptic title), but it works in no small part to its lead actors, who have to convey the story while acting to most likely a blank wall that will be filled in with effect in the post part of the filmmaking;

This is a thoughtful piece of cinema, and while it is admittedly a bit slow moving at times, it also builds beautifully. If you have the patience and enjoy a decent character study as well as a devil of a time, this may surprise you.