D4 (2011) User Reviews

Don't believe the other reviews

[shawn4004 · 2/10 · 13 January 2012]

So, I watched this film, largely because all of the reviews claimed what an indie masterpiece this was. I'll admit is was a piece of something. The acting isn't too bad, but the editing sucks. There are large unnatural pauses in dialogue that grates on my mind like nails on a chalkboard. The story is OK, but totally unbelievable. A man's grandson is kidnapped and he doesn't call the cops? Because some guy in a stairwell told him they wouldn't believe him? Come on! I can't believe I wasted this much of my life on such a crap movie. They keep referring to a "beast" as an it, like it were a non-human animal, but it clearly was human. I also loved the lack of muzzle flashes on the weapons. All they did was play the sound of a gun firing. In fact most of the audio was like that. Just clearly added after the fact with no visual cue to associate it with. This is a typical B movie. Nothing more, nothing less. I guess I was just hyped into believing it was better than it was.

horrible!!

[evnflow0311 · 2/10 · 14 January 2012]

WOW!!! this movie doesn't even belong on the sci fi channel..the cg/acting/script/camera/everything was just plain bad..i can't believe the reviews people wrote about the horrible movie..OBVIOUSLY someone was getting paid for that review and rating..my max rating on this is maybe a 2 and that's being generous..please avoid this dreadful movie..at all cost..the script was boring and the acting was just plain cheesy and overdone/underdone..either way the actors need to get a refund from whatever acting school they paid for..i think i've seen better at high school plays..the graphics look like they were done in the early 90's..or a kid trying to edit a video..please stay away from this trash..

D4 won't even get a 4/10, awful

[jackmeat · 2/10 · 24 April 2013]

Wow, how some movies get a green-light and a budget is beyond me. Awful sums this one up. The story revolves around a group of special ops mercs that are hired to rescue a wealthy women's son that supposedly is being held at a shut down, secret government facility. So the team assembles (not going to waste your time with actor names) and head off to find him. You have your usual cookie cutter characters here each with their specialty (acting not being one of them). Of course, they get to the base to find that they are conducting experiments to create super soldiers out of kids with epilepsy. This also leads to a sub plot of a grandfather who has his child abducted and taken away for this experiment, don't worry though, this is not very engaging either. The action scenes are terrible and I wouldn't be helping you any if I didn't point out the special effects are absolutely horrible. When the "monster" gets shot, repeatedly, which does nothing, the blood spatter is the biggest joke I have ever seen. How they thought anyone wouldn't just laugh at the effects that appear like someone did it with Microsoft paint to appear like blood is beyond me. Well, I have to say "snipe" as a character is the best one, not because the women could act or was believable, but because she was the only character that I didn't loathe throughout the movie. I will give them points for a plot twist that a 4 year old would've seen coming in the first 5 minutes of the movie but pays off at the end, so expect a lot of boredom for the 93 other minutes of this indie pile of rubbish. Please, even if free or on netflix, don't harm your brain with this one. Curse yourself later after watching but don't come back here and say I didn't warn you. 1.6/10 IMDb 3.5 from 356 votes(movie came out in 2010 and that few votes???). In other words, the cast giving high ratings skewered the numbers from people that watched it, not worked for the crew.

GRANDPA TO THE RESCUE

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 12 August 2018]

This low budget movie grabs your attention as there are two bloody individuals sitting outside of a room. One has a knife in her chest. There is a commotion in the room as the woman with the knife in her chest pulls out two hand guns and appears poised to enter the room guns blazing (something I would have done before I got in her condition). After the hook scene we go into a one week earlier flashback which in turn uses more flashbacks as a subplot and to feed us information.

It seems the son of a billionaire widow (Vicki Askew as Vicki Lark) has been taken captive and she employs the mercenary Sloan (Eric Berner) to rescue him. Their initial meeting was a lesson in bad acting and bad dialouge. Sloan assembles a roadhouse team of people we know by nicknames: Smoke (Darrin Dickerson who wrote, directed, and edited this film), Cutter (Jeff Hime) who provides us with some bad tanning bed humor, Brocker (Clay Brocker) apparently the writers couldn't come up with a clever nickname, and Snipe (Jaimee Gray Simon) our token eye candy. Two of these individuals we recall from the opening scene. The son is being held at D-4 which doesn't "exist" and is part of the same experimental group in our subplot.

