9909 Reviews

 
 
REVIEWS September 4, 2009 BUZZINE is an online magazine for the entertainment industry. http://www.buzzine.com/2009/09/9909/ 9.9.09 Beware of Tapeworm-Bearing Zombies!  Bryan Brewer and Kelly Pendygraft By: Ed Rosenberg Sixty years ago, on September 9, 2009, something landed near a small, rural town — what the government would ultimately call “the Modern Plague.” The last survivor from ground zero looks back at the terrible incident as we take a fine, horror-filled, fun ride in the spirit of Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Night of the Living Dead. A taut ensemble cast must deal with friends, relatives and neighbors who offer them the kiss of zombification a la giant alien tapeworms which slurp from mouth to disgorging mouth.  Lochlyn Munro Comely Kelly Pendygraft plays Sarah, waitress at the local diner whose ex-con ex, Deke (Bryan Brewer, who also wrote, co-produced), suddenly shows up one fateful night. Hulky redneck Sheriff Bowen (Lochlyn Munro) ain’t too pleased to see him. As if things aren’t complicated enough for Sarah, all hell breaks loose when a strange meteor pod hits — and Sarah, Deke and the sheriff are forced into an awkward survival alliance as they try to rescue loved ones from a town increasingly filled with aggressive, tapeworm-spewing zombies. As we make our way from convenience store lockers to isolated houses, a backstory unfolds in which things are not so black and white, as far as Deke and the town is concerned, for he has just been paroled for killing one of its members. Of course, Deke and Sarah’s romance rekindles, which ups our dramatic ante as we further invest in the characters. The plot takes some unforeseen twists and turns involving Deke’s troubled mom (Marcia Moran), Sarah’s brave father figure Jerry (David Jean Thomas), and as things heat up, no love is lost between the headstrong Deke and the steadfast Neanderthal of a sheriff — nor between Deke and hot-headed townie Billy (Brian Guest). We are never sure if an the antidote is fully working or who to take or leave behind as we try to sneak out town. In other words, we are teased and frightened and kept in suspense — biting our nails and enjoying our popcorn — exactly what we came for.  Chuck Carter and Kelly Pendygraft 9.9.09 is a fun, low-budget indie, deftly helmed by veteran cinematographer Howard Wexler, who not only knows his way around a camera and spooky lights but gets good performances from his talented cast, including Chuck Carter as the trailer park scientist and Mary Kate Schellhardt, who bookends the story as a reporter from the future who locates the aged Sarah. Makeup and special effects can’t compete with Avatar, but they work well enough to serve the story. The film is complemented by Javier Abad Corral’s excellent score. Recently awarded Best Sci-Fi Feature at the New York Independent Film & Video Festival, anyone who likes their horror genre classics will really enjoy this one. Buzzine interview with Kelly Pendygraft. 9.9.09 website
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N.Y. Indie Festival Premiere FANGORIA has been America’s horror magazine since 1979, bringing readers the best in Horror Entertainment. Covering everything HORROR including film, television, gaming, toys, music, comics and more! Fangoria, Friday, August 14, 2009 07:41 PM Matt Molgaard Sixty years ago, on September 9 of 2009 a meteor (or something of that nature) crashed to earth, animating a small rural town. Not long after the discovery of the meteor, people start… morphing into savage animalistic beings, intent on wreaking havoc on this unsuspecting community, and ultimately: the world as a whole. But what the government would eventually label a modern plague, is perhaps even worse, as this enemy is clearly otherworldly, and the design behind this trip to earth is built upon an apparent invasion. The only significant question is, who the hell lives to tell about it? Receiving mediocrity in search of positive review seems to have become “the norm” for me lately. Therefore I was genuinely surprised, and extremely pleased with Howard Wexler for taking the time to ship me something worthy of positive feedback. 9.9.09 is one of the better independent flicks I’ve received as of late, inferior only to MODUS OPERANDI, PUNCH and LIVE EVIL - three of the best low budget indie‘s I’ve caught this year - regardless of genre. So, while the budget and cast of a Michael Bay film may be absent in this specific case,  it hasn’t hindered the overall quality of the film in the slightest. Sayonara mediocrity! The prolific Lochlyn Munro (Sheriff Bowen) anchors a young but promising cast which features admirable performances from Bryan Brewer (as Deke Evans), Kelly Pendygraft (as Sarah Prescott), and David Jean Thomas (as the wise father figure Jerry). There’s not a single offering deserving a perfect label, but there’s a whole lot of spirit and plenty of energy to counter any less-than-refined moments (which really are few and far between) throughout the picture. Bryan Brewer (who also penned the script) brings a solid effort to the table, and given the depth of the mans involvement (aside from starring in, and writing the screenplay, Brewer also produced the picture) with the project, really merits significant recognition. Keep an eye out