Good start, but then it gets ruined

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

FITFUL is a pitifully poor indie thriller without any kind of thrills or real story. It's a two-hander set on an old hulking ship. A historical inspector turns up to check out the site and write a report but while there she meets up with a creepy caretaker who seems to be hiding a dark secret. The only interest here lies in the presence of former XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS starlet Renee O'Connor as the protagonist; she's aged remarkably well but this effort is beneath her, an entirely boring and pointless enterprise.

Even though our films are small, we compete with mainstream filmmaking, without the resources, so we make films that Hollywood won't. That's the independent spirit. When we offer sneak preview of our new films, we run the risk of the audience thinking that it is the final cut. We listen to the audience react (or not) and make changes as we feel are consistent with the temperament of the film. Having said that, anyone who saw the unreleased sneak preview version of Deadrise, then titled FITFUL, really needs to see the final released product. There are no dogs anymore, and the ending has been changed from a "Oh, you got me" to a "DAM!". The dream sequences have new meaning, and our main character Paula, has a considerably bigger surprise waiting for her at the end of the film. Additional final tweaks also included enhanced music and sound. It is safe to say that the entire context of this non-traditional suspense thriller has been nicely modified prior to its final worldwide release as DEADRISE.

Full disclosure: The producer/director of Deadrise film is a friend.My wife and I saw the premiere of this film (then titled "Fitful") at the State Theater in Traverse City, Michigan. The cut at that time was much longer, with the puppy scene still intact, and a very different ending than the DVD version. It's my understanding the DVD release has a much stronger resolution.At the premiere, we left the theater impressed with the acting and cinematography, but somewhat confused by the story. The multiple layers of dreams left us wondering which scenes were actual experiences, and which were the result of spicy food. Some were obvious, others less so. The lack of visual or other clues to create a dream-state distinction make sorting it all out a bit challenging. Larry Joe Campbell's role as the creepy caretaker of a retired Car Ferry is exemplary. Who knew that such a comic genius could pull off a lovable but darkly mad character like Vigs? At one point, Larry asks a question about Renee's daughter which literally caused the entire theater to simultaneously gasp. Renee O'Connor's tip-toeing and peering around corners gets a bit repetitive, but her emotional expression is near flawless. The real star of the show is the ship itself, which is not a Hollywood set piece. It's an actual old steam ship that resides at a dock on the Great Lakes. The contrast of the ship's cavernous spaces, varnished wood paneled cabins, spooky companionways filled with shapeless shadows, and cramped mechanical compartments slick with oil and other dark liquids, combine to create a rich feeling of imprisonment and isolation. If you're seeking out the next big indie masterpiece, you probably should look elsewhere. If you simply want a clever story, beautifully filmed and sure to inspire conversation after the credits, give Deadrise a shot.

I got to see a preview screening of this the other night, as it was filmed locally. The packed audience consisted of many people involved with the production, such as caterers, support crew, and parents of the extras. The movie looked mostly finished, though some sound and editing issues could be cleared up.O'Conner plays Paula, a woman who works for a preservation society, reviewing and researching old buildings and landmarks to determine if they should be named as National Historic sites. Campbell is Vigs, the caretaker of an old ship that has been nominated for such status. Through a series of plot twists, Paula must spend a night on the ship alone with Vigs. Or are they alone?What follows is a series of Paula's bad dreams. We are left to wonder whether she is dreaming or is what's happening reality. We see her waking up startled from a dream at least a dozen times - and after the first few times, where you feel cheated by the feeling of "it was just a dream," the series of dreams get stranger and stranger. The big problem - some of the dreams just go on too long, with labored shots of Paula sloooowly waking down the hallways of the empty ship, peeking in staterooms, and doing the same things over and over. A few of the dreams give some creepy jump-style "gotcha" scares, but most of the tension has no payoff. I saw the ending coming a mile away, and it was not the ending I wanted.O'Connor isn't very noteworthy as Paula (I kept wanting to call her Gabby!), but Larry Joe Campbell's character of Vigs is the one reason to watch the film. His creepy / crazy mannerisms brought consistent laughs from the crowd, and I wish there was some payoff to his character. Unfortunately, there isn't. When he's on screen the film is watchable.Also - the puppy! Not too spoil too much, but an early scene involving a puppy is just wrong, and though it is explained (sort of) later, it puts an air of unbelievability to the rest of the proceedings. As cute as the puppy was, I'd encourage the director to cut it from the film altogether.