The subplot flashback involves a 6 year old boy being experimented on by horrific MST actors pretending to be doctors. The boy was in the care of his old geezer grandfather (Ted LeGarde), who at times is talking to the doctors and other times is in the woods recording himself on a rescue mission. The editing was as horrific as the script and acting almost to the point of being unintentionally comical. The movie credits read like the Dickerson family tree.

The film has a nice little twist at the end, which shows some writing talent in the basic plot outline. The details in executing the plot were substandard. The script dialouge and acting needed to be more animated. If you are going to have two guys get off a helicopter and walk to swagger music, it needs to be slow motion for the full effect. Who doesn't know that?

No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. Blood, killing, p-word.

Better than I could possibly say on this page...but I will try

[bbates114 · 1 September 2011]

One of the greatest true to story action flicks I've seen in a long time. It was very refreshing to find a thriller that has an actual story instead of the standard explosive sequences accenting horrible dialog (which sadly is all action/thriller fans have coming from Hollywood anymore). The actors come out gritty and true to form. No one tries to steal a scene and they all end up shining until the final credits roll. The writing holds true to what story telling once was and should be. The direction is amazing. The fact that this movie is considered low budget never crossed my mind, just due to the sheer amount quality that comes through. I recommend D$ highly whether you're an adrenaline movie junkie, having a first date, or even having family movie night.

Turd

[the-damn-truth · 1/10 · 10 April 2012]

I honestly think the maker(s) of this cheese wagon wrote the positive reviews themselves. It's a douche parade. I'm not sure that ANYONE could honestly say this movie is any good. Did the mothers of the actors & director write those reviews?? It stinks but is kind of hilarious in a way. A way I really don't think they intended. All I could really say while watching this was "wait....are they..........serious?" I really wasn't sure if it was some sort of home made spoof of it's genre at first. If you enjoy that sort of thing (this backyard movie is so bad that it's really actually funny),then go for it. Otherwise, skip it. Like I wish I had.

Awesome Movie

[jason-cole-281-732436 · 10/10 · 6 May 2012]

I originally saw this movie at a film festival and determined its a must have movie. This movie has action, adventure and drama! This film delivers even on a budget. Viewers are left wanting and waiting for a sequel. The actors in this film deliver a riveting performance and the story is very impactful. Vicki Askew & Jaimee Gray Simon are beautiful additions to the cast and 'Big' Mike Ulm is just fearsome looking as The Beast. Darrin Dickerson went well above and beyond with this multiple award winning film. As I have told many of my friends you would do yourself a disservice of not having this movie as part of your collection.

Low budget filmmakers, sit up and take notice!

[PatrickTheRedMenace · 7/10 · 15 January 2012]

THIS is how you maximize a minimal budget and put out a product that looks like a million bucks.

D4 tells the story of hired mercenaries on a simple search-and-rescue mission in the woods that goes quite askew when they are beset up on by a very big, very angry monster of a man, a product of science run amok. On the surface, this appears to be a fairly straightforward tale. However, the filmmakers' choice to tell the story non-sequentially adds layers of ever-deepening mystery and nail-biting suspense to the proceedings. Just how deep does this conspiracy go? Well, let's just say, just when I thought I had it all figured out, I was wrong.

Very wrong.

Dickerson manages to elevate D4 miles above its micro budget with excellent camera work, a talented ensemble cast, and pulse-pounding action helped out by tight fight choreography and stunts (believe me, I'm a stickler.)

I hope D4 gets the attention that it deserves, because the love and care and attention to detail that was put into it really shine, and it should be held up as a model for other low-budget movie makers to aspire to.

I have spoken.