for that name - Bryan Brewer. Longtime cinematographer Howard Wexler draws clean, precise direction, utilizing 100% of the limited tools accessible. While Wexler never attempts to break new ground technically, he does shoot a direct, easily follow-able film. There’s enough creativity to keep viewers interested despite a standard approach - and given the films financial limitations I personally think it was an intelligent maneuver; It’s better to air on the side of caution, than to overextend yourself and shoot a flaw infested film. Based on the tactically cautious approach of 9.9.09, Wexler apparently knows this well. Confinements aside, Wexler and Brewer make a damn fine team. While I’m uncertain as to when 9.9.09 will street, I am certain it’s worth a viewing. Fans of goofy monster movies should dig it, zombie fans should dig it, and for those who still tend to gravitate towards the old invasion films of the 50’s should definitely dig it. Don’t expect the pretty polish of Dimension's newest teen-friendly fan favorite, or the star power to draw millions upon millions of viewers - rather, expect a fun, not-too-serious flick with a sound story, fair dialogue and a few memorable scenes. 9.9.09 in short, is a worthwhile investment in respect to both time and money. FANGORIA WEB SITE “The film evokes a host of impressive 1950’s forebears such as “It Came From Outer Space” and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” with an obligatory nod to 1968’s “Night of the Living Dead.” Variety 
 REVIEW 1 Set sixty years in the future, an old woman (Kelly Pendygraft), engages the help of a reporter (Mary Kate Schellhardt), to unlock the secret of a government conspiracy to cover up the events that took place on September 9th, 2009. An aged Sarah Prescott tells the story of that eventful day when a meteor crash landed near a small American town and unleashed alien life-forms that gradually infect all the town’s residents. The plot interweaves the discovery of the meteor with the reappearance of one of the town’s residents, Deke Evans, (Bryan Brewer), who has been incarcerated 10 years for a questionable murder.  With the help of the local Sheriff, (Lochlyn Munro), the remaining survivors try to make sense of it all and discover the source of the infection. Looking like a small town anywhere USA, Deke re-enters local society from across the tracks, after an unsuccessful reconciliation with his mother (Marcia Moran), in her pristine Craftsman home.  The local highway diner is the pivot point for the main characters, all interesting and well played by an ensemble group who seem to believe in the importance of their individual lives as well as showing an unselfish attitude about their community. A creature does seem to be around, after the discovery of a smoldering meteor, at the ubiquitous make-out-point. The townsfolk start to behave strangely and do not appear to be who they really are. A surviving group is left to fend for themselves by any means possible, and it’s up to them to cure the infected and destroy the aliens. Sarah is a friend to all, but conflicted about the re-appearance of her childhood friend.  She is pursued by Billy, (Brian Guest), and gives him the cold shoulder, preferring to hold on to her inner feelings and unrequited love for Deke. Billy wants to be bigger than he is, organizing a fight to protect his turf, but caves into his fear of mortality. In the shadow of a deity, he comes to terms with his fear, and bravely marches on with Deke as they attempt to outsmart the infectious creatures. Symbolisms and metaphors are evident in almost every scene, from an overheard HG Wells radio story about the threat of invading Martians, to the study of bacteria that Junior Deputy (Molly McDowell), is apparently studying. Diner owner Jerry, (David Jean Thomas), repeatedly asks to provide help, in spite of an injury, and pays the ultimate sacrifice to protect others. Grandpa Sy, (Terry Becker), is reticent about dying, yet stoic and loving to his granddaughter in spite of his apprehension. He shows a classic mix of bravery and fear, yet as part of the group dynamic he is an obstacle to their escape as well as a necessary attachment.  From the cramped confines of a vintage Airstream, the home to science nerd-old-high-school-friend Stooley, (Chuck Carter), Deke and his former girlfriend Sarah learn that the creature is a worm, with an uncanny ability to smell blood and also infect various bodily systems.  It’s possible that infections can inhabit ordinary people and be benign, eventually creating abhorrent behavior and characteristics that are anti human, as the subsequent scenes suggest. The Sheriff is played by Lochlyn Munro, who is apparently infected, although he won't let anyone know.  In the film’s pivotal scene, the Sheriff is cured of his affliction by Deke, after a linguistic battle suggesting humanity is so inherently weak that the widespread infection is a panacea for conformity. True human feelings are a virtue, and as a society we all must acknowledge that.  The threat of an infection overshadows the human condition of fear, greed and love, leaving what else?  