SXSW Review: MAKE-OUT WITH VIOLENCE

I was gradually and completely sucked deep into ‘Make-Out with Violence’. This movie is outstanding, effortlessly melding the darker side of the teen angst and romance genre within the subtle realm of the zombie flick. The story is about twin brothers, Patrick and Carol Darling, who struggle to attain the unattainable love of their lives. Centered on the disappearance of Wendy (Shellie Marie Shartzer) and her return from the dead, Patrick finds himself unable to resist a morbid desire to care for the undead Wendy for which he held so dear in life. Meanwhile, Carol struggles to find some way to connect with Addy (Leah High) as more than just a friend. As the inevitable approaches and characters developing bonds, the tension rises and ultimately concludes with a twisted but romantic ending for one of the twins.

Amidst the many elements that make this movie work so well is the minimal amount of emphasis put on the undead Wendy herself. She is not the centerpiece directly, but does tie the entire story together. While her performance and the understated make-up are wonderful accomplishments, the true success of ‘Make-Out with Violence’ lies within the script, written by the Deagol Brothers and Cody DeVos. Little brother Beetle serves well as the occasional narrator to unintrusively assist with back story, which is a difficult task to pull off. The movie is not played for laughs and likewise doesn’t not garner any unintended laughter, which speaks loudly to how well ‘Make-Out with Violence’ works.

Eric Lehning (Patrick) and Cody DeVos (Carol) are tremendous are creating an eerie but intimate relationship with each other and their friends. The Deagol Brothers have created a sensational little film that is bound to command a favorable cult following. ‘Make-Out with Violence’ ranks up there in the vicinity of films like ‘Donnie Darko’ and ‘The Wackness’ in terms of it’s coolness and creative originality. The movie is filled with some great music by Jordan Lehning and the visual style is filled with a dark but colorful palette that draws your attention even further into the contrast of the love/death relationship of the story. One thing is for certain, this is the best piece of cinema to have come out of Tennessee and is likely one of the most satisfying films you’ll see all year. See it, see it, see it and enjoy!

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars