angiegirl32

22 May 2012

Very scary indie flick!

Saw this Z movie at a festival in Miami. It spooked the crap out of me!I like movies that have surprises and this one so did. Kenny j'sawesome, BTW! It starts out with these Mexicans finding bones in thedesert, then goes on from there. Kenny plays Lou, a handsome but kindacrazy guy whose taking this sorta dweeby Ryan character to Las Vegas.They stop off on Z road (sorry, can't spell it without looking) andstuff happens out there that I don't want to say cause it would spoilit. Trust me, don't read any comments that have spoilers. You'll reallylike the twists if you don't know their coming. They meet a couple morepeople on the road, one is Candace, who wears pretty funky clothes.Better quit before I blow anything. Check it out. Can't wait for theDVD.

ejwells-2

22 May 2012

Best Indie Film Ive Seen In A Decade...or Two...Or Three

Zzyzx is, simply put, possibly the best independent film I've seen in along long time. Period. By any standards, it's a great film. It's wellwritten, well acted, and (especially considering it's budgetconstraints) well directed. Do yourself a favor, and put this one inyour NetFlix queue, and then spread the word. It's the fact thatoccasional films that are this electric get MADE that keeps me scouringthe shelves of video stores, and reading independent film reviewsonline. In a world where The Blair Witch Project becomes a multimillion dollar maker, it's a criminal shame that this gem has stayedunder the radar for so long. Help bring it up where it belongs. Supportindependent film!

20 May 2012

Desert Weirdness!!!!

This review is from: Zzyzx (DVD) This is a pretty good movie if you like peyote, the supernatural, and the Mojave Desert; and lets face it, who doesn't?The main idea of this move is that something evil controls people that venture onto the Zzyzx Road in the middle of the Mojave Desert in Southern California. A death and torture cult compound was raided in the Sixties and the leaders supposedly escaped and are still at large. This really has nothing to do with the characters in this movie (unfortunately) but it is an interest premise.The story centers on a Jock and a Nerd, on a road trip to Vagas. They take a side trip at the behest of the Nerd to partake of an experience that is supposted to "change" people. During this process, they meet a slick female with an agenda of her own. Most of the scary stuff is shown in peyote hallucinations, that seem to be influenced by some evil force.They is murder, assorted blood shed, and sex; all linked together with an overweight Mexican family.

amy-florom

19 May 2012

Zyzyx is different from Zyzzyx Road!

Just want to point out that this film is DIFFERENT from the filmstarring Katherine Heigl. These two films have been getting mixed up alot because of their similar names. To be clear, Zyzzyx Road is a 2006film starring Katherine Heigl, Leo Grillo, and Tom Sizemore. The filmis about an accountant (Grillo) who has an affair with a seductress(Heigl) in Vegas. Heigl's psychotic boyfriend (Sizemore)turns up andthings get ugly. Zzyzyx is a film that came out around the same time byRichard Halpern starring Ryan Fox and Robyn Cohen. In this film twofriends crossing the desert get themselves in a dangerous situation,which makes it terribly clear that desolation and desperation can havea frightening effect. There has been a bit of a battle between thesetwo films, look it up online.

jakam

18 May 2012

The Place is Real, FYI

ZZYZX is a sign you see in the middle of nowhere on I-15 between LosAngeles and Las Vegas- my wife and I were wondering how it ispronounced- Zissicks? Zissk?We always make the joke that north of Las Vegas is Area 51 and south ofLas Vegas is Area 52-60, culminating in ZZYZX. heh heh heh. Therealways appear to be suspicious little enclaves and compounds out inthis neck of the woods. And of course, China Lake and the Marine Basefor real.There is no more dessicated place than the Mojave Desert to choose as alocation for a thriller, and this is sounding like a great film and agreat locale.

17 May 2012

Here we go again!

Another CRAP TRAP! I bought this DVD because it received good ratings from numerous Amazon customers. Thanks again people...I thought it was poorly made, unintelligent, NOT SCARY, NOT creepy, and very drawn out. Based on the reviews you'd think you're getting into a horror/psychological thriller. NOPE, just a shaky film with little to no gore, and a bunch of nonsense. What a waste of my time.

17 May 2012

ZZYZX HAD A LITTLE SPARK TO IT.

zzyzx, a nice little real life possibility if you will. low budget creepy film. it pulls you all different kinds of ways. first you're here then you're there, and then you don't even know where you are. but that gives it a good little touch. at first glanCe you figure someone or something is out there, but you just don't even expect what happens. goes to show that terror can be right there with you. as the plot goes, a couple of guys (one quiet and the other a loud mouth show off)on there way to vegas detour on this road zzyzx, where suppose cults and what not lived there. well, into the ride they come upon a man walking and they run him over. he dies, and just when they think they're in the clear here comes the dead mans wife. they throw him in the car and offer her a ride, planning to have some fun with her, but they don't know who they're dealing with. all the while there's flashbacks, distorted voices, and something isn't right. all is not how it seems to be. slowly but surely you find out just who the dead man was, who his wife is, and why zzyzx is never alone. in my opinion it could have done without all that cult talk. but the overall look was a good one. keeps your attention throughout.

16 May 2012

Good solid indie film

Zzyzx is a very intriguing film. Shot on a very tight budget, this movie seems to leverage its weaknesses and turn them into strenghts by using the shakey camera movement and ambience to create a sense of isolation and weird atmosphere. The story follows 3 unlikely characters who come together in the setting of the Vegas desert under circumnstances that get progressively worse and worse for all of them. It's a classic example of the situation where all hell has broken loose, and through the whole film the viewer is trying to figure out how the characters can manage to get out of there alive.I'd recommend it to anyone who like weird, edgy indie films and who are looking for something that is decisively not mainstream.

14 May 2012

GRITTY AND EXCEPTIONALLY WELL DONE!

This review is from: BURNED (DVD) I love suspense/thriller movies and I was very impressed with this one. ZZYZX is beautifully done in all aspects and takes you on an exciting ride from start to finish. It is a very gritty film and the camera work and setting give you a very desolate and isolated feeling that enhances the great performances given by the actors. The mystique of the road itself and the background of the compound/Zillers are great starting points for this romp in the desert. You are quickly caught up in the action and the characters and never see the twists and turns coming. There is enough sex, drugs and music to keep the pace up and you wanting more. The character of Lou, portrayed wonderfully by Kenneth Johnson (Lem, The Shield), is very dark and unsettling. I found this movie very enjoyable to watch and would recommend everyone find a way to see it. It is truly great. My only regret is that I was unable to see it in a theater.

13 May 2012

Wow! Zzyzx may be the best film I have seen all year!

What a great gem of a film this was! Acting, directing and espsecially story were fantastic! An original, thinking man's thriller. Loved it, loved it, loved it.Zzyzx is great fun.

loo

11 May 2012

Zzyzx....a wicked awesome film

Zzyzx is a wicked and wild, captivating film filled with moments whenthe viewer may not know if there is another breath coming. Anyone whois used to seeing Kenny Johnson (The Shield) as Lemansky, will be blownaway by Lou! His performance is so gritty and raw, he puts Brad Pitt'scharacter Early Grace (Kalifornia) to shame. Every aspect of this filmwas creepy, spooky and oddly terrifying. My skin reacted like it mightwhen hearing nails on a chalkboard.... only, no noise made it happen!Zzyzx was well cast as Ryan Fox and Robyn Cohen were great as well.From "The Life Aquatic" to Zzyzx? Well, you just never know what liesbehind someone's eyes. What a ride!Richard Halpern's got a hit on this one. I can't wait to find out whatothers have to say about it, and to see what he's doing next! GoRichard!

11 May 2012

A very well made independent thriller

This review is from: Zzyzx (DVD) The title may strike many as odd. Here's some background. If you drive to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, a trip of about 240 miles, you will probably take interstate 15. When you are about 98 miles from Las Vegas, you will see an exit sign for Zzyzx Road. As far as you can tell from the highway, Zzyzx Road simply crosses the highway and disappears into the desert on either side and eventually into the mountains. There are no visible businesses on the road; it just goes off into who knows what. (Actually, in one direction, it heads to a desert research center, but that's a long trip.) Now, about the movie...The film begins with a Mexican family that has stopped at the side of the highway to take a break from driving. Soon, it appears that the family has discovered a skeleton. The next thing we know, we are with Lou and Ryan, two guys on their way to Las Vegas who have apparently decided to see what lies on Zzyzx Road. (There is some mumbo-jumbo about a cult having been there at one point.) A man appears on the road, and the two hit and kill him accidentally. They put the body into the car and are about to make their escape when a woman appears wearing an "I [heart] Manny" T-shirt. Lou, demonstrating his sense of priorities, decides not to flee but to see what she wants because "She's hot."As it turns out, the woman (Robyn Cohen, The Life Aquatic, The Celestine Prophecy) is looking for her husband. Apparently, she and Manny, newlyweds from Las Vegas, decided to investigate Zzyzx, too, and now their motor home has broken down. At this point, the characters begin to act very strangely, making it clear that there is more going on here than meets the eye."Zzyzx" is a taut thriller with some intelligence. Only gradually does it reveal itself, sometimes through equivocal flashbacks, and the plot does not fully come together until the end of the film. I don't know that I'd call the ending a twist per se, but it is a satisfying resolution that ties up the questions that arise during the film without being obvious half an hour before the end. The actors do a solid job, and the direction is excellent. Really, it is unfortunate that film today relegates thoughtful scripts such as this one to the realm of independents films while studios remake or rip off films of the past. This is not to say that "Zzyzx" is the best film ever made, but it is far better than most of the big-budget junk and definitely worth a view. This is the type of film The Hills Have Eyes might have been if it had been directed by David Lynch.For parents: The film contains nudity, drug use, suggested violence, and simulated sex.

07 May 2012

Zzyzx is a great horror plot-twisted thriller!

This review is from: BURNED (Amazon Instant Video) I love suspense/thriller movies and I was very impressed with this one. ZZYZX is beautifully done in all aspects and takes you on an exciting ride from start to finish. It is a very gritty film and the camera work and setting give you a very desolate and isolated feeling that enhances the great performances given by the actors. The mystique of the road itself and the background of the compound/Zillers are great starting points for this romp in the desert. You are quickly caught up in the action and the characters and never see the twists and turns coming. There is enough sex, drugs and music to keep the pace up and you wanting more. The character of Lou, portrayed wonderfully by Kenneth Johnson (Lem, The Shield), is very dark and unsettling. I found this movie very enjoyable to watch and would recommend everyone find a way to see it. It is truly great. My only regret is that I was unable to see it in a theater. But for $1.99 download rental, what a steal!

hackband

06 May 2012

Glad to see the director liked his own movie!

Special thanks to Richard Halpern for that stellar review above! I don't know what the "legend" of zzyzx road had to do with this movieat all. The "legend" was mentioned at the beginning of the movie, viatitles. That's it. Don't see what it had to do with the story.Supernatural elements? Where? Maybe I slept through that part. Infairness, I sleep at some point during most movies.Check it out, though, if you're a fan of Kenny (The Shield). You coulddo worse at the video store. Hope it gets distribution!I'll give it a 5 for Kenny's (and that girl's) acting.

thesageps

05 May 2012

ZZyZx

This movie has a gritty feel to it. It is a lot like These Hills HaveEyes and The Blair Witch. The movies camera work is shaky in someplaces lending itself to The Blair Witch. The back story on the websiteis awesome and plays in nicely with the movie. The movie has starpowers and is awesome for an Independent film. Any fan of Lem from TheShield should definitely see this film. The acting is great, thedirection is awesome, the only drawback that kept me from giving this a10 out of 10 was the camera work. It was a bit too shaky for me. KennyJohnson plays a wonderful role of a solider that just returned fromIraq. This film shows he is capable of being the lead actor and makingthe film be convince able.