A fight. A well placed boot kick and some fast thinking saves the Sheriff’s life, and without the slightest thanks moves off to save the world. However, the alien life forms have overrun the ugly "safe" house and Deke heroically tries to protect his friends and humanity using the catalyst of fire. It is up to the audience to figure out what Deke's fate is, but like a sage he re-appears to see his young love, now aged but aware.  Physical immortality has perhaps been achieved by Yogis and others, and it's a concept that can't hurt one's psyche to think about.  Maybe Deke is immortal, as his puzzling youthful appearance suggests, but also he represents hope after that black day in history, when pathogens from space attempted to overthrow us. Review 2 July 5, 2009 JL There is a moment early on in the new film 9909 where a reporter exits her fuel efficient car and gazes at the urban landscape in front of her.  She simply says, "Great," and moves on.  Her inflection is flat, and delivered with a mixture of foreboding and resignation. This sets the scene for the movie, as it is sort of a post apocalyptical look at life in a town where a mysterious meteor has landed. “Great” as in "now what", or maybe disgust at the unforeseen change in her daily routine. What happened on September 9, 2009, is reason for conjecture, as it's not here yet as this is being written.  However, for decades it has been foretold that something may happen on that date, as the numbers are too auspicious and uniquely convenient for a major event not to occur. A meteor has been discovered and the local Sheriff, played by familiar face Lochlyn Munro, wants to keep a lid on the find, lest his town becomes overrun by UFO zealots.  It's not clear what the connection is between UFO's and a meteor, but this film subtly mixes conjecture and realism, sometimes with an offhand remark, other times with an aside that shows individuals who are both altruistic and self-serving in the same moment. The story is told from a sparse 1950’s hospital room, somehow a surviving remnant before the glass and concrete buildings of the early twenty-first century. An old woman tells the reporter that government cover ups and lies blocked the truth from being told, and in her final days she wants to reveal what really happened. On September 9, 2009, or in the parlance of the future/past known as 9909, something arrived on that meteor that would alter life as we know it, and Sarah is the last remaining survivor, as far as she can tell. This film is low budget, as the scenes sometimes have a style reminiscent of early Corman, but it is thoroughly engaging and entertaining.  The cast works well together, and the direction and staging are excellent.  A few moments happen in one shot, yet the essence of the scene is evident and the camera moves reinforce the dialogue. Brian Guest is appealing in his transformation from the towns wanna-be big shot, to humbly admitting his fear of the unknown, and eventually gathering himself to face his challenge. Kelly Pendygraft is remarkable playing Sarah Prescott twice, once as an octogenarian.  Her compelling smile and small town attitude is a model for coming of age girls who have to reason with boys. Bryan Brewer, playing Deke, also wrote the script, and has a bright future as an actor.  He deftly plays the character just right, showing shades of emotion and inner conflict, yet retaining the charm of a small town hero. He is ageless, and an enigma. He might be the smartest and coolest of the bunch, and in a crisis, someone has to lead.  Chuck Carter, playing Stooley, a science nerd whose few moments on screen are filled with delightful mannerisms, is a character who needs to return in the sequel or perhaps prequel, as his fate is undermined, but we can probably guess that he outsmarted the infection that seems to run rampant.  The supporting cast are wonderful to watch, as each invents small moments that reinforce their individual character while engaging in an ensemble group effort.  Marcia Moran as Deke's mom becomes zombie-like and then humbly recovers, diner owner Jerry played by David Jean Thomas is the town’s stoic pillar, eventually offering himself as a sacrifice to help save the others.  Terry Becker is the avuncular Gramps, whose distant gaze tells volumes of his history and memories. Kent Faulcon plays the Deputy, and tries to be strong in spite of the overwhelming odds. David Yates as Murphy discovers the meteor, and is its first victim.  Cortney Lee is a young infected girl, threateningly attacking with an oral worm of some kind. Molly McDowell as the Dispatch in the Sheriff’s office artfully amuses herself with music and self study, seemingly oblivious to the dire situation unfolding around her. 9909 is an interesting and enjoyable piece, and offers an undertone of nuanced allegories that may be prophetic. The Center for Disease Control recently said that swine flu has become a pandemic, although the mortality rate is less than expected.  The message of 9909 is that a foreign virus or creature can cause widespread disease and subsequent panic, although with rational thinking and swift action, the world can be saved to see another day. COMMENTS: “Can’t wait to see it. I love Lochlyn Munro, he always brings light to a picture.” “Looks great. I like the lighting, the DOP did a great job. Did you shot the movie in Vancouver by any chance?” “The trailer looks good. Good use of color grading to help establish the intended mood. 
