Produced by Scott Friend, Chelsea Slayter,
Sebastian Slayter, Kevin Tran
Written and Directed by Kevin Tran
Starring Scott Friend, Lindsay Burdge,
Brooke Bloom, Jim Parrack, Jennifer Kim,
Michael Cyril Creighton, Daniel K. Isaac,
Anthony Chisholm, Rod Luzzi
A rash of pet killings in a close-knit neighborhood is the catalyst for a fascinating drama.
Brief but potent, The Dark End of The Street chronicles the lives of the peeps in said neighborhood as they deal with the animal killer and many other issues.
What seems at first to be a horror film about a serial killer is actually a multiple character study.
The film actually evokes Altman and even the great novel Winesburg, Ohio in its analysis of lonely, desperate and disparate people.
We meet the young couple who have a newborn on the way.
The husband misses his old, partying ways and decides to meet up with a casual friend.
A woman whose cat is stomped to death is comforted by her older neighbor, and complications ensue.
A gaggle of skateboarding friends (who are members and supporters of a very fun punk band) plays video games…and more.
The dialogue is wonderfully realistic and feels like true repartee.
If you’re going in expecting an exciting, intense thriller, you’ll likely be disappointed.
But I really admired the tack that writer/director Kevin Tran took by subverting audience expectations and making an observational drama with a thriller hook.
At only 70 minutes, the film seems just right. Too much longer, and it would have worn out its welcome and become tedious.
It’s a terrific series of snapshots of a select group of neighbors, and I’m looking forward to Tran’s future work.
He’s a talent to watch.
The Dark End of The Street Arrives On Demand on August 11th
