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Based on the comic book by Josh Howard, Mark
Steensland’s adaptation of “Dead@17” is a great short that really
registered, even if I’ve never read the comic before. I know, it’s a
shocker considering I try to grab every horror comic out there, but
“Dead@17” is a series I’ve heard about in passing, but never actively
sought it out. And thanks to Steensland, that’s all about to change.
Steensland depicts a rather interesting world on film, with a short that
signals the start of something much bigger afoot. Hazy’s boyfriend just
broke up with her and her friend Nara attempts to console her; and as
the two part Nara is sadly murdered by a masked man in her house.
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After stumbling onto her diary,
Hazy now has to wonder what Nara was involved with before
she died. Steensland manages to provoke interesting cult
flavor to this which will surely guarantee not only a new
following to the comic book, but a great following to the
actual movie, as he draws a murky and rather eerie world
where everything is not as it seems. Even the viewer will be
able to notice that not everything is as it seems in this
world that surrounds these two characters. |
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All of which is capped off by a great
climax where Hazy gets the full weight of the world she Nara was
involved in, and is saved by none other than Nara who alerts her
that there is a battle a foot involving zombies, witchcraft, and
serial killers, and they have to get on it. I guess this would be
the point once the film ends where we’re urged to read the comics,
and I intend to catch up very soon. But for what Steensland
attempts, he accomplishes a very good horror atmosphere, with good
performances by Jessica Ciccone, and Katelyn Gracy who is almost the
spitting image of Nara Kilday. I hope Cassie Hack gets this much
justice.
It’s now getting a festival run, but seek it
out when and where ever you can, because “Dead@17” is an entertaining
short preamble to a wider mythos apparently unfolded by Josh Howard and
his series of graphic novels.
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