Recently, I saw an indie zero-budget film called Cheap. This movie is dark, sickening, disturbing, hilarious, and wrong in at least forty-five different definitions of the word.
And I love it.
This movie is like a poster child for everything I love about independent film making. There's a real passion in it, all of these people knew what they were making, and that was art.
The story is sickeningly simple, it revolves around a failed porn director ( Jack Stone, played by Brad Jones of Cinema Snob fame) crafting a new, different approach to pornography: real snuff films. He convinces a completely disturbed, FUBAR cameraman Manny played by [Nick Foster], and two teen runaways (Patti, played by Carrie Jo Stucki and Anita, played by Jessica Stone) to "star" in his new films. They pick up a homeless person, kill him while filming it, and do quite disturbing things with his severed head. After this they sell the movie to a slimy producer Max Force (played by David Gobble in an amazing performance), who is met with overnight success on his porno site. Things take a wrong turn quickly and Jack (The Director) and the other "crew members" exact their sickening revenge on those that made their fame possible.
Its really, on the surface, almost a ludicrous movie. But once you watch it, get down deep into this underworld Brad has crafted, and feel for these characters, you enjoy it. You enjoy it a lot. Its sickening, but you have emotions for these characters. The acting and the script easily save the movie from total mediocrity Brad and David are the key actors here, and they are also in the two starring roles. But let me tell you this, before you even watch it: there are no heroes in this story. Everyones dirty, demented or just a plain asshole. You can sort of see a glimmer of hope in one character (the producers pregnant wife), but she doesnt fare very well by the end. Dont expect to root for anybody here, because everyone is a villain.
The production values, well... there are no production values it seems. The audio fits in and out, the camera blurs, and the camera quality in general isn't very good. But, to be honest, this sort of adds to the movies flavor. With high production values, crystal clear image, and perfect sound, you lose a complete layer of the movie. Im glad that the movie was shot the way it was, because I cant imagine it any other way.
In conclusion, this movie is dark, twisted and one hell of a ride. The movie drags a bit in the first half, but the second rears its ugly head with a vengeance. I recommend this to anyone with a taste for the wicked and a stomach to bear. Its not gory, but the subject matter is sickening, no doubt. Check it out, its sure to please all of you sick fucks out there.
Final Score: B+
Favorite Quote: "Im rich now, I can do whatever the fuck I want!"
Watch it here
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Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm glad you liked it. I especially like the mentioning of Max's wife "not faring well in the end." Very true =) One correction, the porno producer's name is Max Force instead of Max Stone. That's ok, I know in the countless times I've written a plot summary for this movie, I've made that mistake too.
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