04 May 2012

Just What I Want

This review is from: BURNED (Amazon Instant Video) I noticed that several reviewers mentioned budgetary constraints with this film, but I have to tell you, there was nothing "low budget" in my viewing experience. My mind was fully engaged, and I was, quite simply, entertained. That's exactly what I want in an independent film! I want to be so involved with the plot and the characters that nothing else registers. In that sense, this film is a success. The cast is small, and that's a good thing - when your cast is excellent. I was particularly impressed with Lou (Kenny Johnson, The Shield, Saving Grace); I loved hating him. I was equally drawn to Candice (Robyn Cohen, The Life Aquatic); she evoked a multitude of emotions in me. I like that in a lead character! The opening credit sequence is one of the best that I have seen; it captured my attention right away. The screenplay has some nice plot twists. Again, that's just what I want! There is nothing so frustrating as a predictable, boring plot. I absolutely expect and demand at least one or two WTH? moments in a film, and this one delivers. In addition, the film score is certainly worthy of mention. It added to the thrilling "feel" of the film from the first second until the last. Overall, I couldn't ask for anything more in this genre of independent film. I was able to immerse myself in it. Ultimately, that's what makes it worth my time, in my opinion. I will be anxiously awaiting the next feature film from this director/producer/screenwriter.

03 May 2012

A Well-Made Independent Movie with Major, Original Plot Twists....

I rented this DVD with no prior knowledge of its story line, primarily due to Kenny Johnson's presence, and must admit that for the first ten minutes or so, thought I had made a major mistake. The opening scenes were jerky and confusing, typical of a low-budget flick, but everything changed the moment that the Candice (played by Robyn Cohen) character appears. She exudes a sweet, innocent, natural charm that is absolutely necessary for the incredible plot twists to work. Other reviewers have commented on the irony of the claustrophobic atmosphere within the RV compared to the huge, open desert in the background. This atmosphere is as dramatic and oppressive as any I have experienced in any movie, including many with huge budgets, and it adds immeasurably to the suspense and horror of the proceedings. You are constantly on the edge of your seat waiting for the worst to happen, and (without revealing too much) it does. Indeed, I was completely duped by the plot twist. It is perfectly set up and (to me) completely unpredictable, despite the small clues that are sprinkled throughout the first hour or so. You slowly become aware that something is not right....but are not quite sure what it is. This haunting uncertaintly is a key feature in making this an above-average viewing experience.Rent, buy, borrow or steal this DVD, and after viewing the movie, be sure to listen to the director's commentary version to get a really thorough overview of what you have just witnessed, how it was accomplished, and what you probably missed.This is an excellent low-budget movie. Although some scenes are reminiscent of other movies (i.e. stranded RV in "The Hills Have Eyes", etc.) overall it is a thoroughly shocking, entertaining, and worthwhile experience.

03 May 2012

Lacks engagement in this low budget flick

This did nothing for me. The low budget photography did not add a rawness to it. Just distracted. I wasn't scared, concerned, engaged at all with the characters and plot. I too would be wary of all the praise for this flick. Apparently it doesn't take much for people to give this 4 or 5 stars to a movie.

03 May 2012

It will mess with your mind!

I saw this film at a festival and was totally blown away. I'm a big fan of Kenny Johnson from the TV show The Shield so I was very curious to see him in an actual movie. The movie was totally unpredictable, I was not sure where it was heading, but I was sucked in from the very beginning. It spooked the crap out of me! I like movies that have surprises and this one so did. Kenny was awesome, he plays this cool but kinda crazy guy whose taking this sorta nerdy Ryan character to Las Vegas. They stop off on Zzzyzxs road and stuff happens out there that I don't want to say cause it would spoil it. Trust me, don't read any comments that have spoilers. You'll really like the twists if you don't know their coming. When the ending came up I was totally floored and wanted to watch it again right away. I was there with a friend who is a big fan of Quentin Tarantino films and he loved it too. I'm so glad that this is finally coming out on DVD! I hope it'll have some good extras. I highly recommend this film, if you go out and rent it...you'll probably want to own it at some point!

03 May 2012

Never again

This review is from: BURNED (Amazon Instant Video) No longer will I ever view user review's to help determine whether a video is worth paying the money to view or not. Most of the reviews for this travesty were positive and spoke of the quality of the movie despite its budget.I purchased the rental rights and am only happy that the charge was minimal. This is truly a dreadful movie that wouldn't even rate a satirical viewing by the Mystery Science 3000 group.Absolutely dreadful in every respect. This movie has everything a normal human being does not want with the exception of a moderate rental fee.Avoid this movie like the plague.