Stars:
Melissa Baum, Reggie Bannister, Andi Wenning, William Mills and Forest J.
Ackerman
Writer:
Paul Bunnell
Director:
Paul Bunnell
Feature
length: 56 minutes/87 minutes (including all material)
Extras:
Commentary With Writer And Director Paul Bunnell and Editor And Producer Carl
Mastromarino, “The Visitant” Short Film, Interview Clip Featuring Paul
Bunnell
Languages:
English Stereo
Subtitles:
N/A
Packaging:
Scanavo Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 13
Sound:
Stereo
Year
of DVD Release: 2002
Home
Video Distributor: Elite Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Actor,
Writer, and Director Paul Bunnell spend a few years beefing up this 56-minute
short film that was originally intended to be an episode of the syndicated
series “Monsters.” When things fell through he took an artistic approach by
directing an offbeat homage to the classic horror films of the 1930s with a
slight “Twilight Zone” twist. Filmed in black and white with an art house
visual flair that calls to mind even more filmmaker inspirations including David
Lynch, the film features an opening introduction by “Famous Monsters Of
Filmland” Editor Forrest J. Ackerman and a surprise cameo at the end credits.
The plot is pretty thin, but Bunnell makes the most of what he has with his tale
of the babysitter stuck with the cabbage patch kid from hell. Some of the makeup
effects work better than others, but overall for it’s mix of visual style and
comic flair, “That Little Monster” is definitely a film worthy of
examination. The film has won acclaim from various horror genre icons like Angus
Scrimm and features “Phantasm” star Reggie Bannister, which for me
automatically elevates the film to cult worthy status. The film also garnered
the Golden Scroll Award For Outstanding Achievement from the Academy Of Science
Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror Films.
Shot
on 16mm film, this is the first time “That Little Monster” has ever been
made available on DVD-Video and Elite Entertainment has done a fine job with
this standard DVD release. The image is presented in the original (1.33:1)
aspect ratio in which it was shot. The film has mix of slightly over exposed
almost 1950s like TV shots and stark high contrast black and white footage that
adds a great deal of visual ambience. An English Stereo Soundtrack is included
and Filmmaker Paul Bunnell and Editor and Producer Carl Mastromarino deliver a
humorous and screen specific audio commentary track for the film as an option
too. There is also a clip of Bunnell being interviewed on what looks like a
public access cable TV show that is a real panic. The 19-minute film “The
Visitant,” which was shot on Super 8mm for a cost of $500 dollars when Bunnell
was just 17 years old is presented in a color (1.33:1) presentation that looks
so good I did not even know it was shot on Super 8 film. Quite a professional
looking film too when one realizes the age of the filmmaker behind the lens.
The
menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to navigate. I think
this is a great value at a suggested retail price of $19.98, especially when one
considers that they can purchase it on or offline at a sales price less than the
SRP and when one looks at the complete package as a whole, this has more
features than some more expensive standard studio releases. This is a must for
any aspiring filmmaker to see and Elite has done a great job with the DVD.
“That Little Monster” is available on DVD-Video now.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.