This is one of those low budget affairs that come out of the film festivals, there being hundreds that are so poor they fall well under the acceptable radar threshold, but once in a while something pops up that could go mainstream, or even become cult viewing! Ladies and gentlemen I give you Weirdsville, an indie movie that is as barmy, yet brimful of ideas that it should come with a warning not to blink, or you might miss another mad moment!

The story is essentially this; two stoner friends played by Scott Speedman as Dexter and Wes Bentley as Royce, get themselves into debt with a bad-assed drug/crime lord, after trying their hand at selling the merchandise, and instead using it themselves. This results in the female interest Matilda (Taryn Manning) whio is Royce’s girlfriend and local whore, OD’ing and the guys trying to bury her. Cue mayhem and anarchy as we see reincarnation, a bunch of Satanists, a gang of manic dwarves, the drug dealer and his henchmen and god knows how many other interested parties, zipping to and fro through Weedsville pursuing one another for their own ends. It sounds mad doesn’t it? Well indeed it is, abut it is also possessed of a charm and wit that should make a lot of Hollywood efforts blush.

The whole topic of the movie being pro-drug has been raised and dismissed by the director Allan Moyle, but whatever else it is, it does seem to be ambiguous towards drug use. Use of a bit of violence is not lost on the movie either, but it is frantically paced, and it has a perspective that makes you feel part of the action. The dialogue is witty and peppered with expletives, but not in a way that makes you feel it is ‘attitude’ just the way life happens to be, and the use of some of the props is interesting to say the least. The plethora of ideas and mixed scenes is well done, and whilst the action borders on the insane at times, a measure of control keeps it in check….just!

7/10, I was pleasantly surprised with this little number, and as I say, it is one of those movies that will achieve cult status with a certain type of audience. The characterisation is well defined and the dialogue keeps pace with the action. It does have a few hung moments, and not all of the ideas thrown into the pot work as well as others, but overall I liked it, and will probably watch it again.

http://www.weirdsville-the-movie.com/