'Searching for Haizmann' is a creepy ride. The characters find themselves getting deeper and deeper into the dangerous world of Satanic worship and you sure have to share their fear. It's not a 'jump-out-of-your-seat' thriller, but more an insidious mind infection of 'what if' that keeps you checking you own front door to make sure it's locked. It's truly the first film that gave me nightmares in about 10 years.
The great part is the film also has a sense of humor, and like many of the great horror films it doesn't take itself too seriously. Take for example Stephen Furst-- Flounder from 'Animal House'-- in the role of a college professor obsessed- and I mean obsessed-- with the occult. Or an innocent enough looking kid's Ice Cream Truck vendor by day who, when he trades his white hat and white Bermuda shorts for his black cloak evening wear, reveals himself as sinister minister of the occult. You'll also see cameos by the great Tippi Hedren as a psychologist examining the occult and Clint Howard who plays an intense gallery owner who at once creeps you out and makes you laugh.
Now, this is obviously a film made on a low budget and some of the production values can suffer a bit. But the nice part about an independent like this is the plot doesn't have to follow some kind of dumb Hollywood agenda. And with that the plot turns in ways you will never guess.
The film follows Julian a self-taught teenage documentary filmmaker on his quest to know if the devil is living among us in human form. He's seeking Haizmann, the 16th century painter who supposedly sold his sole to the devil for eternal life on Earth.
As luck would have it, Julian gathers together a couple of gorgeous babes who share his interest in the occult to accompany him as they set out to interview Satanic scholars and worshipers and attend a devil-worship ceremony. It would almost be a stretch that this film geek gets a couple of hotties to get on board his project, but think M-TV's 'Real World' and you'll remember the kids love to get in front of the camera. And this film obviously takes a page from reality TV with the characters sometimes sharing revealing 'confessionals' directly to the camera which in some of the film's 'documentary' footage.
All in all, the film is spot on and the story and twists are intriguing as Hell, if you'll pardon the pun.
The great part is the film also has a sense of humor, and like many of the great horror films it doesn't take itself too seriously. Take for example Stephen Furst-- Flounder from 'Animal House'-- in the role of a college professor obsessed- and I mean obsessed-- with the occult. Or an innocent enough looking kid's Ice Cream Truck vendor by day who, when he trades his white hat and white Bermuda shorts for his black cloak evening wear, reveals himself as sinister minister of the occult. You'll also see cameos by the great Tippi Hedren as a psychologist examining the occult and Clint Howard who plays an intense gallery owner who at once creeps you out and makes you laugh.
Now, this is obviously a film made on a low budget and some of the production values can suffer a bit. But the nice part about an independent like this is the plot doesn't have to follow some kind of dumb Hollywood agenda. And with that the plot turns in ways you will never guess.
The film follows Julian a self-taught teenage documentary filmmaker on his quest to know if the devil is living among us in human form. He's seeking Haizmann, the 16th century painter who supposedly sold his sole to the devil for eternal life on Earth.
As luck would have it, Julian gathers together a couple of gorgeous babes who share his interest in the occult to accompany him as they set out to interview Satanic scholars and worshipers and attend a devil-worship ceremony. It would almost be a stretch that this film geek gets a couple of hotties to get on board his project, but think M-TV's 'Real World' and you'll remember the kids love to get in front of the camera. And this film obviously takes a page from reality TV with the characters sometimes sharing revealing 'confessionals' directly to the camera which in some of the film's 'documentary' footage.
All in all, the film is spot on and the story and twists are intriguing as Hell, if you'll pardon the pun.