As a lover of indie film, as a reviewer of indie film, as an indie filmmaker ... watch D4

[jasonhi-266-714207 · 10/10 · 15 January 2012]

As one who reviews indie film for HorrorHound Magazine, I watch A LOT of indie films. Most filmmakers put a lot of passion, blood, sweat, tears, money, love, and time into their projects. Unfortunately, most of them are not good filmmakers. I know that seems like an obvious statement to make; yet, it makes a lot of people very upset. Not everyone who wants to be a great musician can be ... not everyone who wants to be a great artist can be. However, Darrin Dickerson IS a great filmmaker, a great storyteller, and a pretty damn good actor. D4 is by far the best first- feature I have ever seen from a filmmaker. The production value is high and story is rich and complete. I don't want to give any of this film away ... it needs to be seen. For those who may be new to indie films ... open your mind and your eyes. This is no different (in many cases) than going to see a band in a bar versus an arena. You may not get all of the glitz you are used to seeing; but, what you WILL get is the essence of the craft. To me, indie films are the "unplugged" version of movies. They are raw, gritty, and often poetic. D4 has a flow and arc that may Hollywood films don't achieve. And, the poetry lies in the reality behind D4 (watch the special features). Well done Darrin ... cannot wait for the next effort!

Forget the budget, it's the story!

[colbyreeveshahaha · 7/10 · 29 January 2012]

My brother sent me this DVD as a Christmas gift and we finally got around to watching it. I was a little hesitant because monster movies aren't really my thing. It was low budget and I do mean very low budget, but for what they spent on it, they sure did get far. I've seen big budget movies that Hollywood cranks out not come anywhere close to as good in terms of story or pacing but these guys did a really fine job. I read that they shot this in two weeks in the mountains which is pretty darn amazing. Most people have no idea what it means to make a movie but my boyfriend and I are avid film buffs and we've learned a lot about indie filmmaking after watching boatloads of flicks at film festivals all over the country (he drives a truck and sometimes I tag along and we catch festivals occasionally)....well needless to say, a lot of people hate on movies because they just want to be picky but I've certainly come to appreciate every level of movie but the one thing I've learned that matters the most is the story. I read a little about D-4 right before we watched it and I found out about the director's son being an epileptic and that being the inspiration for the monster in the movie...now i don't know about you but that is just sad and inspiring at the same time. How many horror movies or action movies take the time to put a piece of themselves up there on the screen? I'm going to watch D-4 again with my parents because I think they would really like it if I told them about the metaphors in it.

One of the best independent films I've seen...

[dragonladysuz · 10/10 · 29 September 2011]

Wow, is all I can say - for a first time director & producer, making this film on a slim budget, Darrin Dickerson did an amazing job. This is not one of those cheesy, B-movie horror flicks. Trust me - I have seen plenty of those so I am well able to compare! I love science fiction and thriller/mysteries. I've even begun to enjoy some horror flicks - D4 is a wonderful combination of all these genres. Here we have a great storyline coupled with a great cast - I don't believe any "big name" in Hollywood could have made this any better, in my opinion. I was very impressed and have told everyone I know to see this movie. I can't wait to see what else Mr. Dickerson has in store for us.

Impressive Use of Limited Resources

[ebeebe · 7/10 · 23 February 2012]

I watch a lot of independent movies. Usually this means low budget. But low budget doesn't have to mean bad. D4 is a perfect example of a movie with meager means that manages to pull it off.

My biggest challenge with indie movies is production value - or the lack thereof. Darrin Dickerson manages to pull off some pretty decent production values here. Good cinematography, believable sets, and actor who (while not George Clooney or Meryl Streep) do an admirable job. Dickerson understands the details make a difference.

The story is told from two points of view that converge about 2/3 of the way in. Each story is compelling and kept me interested.

I have seen other reviews of this film speaking poorly of the quality. I guess these folks were expecting Transformers (which sucked by the way) or something from Spielberg.

If you watch most any of your typical low budget indie films and then watch D4 - you will understand how D4 stands head and shoulders above most.

The film is not rated - but under today's standards a PG-13 or soft R. No sex, minimal swearing (oddly enough), and violence that isn't in your face.

ADRENALINE FIX of Entertainment !

[guestar57 · 8/10 · 10 May 2010]

"D4″ is probably the SCI-FI best action adventure direct-to-DVD in 2010.

