Collapse (I) (2013) User Reviews

Better than average PA indie

[Eradan · 6/10 · 27 December 2018]

Collapse is a better than average PA indie with good cinematography and an excellent soundtrack. It's protagonists are sympathetic and engaging and unlike most indies (and many expensive Hollywood features) there are no glaringly obvious plotholes.

The two main characters are 14-year-old Luke and his little brother Scott who after the loss of their parents undertake a 1,200 mile journey to their only surviving family. They have to make this odyssey on foot because a massive social collapse caused by hyperinflation occurred a month before their father's disappearance. Along the way they deal with both good people and bad, and a few who are an interesting and believable mix of both.

The movie's main weakness is that all of the actors are amateurs so the stage presence and acting skills of most of them are rudimentary. However, since this is an indie feature, that goes with the territory and if that's a deal-breaker with you, then you should give "Collapse" a pass. There's three brief action scenes, none of which are really well done, and the second one is just plain bad. However, if high-octane, balls-to-the-wall action scenes are a requirement for you, then it's unlikely you're a fan of indies.

The movie's strengths are it's sincere affection for it's heroes and it's thoughtful study of character during WROL. If that sounds good to you, you won't regret the time spent watching.

Not Great, BUT WORTH WATCHING

[ascendant01 · 7/10 · 15 June 2021]

• I was surprised, rudely surprised, but the small audience this movie captured, though with ignorant reviews that I saw I can imagine why. This is an independent movie and it was created with a small budget, using players that were not professional actors and with that in mind I watched it twice and I gave it a 6 out of 10. I was actually surprised and the good job they did with the small budget they made it with. The acting was OK for amateur actors, especially for the Luke character, the bikers and the Vietnam Vet too.

• The movie is about the swift and devastating collapse of the financial of the USA, which in turn causes a depression that far exceeds Great Depression of the early 1900's and brings about the collapse of the entire US Government, the power grid, and other essential government services such as Police, Fire fighters, Prisons and eventually all other services which leads to severe devastation and anarchy throughout the country. Gangs run rampant, food is no longer around and the country falls into a dangerous anarchy of the strongest rule and the better armed rule.

• Under this collapse a 14 year old boy and his 8 year old brother are left alone in their Spokane Washington home when their father, who raises the boys alone, suddenly disappears. As when their father was there they are targeted by marauders and robbers and thieves and when when the boys, LUKE and SCOTT find themselves alone one night, Luke is forced to shoot a looter and they decide their only recourse is to flee and walk from Spokane to Winslow Arizona where their last known relative, an Uncle, lives. The movie is about that journey, 2 boys walking from Spokane to Winslow and the things that happen between the 2 and how different people react to the anarchy, some being helpful and generous and some turning to dangerous mauraders and killing over a simple can of gas or some cans of food.

• It's a low budget, amateur movie with amateur actors but there is something in the story that does draw you in. Perhaps its the way different people are portrayed in how they handle anarchy and of course the sympathetic response to 2 boys on their own, trying to travel over 800 miles on foot and being preyed upon by the unscrupulous or how they are helped by many who have still retained their humanity. The movie does clearly lean into the "be prepared" genre as they run into Veterans living in areas far off the old grid and have well stocked larders and LOTS of munitions to defend what they do have from roving gangs and such. And the mention of the terrible anarchy, but hope in at least one town where they have gone to a citizen militia and which "provides the only city where you can walk the streets without getting jumped." And the Morman Towns where a religious preparation doctrine has left them in a much better condition than other towns. The movie doesn't push this to the point of annoyance or make it sound like a commercial for Prepers like some distopian movies. Though anyone familiar with Preping will spot these things. And to add to the patriotic lean to the movie, its generally like a slice of Americana including religion and little boys saying their prayers to help things along.

• The movie is well made, you don't see any microphones dangling in view or any of the other often occurrences in many other independent, low budget movies, the color photography is excellent and the sound is too. Had this movie had a larger budget it could have been a great movie. The story is good, the quality is good but the budget and to a lesser extent the amateur acting are what hold it back I think. Even so I still think it's worth watching. I gave it a 6 out of 10 on the IMDb scale and I can't understand those who gave it a 2 or a 3. Apparently they do not watch a lot of low budget movies.

Don't pay money for this...

[thegirlfromys · 2/10 · 23 April 2021]

Interesting premise for a story, but just truly horrible acting and directing. The characters are wooden or come off as just plain creepy, even the good guys. Beautiful country, but the protagonists wouldnt have made it out of their hometown as naive and just plain idiodic as they act in the film. 2 stars for making the effort, but I would be ashamed to charge money for others to see it.

Enthralling movie and you'll learn some survival skills

[nipunsharp · 10/10 · 29 April 2021]

Watched it twice. Keep in mind that this is not Hollywood production and you'll love the movie.

To have two kids as the main actors is such a hard task but this movie had accomplished that while projecting a possible future condition of this planet.

TOTAL GARBAGE

[talllguysf · 2/10 · 19 May 2021]

This movie is about as low budget as you can get, and moreover, is just BAD in every aspect of filmmaking. Poor acting; silly story; guns; god; Boy Scouts; Mormons; motorcycle gangs all combined into ridiculous stupidity.

The filmmaker must have had his or her friends wrote the first reviews. And clearly the filmmaker thinks GUNS are critical for every single solitary plot point. DON'T waste your money or time. Watching paint dry is more entertaining than this garbage.