RELEASED TO VIDEO IN 2006 and directed/written by Dennis Smithers Jr., "A Bothered Conscience" takes place in rural Arkansas and concerns a hermit father who has "No trespassing" signs posted all around his remote property and he ruthlessly kills those who disobey. He passes this curious hobby on to his son whose conscience can't handle the mounting slayings and corresponding guilt.
My wife & I saw a 'film' by a local 'filmmaker' (terms used loosely) that cost $2000 and it was easily the worst 'movie' we've ever seen. Keep in mind that I'm a fan of micro-budget indie horror flicks and am well aware of their typical limitations (bad sound, dubious 'acting,' shaky hand-held cameras, bad editing, etc.). Despite this, they CAN be entertaining, whether the creators shoot for campy & amusing, like "Backwoods Bloodbath" (2007), or thoroughly austere, like "Butchered" (2010). Yet both of those movies cost quite a bit more than $2000, likely somewhere between $10,000-$50,000, give or take. Two great examples of micro-budget indie horror are "The Lonely Ones" (2006) and "Another Kind" (2013), but they cost $100,000 and $120,000 respectively.
"A Bothered Conscience," by contrast, only cost $2300 and so I was expecting a real dog, like that local 'movie' noted above. Thankfully, that's not the case at all as the film has a professional indie air from the get-go with a superlative score. The entire story takes place deep in the Arkansas forests and the sylvan cinematography is superb, creating an ominous vibe (comparable to the exceptional opening credits of the TV show Tales from the Darkside). While most of the acting is okay at best they're masterful performances compared to the non-acting of that other 'film.'
The first 50 minutes revolve around people getting killed in the forest whereas the last 37 minutes reveal the title of the movie. There are some effective scenes in this last act involving a currently popular 'monster' (I don't want to give it away, but it should be obvious).
It goes without saying that, to appreciate this movie, you have to enjoy the woods or woodsy outdoor photography. It successfully establishes a foreboding forestry ambiance. But the story isn't tight and it gets tedious after 30-45 minutes of redundancy. It's also marred by minor anachronisms. But things like this can be overlooked in a flick that only cost $2300. Another problem is the lack of quality females until just past the hour mark; and not enough is done with her (Tina Martin) when she shows up, but she's appealing enough for her brief period.
Despite these glaring problems, there are moments of greatness, like when a certain character in the last act gets shot and the song "When I Awake" by Hollow Earth Conspiracy is heard on the soundtrack (written by Paul Zlotucha). The sequence is almost worth the price of admission.
THE FILM RUNS 87 minutes and was shot entirely in northern Arkansas (Cushman, Horseshoe Bend, Weaver's Chapel & Spring Mill).
GRADE: C
My wife & I saw a 'film' by a local 'filmmaker' (terms used loosely) that cost $2000 and it was easily the worst 'movie' we've ever seen. Keep in mind that I'm a fan of micro-budget indie horror flicks and am well aware of their typical limitations (bad sound, dubious 'acting,' shaky hand-held cameras, bad editing, etc.). Despite this, they CAN be entertaining, whether the creators shoot for campy & amusing, like "Backwoods Bloodbath" (2007), or thoroughly austere, like "Butchered" (2010). Yet both of those movies cost quite a bit more than $2000, likely somewhere between $10,000-$50,000, give or take. Two great examples of micro-budget indie horror are "The Lonely Ones" (2006) and "Another Kind" (2013), but they cost $100,000 and $120,000 respectively.
"A Bothered Conscience," by contrast, only cost $2300 and so I was expecting a real dog, like that local 'movie' noted above. Thankfully, that's not the case at all as the film has a professional indie air from the get-go with a superlative score. The entire story takes place deep in the Arkansas forests and the sylvan cinematography is superb, creating an ominous vibe (comparable to the exceptional opening credits of the TV show Tales from the Darkside). While most of the acting is okay at best they're masterful performances compared to the non-acting of that other 'film.'
The first 50 minutes revolve around people getting killed in the forest whereas the last 37 minutes reveal the title of the movie. There are some effective scenes in this last act involving a currently popular 'monster' (I don't want to give it away, but it should be obvious).
It goes without saying that, to appreciate this movie, you have to enjoy the woods or woodsy outdoor photography. It successfully establishes a foreboding forestry ambiance. But the story isn't tight and it gets tedious after 30-45 minutes of redundancy. It's also marred by minor anachronisms. But things like this can be overlooked in a flick that only cost $2300. Another problem is the lack of quality females until just past the hour mark; and not enough is done with her (Tina Martin) when she shows up, but she's appealing enough for her brief period.
Despite these glaring problems, there are moments of greatness, like when a certain character in the last act gets shot and the song "When I Awake" by Hollow Earth Conspiracy is heard on the soundtrack (written by Paul Zlotucha). The sequence is almost worth the price of admission.
THE FILM RUNS 87 minutes and was shot entirely in northern Arkansas (Cushman, Horseshoe Bend, Weaver's Chapel & Spring Mill).
GRADE: C