The cast although unknown looks like STONE COLD,JESSICA BIEL and MICHAEL RAPAPORT. Cannot express what a wonderful ride this is for any level of action fan. All the ingredients for perfect film-making and a product that viewers aka Buyers/renters will want. There are no cheats on stunts/gunplay,no sloppy effects,no 'giving it up' for the lowest common laugh. This is a film to be seen and has such a important catalyst in the 'Epilepsy' awareness loop. One very kewl featured role is,Ted LeGarde,From Star Trek: TOS as a uncle who was too trusting in the medical field.

Some movies are good for other reasons than high budget and famous actors.

[adaringdo-1 · 6/10 · 18 March 2020]

This movie was a little slow to start, but I found the music score very appropriate for the action that slowly grew to fit the story. The plot was well developed and there were points when I cared about the characters more than I expected. I enjoyed this movie on many levels. The 'costumes' and 'props' were very good. As a movie maker myself I could appreciate the time and energy put into the story development and camera work. The technical faults in this movie did not detract from the story in any significant way for me as I didn't expect Hollywood Production Values. I especially liked the way the mystery aspect was developed. I loved the surprises and the twists. The monster was certainly a fine specimen of man-flesh. I also liked the Grandfather played by Ted Legarde as well as the mercenaries. This is an outstanding example of a complex indie movie that reached its goal, though not necessarily perfection. As an indie movie it is probably an 8-9, but a 5 as far as a professional studio release.

D4 is a treat for sci-fi/horror fans everywhere!

[magnimusx · 8/10 · 4 August 2011]

Let's talk about D4.

If you're not a fan of movies, you'll want to skip this one. It's not chock full of flash, bang, and big budget, but rather story, character, and most of all, heart. So, my advice for all you Michael Bay supporters out there is to just stay away.

Now, for the rest of us, what we have here is a movie—and it's been awhile since I've seen a movie. This is a motion picture that takes you to a different place and it makes you think; it makes you care about the kids, the old man, even the soldiers. Why? Because they bleed and not just fake blood, but emotions that you can believe and invest in.

The conspiracy story arcs interweave nicely and for once, the soldiers don't have to kill fifteen hundred people just to get into the building where there's fifteen hundred more waiting. They get where they're going and get inside and all the while, director Darrin Dickerson is building the tension to the boiling point and then he lets you simmer in it, cooking until you're raw and you can't wait anymore. And at that point, he ratchets it up again. Not by blowing things up or throwing body parts at the screen, but adding even more mystery and intrigue to the mix via character interaction and dialog. His soldiers aren't super and act accordingly.

No, the special effects are the greatest I've ever seen, but there are two things about that I want to mention about that. First, they're not necessary to the story and therefore don't detract from it at all. Second, they're really not that bad when you examine them in the context of the budget. I've seen worse in movies with budges five times bigger. The director used what he had to instead of going for the FX overkill like most people and, for that, he gets kudos.

The bottom line is that D4 is a well written, well directed sci-fi/horror movie for fans of movies. As I stated earlier, if this is your kind of movie, then pick it up. If not, well, Michael Bay released Transformers 3 and you can go watch him blow things up. Again.

Working with a incredibly low budget, Darrin Dickerson creates a tale of intense emotion an suspense.

[terryo-277-3405 · 7/10 · 28 January 2012]

Mr. Dickerson follows an aging grandfathers emotional search for his missing grandson and a team of skilled mercenaries are tested to their limits when hired to conduct a search an rescue for a missing teenager. i was fortunate to view this film at the Horrorhound Horror convention in Cincinnati in November 2011. Mr. Dickerson received a huge round of applause and it was well deserved. a bigger budget would mean bigger effects, but the story stands for itself and is entertaining as well as engaging. the grandfathers performance is especially exceptional an the team of hired mercenaries move the story along at a quick pace. it is a great choice for movie night.

No spoiler here!

[Luvlykylady · 10/10 · 18 February 2012]

I was afraid to watch the movie because of the bad review it got. I was surprised. The director paid attention to details that filled in the story nicely. A previous poster stated that there was a lapse in dialog. I did not find this to be true at all. I think the dialog flowed nicely and the actors were completely natural. In some scenes, I felt like I was watching normal people sitting around and conversing. The people who say that the story line was weak, should look at the tiny details provided in the film. Those details filmed by the director tie the story together. It is up to the person who is watching the film to catch the details and tie the story together for themselves. This movie did not take top prize at independent film festivals for nothing. I recommend this movie and the director to everyone!