Good luck and keep us posted.” “Great looking trailer, Interesting premise, god acting, nicely shot. DP and lighting did great work. Let me know if it screens in NYC.” “It really was delightful! I got sucked into the suspense and was scared and then laughed. There were times I think I was scared and laughing at the same time! The worms were just the right blend of creepy and hokey, almost an homage to the Sci-Fi’s of the fifties and sixties. Their sounds and the music were great too.” mj Buzzine interview with Kelly Pendygraft, September 4, 2009  KELLY PENDYGRAFT INTERVIEW '9.9.09' -- 'Best Actress,' 'Best Sci-Fi Film' -- NY Indie Film Fest  Richard Elfman Publisher Editor-in-Chief  The movie 9.9.09 was recently awarded Best Sci-Fi Feature at the New York Independent Film & Video Festival.  The lovely Kelly Pendygraft took home Best Actress for her role of Sarah in the film.  Buzzine editor-in-chief Richard Elfman sits down with the talented lady and get her behind-the-scenes story: Richard Elfman: What can you tell us about 9.9.09? Kelly Pendygraft: I play the role of a young girl named Sarah Prescott who grew up and lives in a small town.  It’s a story that’s told from the future — from 60 years from now, but we reflect back on the events that happened on September 9, 2009. There seems to be something infecting the people in town and it’s going around killing everybody, and we try to find out what’s causing that and we try to save the world from a small-town point of view. RE: By the way, I thought you did a terrific role, and you were absolutely gorgeous on screen and believable in the part. Now “believability” is always key to an actor’s performance. How did you approach your character? KP: I was a little surprised that they were going to have the same actress play the old Sarah and the young Sarah. I guess I had to come up with a way to incorporate the young Sarah in with the old Sarah. For the young Sarah, it’s more about going within myself and pulling out the traits that I feel this character possesses that are my own, so I wanted her to be a little feisty and a little firey, but on a small-town level. I don’t think she’s a girl that has ever been outside of maybe a 60-mile radius of her town; I think she is a creative, spunky type, but just on that level. I don’t feel like she would have ever gone anywhere or done anything. Maybe she was banking on this relationship with Deke that didn’t work out, which would have taken her out of her own element, but when that didn’t end up happening, she stuck around. So I wanted to make sure that I stayed within the limitations of someone who is limited by their environment. At the same time, I wanted to make sure that the old Sarah still had some of that spunkiness to her. There is an arc of the character through the story — she becomes brave and branches out of her shell, and it’s a glorious moment for her because people rely on Sarah, and she gets to be the one reasoning with everyone and handling these men. She gets to be the sensible one, and I think that’s a prideful moment for her. I definitely just wanted to keep it as real as possible, taking from what’s in myself, and I didn’t want it to be too much of a caricature of an old lady. I wanted it to be as real as I could possibly be of that as well. RE: Speaking of which, what was it like being in that makeup and prosthesis? Have you ever worked in that sort of a thing before? KP: I have worked with prostheses before, and I’ve worked with heavy makeup, but it’s never been in a film; it’s always been on the stage. This time around, I was sitting in makeup for about five hours each time, because we were building all the pieces and we didn’t have any prosthetic pieces that were bought and manufactured, so we had someone sculpting white on my face, and by the tenth hour of shooting, that stuff gets pretty itchy. It was such a joy and I really was looking forward to doing it, but by the second day when I had to do it, I wasn’t looking so forward to it. It takes a toll on you — on your skin and everything. You’re also pretty limited by facial movement and, from an acting standpoint, there is a little bit of an obstacle there. RE: Howard Wexler is a veteran cinematographer. Does it help to be directed by somebody that knows his way around camera and lighting so well? KP: One thing that’s really great about Howard being a cinematographer and knowing what looks good is that he knows what looks good. He knows how to make pretty pictures. Just from what I saw while we were filming, and the final product too, the lighting is really great. I think he definitely creates the atmosphere that’s pretty eerie and pretty dark, and it’s all kind of cartoony in a way, and vivid. He’s really great to work with because he helps you to make those pictures as well to make it look good.  