Weirdsville

The tagline for this movie reads 'Weirdsville: “A strange place to find yourself”' and after watching this movie I find myself in total agreement.

Weirdsville is the tale of two stoner slackers Dexter (Scott Speedman) and Royce (Wes Bentley) trying to make the best of an awkward situation after Matilda (Taryn Manning), one of their friends, overdoses on some drugs they were suppose to sell for local dealer Omar. Finding themselves in a right mess they decide to bury her body in the boiler room of a local-drive in theatre. But while digging away, they interrupt a satanic cult preparing a ritual sacrifice thus begins a chase to avoid everyone they encountered the last few days.

On the extras the producers state that when trying to describe the synopsis of this film it just sounds strange and unfulfilling and doesn’t do the movie any justice. I would say their comments are ambitious, much like the finished product. Let it be said that I’m a fan of director Allan Moyle’s work, with Empire Records being one of my all-time favourite movies.

I think when the producers offered Moyle the project here they hoped he would deliver them another cult classic. At times Weirdsville is funny in a bizarre way, its tone goes up and down like a yo-yo and tests your patience.

The actors do a great job with their grungy characters and their names alone will probably draw people to watch the film. Both Speedman and Bentley bring their scruffy goons to life with charm and are engaging to watch playing off each other.

Moyle has described the film as a "Canadian Trainspotting" which is slightly optimistic of him given that the only real link I can see is its drug content and off-beat characters - it pales in comparison to Danny Boyle’s masterpiece.

It’s not to say that the film doesn’t have some good artistic merits, Moyle’s visual direction is stylish and inventive. I also enjoyed the film's score which features some great original music, normally an Allan Moyle trademark.

Instantly forgettable but enjoyable enough with a short running time Weirdsville is as mindless as it is meaningless.