I'm not quite at home with the filmography of Andy Milligan - the biggest inspiration to Sean Brown when he made "Kakoon". Though just having seen a small percentage, the trashiness is somewhat memorable. "Kakoon" has absolutely captured some of the things that people judged Andy Milligan for, but perhaps even more self-aware. If you want a strange, trashy, talkative independent feature that will leave you scratching your head even when you shouldn't - read on.
Few descriptions of the plot could actually explain what's going on here. The plot is second hand, way beyond the style it has incorporated and the attitude it shoots at you. An inheritance starts up a fight between a brother and sister. The siblings share an interest in mummification, and soon an old game between the two is brought back to life. So to speak.
I'll leave it there. That's basically it, since everything in between is filled with dialogue and getting to know the characters (and just as importantly, getting to know the director and style). This is the sort of movie you'd expect to see back when people first were able to shoot movies on their own, being truly independent. While some people wanted to create their own "Star Wars", "Halloween" or whatever, some people wanted to go against most things you're familiar with. Sean Brown is adapting that rebellious idea, but in 2013 most of it has been done before. I'm not saying "Kakoon" has been done before, because there are SOME new flavours here, but you won't be blown away with what the movie is doing. The kind of punk filmmaking is all over the place now.
That's not to say that Sean Brown is failing. As "Kakoon" is heavily inspired (to the point of an homage, perhaps?) of Andy Milligan's style, and I haven't seen enough of him to actually see that to its entirety, there's a possibility that "Kakoon" is nailing it. It might be, considering the work it's inspired by, that this is a successful project.
Ignoring all that - all the stuff it's based upon, whether it's bringing out anything new or not, is "Kakoon" an entertaining movie? That's what it should be about. It definitely feels shorter than 85 minutes, though I think it took a while to start up. It has moments that are extremely weird and unpredictable, but often I couldn't quite get into it. I think that this could be really interesting with a crowd. With these movies, as small as they are, it's often about how people react. Seeing them with a group is most likely better than being alone or with just one friend, because it could actually help having people talking. Whether it's to laugh at it, to dissect it or to actually just wonder what the hell is going on.
I can't forget that "Kakoon" is so heavily inspired by Andy Milligan that I can't really relate. It's a weird little trash cinema experience, but one that I will probably forget as time goes by. I think I have watched enough trashy indie movies that they need to be really unique or messed up for me to remember them. "Kakoon" is weird but doesn't stand tall next to some movies similar in style and attitude. Sean Brown is off to an interesting start though, whether it's a good movie or not. I am curious to see whatever is coming from his mind next, and hopefully he will take a close look at "Kakoon" and see what thread to follow.
More reviews at FilmBizarro.com
Few descriptions of the plot could actually explain what's going on here. The plot is second hand, way beyond the style it has incorporated and the attitude it shoots at you. An inheritance starts up a fight between a brother and sister. The siblings share an interest in mummification, and soon an old game between the two is brought back to life. So to speak.
I'll leave it there. That's basically it, since everything in between is filled with dialogue and getting to know the characters (and just as importantly, getting to know the director and style). This is the sort of movie you'd expect to see back when people first were able to shoot movies on their own, being truly independent. While some people wanted to create their own "Star Wars", "Halloween" or whatever, some people wanted to go against most things you're familiar with. Sean Brown is adapting that rebellious idea, but in 2013 most of it has been done before. I'm not saying "Kakoon" has been done before, because there are SOME new flavours here, but you won't be blown away with what the movie is doing. The kind of punk filmmaking is all over the place now.
That's not to say that Sean Brown is failing. As "Kakoon" is heavily inspired (to the point of an homage, perhaps?) of Andy Milligan's style, and I haven't seen enough of him to actually see that to its entirety, there's a possibility that "Kakoon" is nailing it. It might be, considering the work it's inspired by, that this is a successful project.
Ignoring all that - all the stuff it's based upon, whether it's bringing out anything new or not, is "Kakoon" an entertaining movie? That's what it should be about. It definitely feels shorter than 85 minutes, though I think it took a while to start up. It has moments that are extremely weird and unpredictable, but often I couldn't quite get into it. I think that this could be really interesting with a crowd. With these movies, as small as they are, it's often about how people react. Seeing them with a group is most likely better than being alone or with just one friend, because it could actually help having people talking. Whether it's to laugh at it, to dissect it or to actually just wonder what the hell is going on.
I can't forget that "Kakoon" is so heavily inspired by Andy Milligan that I can't really relate. It's a weird little trash cinema experience, but one that I will probably forget as time goes by. I think I have watched enough trashy indie movies that they need to be really unique or messed up for me to remember them. "Kakoon" is weird but doesn't stand tall next to some movies similar in style and attitude. Sean Brown is off to an interesting start though, whether it's a good movie or not. I am curious to see whatever is coming from his mind next, and hopefully he will take a close look at "Kakoon" and see what thread to follow.
More reviews at FilmBizarro.com