RE: I know it was a low-budget independent film. Was it a tough schedule on the actors? KP: The only thing that was tough on us — I don’t think it had to do with being a low-budget film — but the fact that it’s taking place over one night — day into night into morning — and we had to shoot night shots for the majority of the filming, that takes a toll on anyone. Plus, it was very cold at night, so a lot of the outside scenes weren’t so comfortable. But I love independent films so much because you know what you’re getting into with a low-budget film. You know that you’re going to be working for the final product and for it to be the best it can be, whether that means you help out and wear all different hats and help other departments with their jobs… Everybody is rooting for the film and are really behind it and are willing to work their hardest. As the actress, this film in particular was really great because they kept everything that was happening on the production side separate from us, so even with a low budget and everybody sometimes scrambling around, I never experienced any setback or dilemmas or compromises, or whatever you have to do to make things work sometimes. They really kept it separate from us, so we were just very focused on our jobs. RE: Speaking of your ensemble, tell me something about working with Lochlyn Munro, who was the sheriff, and Bryan Brewer, who I understand wrote it as well as co-produced. These are these two mail egos you have to juggle as Sarah… KP: Male egos on screen and off the screen. [Laughs] Lochlyn is a blast. He is such a giving actor. He really helps you. He makes it easy on you to work opposite from him. He’s a very genuine guy. He’s really precise and really professional, and he takes you along on board with him, when you’re in a scene with him, and I really appreciated getting the opportunity to work with a seasoned actor like him. Brian and I…it’s really funny. Off-screen, we kind of had a feisty sort of relationship — very personable and very friendly.  We’re definitely friends. We like to make fun and pick at each other, and we definitely did that off camera a lot — pretty much the whole time, and it was all in good fun. I usually get concerned when there’s a writer who’s also starring in the film, because you have an idea of what you want it to look like, but sometimes the actor can bring a little something different as well. But I don’t think his vision was ever compromised or his writing, in any way, and he was very lenient with us being the actors, so that was great. RE: What’s next for Kelly Pendygraft? KP: Next week, on September 10th, 11th and 12th, I’m going to be shooting my own show. Over the last year, I’ve been developing, creating, producing, starring in my own web series, called Water Signs. It’s about three girls, told from my point of view. The background is the LA music industry, but it’s about these 20-something girls in the midst of their careers, their love lives, and what’s next to come and who they are, but told from an astrological point of view. Everybody always says, “I’m this because I’m a Scorpio…” and “I’m this because I’m…” whatever, you know, and people kind of identify themselves through that, but on a larger scale, it’s about the signs of the universe and how you pay attention to what is being given to you, or just the subtleties of the way you give in to the universe and the signs there, and if you pay attention to what the universe is telling you, things can run a little smoother. It’s just about opening up yourself to hear it, and that’s what the series is about. The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival was held in Los Angeles in August. ‘9.9.09′ received the BEST SCI FI FEATURE AWARD, and Kelly Pendygraft received BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURE FILM award, for her work in ‘9.9.09.’  The Award Ceremony will be in New York City, on October 22, 2009. See Buzzine’s review of 9.9.09
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