VINTAGE SEAVAGE VOL. 1
PLOT-Several early films from indie comedy-horror king Chris Seaver.
VIOLENCE-Decaptitation, dismemberment, shooting, stabbing, you name it. Lots of blood spray and gory goodness to be found here.
SEX/NUDITY-None that I can recall seeing.
WHY I WATCHED IT-It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Chris Seaver's work. I think I'd even watch video of his birthday party if he made it available; the man is one funny summbitch.
THE DOPE-In his commentary for REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, director Darren Aronofsky stated that one of the best ways for aspiring filmmakers to learn the craft is to choose a story they like and film their own adaptation of it. In Aronofsky's case, it was his choice to adapt a short story by author Hubert Selby Jr. that lead him to eventually make Selby's REQUIEM FOR A DREAM into a feature, following the success of his first film PI.
The main attraction in volume 1 of Chris Seaver's VINTAGE SERIES disc is an astonishingly good piece of work entitled FROM ALMOST NIGHT TILL ALMOST DAY, a spoof of the Tarantino/Rodriguez flick FROM DUSK TILL DAWN...made in the exact same year! I'd heard about Seaver's parody but had no idea the lengths he and his crew went to to basically re-make DUSK using their own limited resources. Folks, ALMOST NIGHT is example of the raw talent and drive that, among others, is the reason why Seaver has been making movies for so long as has gotten where he is today, both in terms of success and in terms of quality of work.
Watching this movie isn't like watching one of Seaver's current flicks, as it lacks the kind of humor (for the most part) that is the trademark of Low Budget Pictures (LBP), the banner he's been making movies under for well over a decade. But anyone who's familiar with DUSK TILL DAWN will totally appreciate the effort he put into making ALMOST NIGHT a faithful, humorous re-creation of the original from opening scene to close (from the opening at the convenience store all the way through to the vampire bloodbath at the end), and any low-budget filmmaker will be amazed at the production value (multiple locations, characters and gore fx).
Despite being an early effort in Seaver's career, FROM ALMOST NIGHT TILL ALMOST DAY is an achievement that should not go uncelebrated. It's rough around the edges, but nonetheless showcases the undeniable talent and passion for making movies that not only indicated greater things to come, but ensured Chris Seaver would have a bright future ahead. After seeing this, I am quite certain he is capable of pulling off anything he puts his mind to.
MEMORABLE SCENES-"Oh yeah? Well maybe I don't like the way you been lookin at ME, ya flippin' homo!".
NOTES-The DVD contains full commentary for ALMOST NIGHT, plus several of Seaver's early short films. Like ALMOST NIGHT, what they lack in the signature LBP style, they make up for with tons of well-executed gore and enthusiastic presentation.
(March 2004)