Poor-man's Predator with a little X-Files mixed in for good measure

[jpaily33 · 7/10 · 1 July 2012]

To begin, I was a film critic for 10+ years but got tired of writing all the time, so I retired, but it hasn't affected my love for the movies, and I still see everything that comes out in both movie theaters and "straight-to-DVD." With that said, I met Actor/Writer/Director Darrin Dickerson in my hometown of Spring Hill, TN where we both live. I would see Darrin around town every week…at the gym, the Post Office, the store, etc. (And, we still cross-paths or pass each other on the road all the time.) So naturally, I was surprised to learn that he was a local independent filmmaker and eager to see his award-winning movie-- a sci-fi/action-thriller titled 'D4.' To be honest, I expected a low-budget, low-quality, B-movie with cheap production-value, choppy-editing, a poor script, and bad acting….all standard fair for the B-movie genre. However, with 'D4,' this was NOT the case! What I saw instead was a low-budget, independent film with a good screenplay, great acting (for the most part), superb directing and tight editing! In truth, I LOVED the film! Picture a poor-man's 'Predator' with a little 'X-Files' mixed in for good measure, but instead of an "alien-threat," we get genetic-mutation & government conspiracy. I was very impressed with Darrin's extensive work on this movie, but the film feels like a labor of love more than anything else for the people involved, and the real hook of 'D4' is that although it's a fictional sci-fi/action-thriller, it was written & inspired by actual events and hardships that have occurred in Darrin's life and family. I'd explain further, but I don't want to give anything away. Just see the film, and be sure to watch the special features afterwards. In the end, 'D4' is solid and very entertaining!

D4 one solid flick!!!!

[digitalmacabre · 10/10 · 1 October 2011]

Darrin Dickerson directs and stars in one good little flick with D4. The film starts as a flashback looking at two sides. One a rich widow trying to locate her missing meth addict son who hires mercenaries to find him. The other a grandfather who's grandson was taken to a treatment center for epilepsy but when he wants him back home nobody at the clinic knows what he's talking about. The only clues lie behind D4. A Government lab shut down for over 30 years that draws in nuts that believe it harbors Bigfoot. Eventually both sides will cross paths but Bigfoot will be the least of there worries. D4 is tightly edited and features a cast of unknowns that can act. The effects are rather good and the force there up against is quite awesome as it's an unstoppable killing machine that just keeps on coming. Like any good conspiracy flick questions are answered but there's enough left in the dark for a promising sequel. D4 has racked up plenty of awards so check it out and see what your missing.

d4 rocks

[thanesmom65 · 10/10 · 9 May 2012]

Dickenson created a great movie with limited funds. I meet him at a Full Moon Horror Fest and took a chance buying his movie. I was glad I did. This is his first and the budget was tight. He created a great film that won't disappoint. If you are a fan of horror movies, especially the classics you should watch this movie. I promise you won't be disappointed. The movie keeps your interest with action and interesting story line. The camera work and effects are also good for a limited budget. Did I mention he wrote, directed and starred in this movie. He is a triple threat of indie movies. I can't wait to see his next creation.

Mercenaries hired to find the kidnapped son of a wealthy doctor enter an abandoned government facility only to find more than they were searching for!

[tinapherne · 8/10 · 4 August 2011]

D4 is an EXCELLENT science-fiction/action/horror thriller with a "backstory" that will draw you in immediately! The movie was made on a "shoestring" budget and yet comes across as a "high dollar" Hollywood production. The director used "true life" experiences from months of "horror" caused by his son's diagnosis of epilepsy and the treatment that followed to create an exciting, suspenseful thriller. Casting was "spot on" and all the actors were totally believable. This independent film deserves any and all exposure/recognition it can get. Congratulations to ALL involved! It's a great, entertaining movie with a solid foundation of experience and determination to get the meaning across - and it achieves its goal!