{"id":33528,"date":"2025-02-24T13:42:18","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T18:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/?p=33528"},"modified":"2025-02-24T19:05:36","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T00:05:36","slug":"the-buildout-2025-film-review-by-greggwmorris-theword","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/the-buildout-2025-film-review-by-greggwmorris-theword\/","title":{"rendered":"THE BUILDOUT: <span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>An Otherworldly<i> Back to Nature<\/i> Tale With a Cosmic Sheen by Filmmakers Described As Thematically Blending Mysticism, the Paranormal  and Horror, Propelling Audiences into Another Dimension of Transcendental Awareness<\/strong><\/span>"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>\u00a0&#8220;THE BUILDOUT is a stunning, genre-bending odyssey into the unknown that skillfully blends themes of mysticism, grief, and the paranormal into a film where reality and the supernatural blur&#8221; <\/em>\u2013 says Rotten Tomatoes. THE BUILDOUT hits VOD streaming platforms via Ethos Releasing Tuesday, February 25.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-33599\" src=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pubBuildout_04.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"541\" srcset=\"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pubBuildout_04.jpg 1000w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pubBuildout_04-300x162.jpg 300w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pubBuildout_04-768x415.jpg 768w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pubBuildout_04-560x303.jpg 560w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pubBuildout_04-260x141.jpg 260w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pubBuildout_04-160x87.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>WORD<\/strong><\/em> patrons and visitors should know that this reviewer has a quibble here and there. Quibble? This visually gorgeous panoramic doesn\u2019t fit snugly in the reviewer&#8217;s aesthetics and perspectives regarding mysticism, paranormal and horror themes and genres \u2013 especially the latter, which, for him, means he anticipates being spooked if not freaked, causing him to check the shadows and dark recesses of his psyche. THE BUILDOUT was about as spooky as one of the scenes of one of the film&#8217;s stars sniffing a desert flower.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, this is not a <em>thumbs-down-flick<\/em> rating<em> \u2013 <\/em>not even close<em>. A<\/em>udiences should anticipate mucho <em>huh-s<\/em>? and <em>say-what-s<\/em>? showing up in their conscious, subconscious and unconscious as cinematic centrifugal forces may pull them deeper into the film than they had anticipated.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Buildout | Official Trailer\" width=\"860\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JTrR9YMLdaQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>A Succinct Synopsis<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>THE BUILDOUT, which has played at the Panic Fest, Popcorn Frights, &amp; Chattanooga film fests<strong>, <\/strong>was filmed in Southern California\u2019s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park popularly known, at least regionally, for mysterious and inexplicable phenomena in an area known as the Borrego Triangle. The Triangle is also known for UFO sightings. Real life paranormal researchers coined this description which subsequently heightened interests attracting those intrigued by the extraordinary unordinary.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Plot:<\/strong> Cult Clerics (Natasha Halevi &amp; Michael Sung Ho) are in an advance party for their Clerics group on a 10-day mission to set up a base camp in the remote wasteland of Southern California where they will try to have their spiritual visions realized through meditation exercises.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_33656\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33656\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-33656\" src=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-Buildout_03-300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" srcset=\"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-Buildout_03-300x223.jpg 300w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-Buildout_03-768x570.jpg 768w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-Buildout_03-560x416.jpg 560w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-Buildout_03-260x193.jpg 260w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-Buildout_03-160x119.jpg 160w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-Buildout_03.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-33656\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michael Sung Ho (Cleric Barrow)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Motorcyclists Dylan (Hannah Alline) and Cameron (Jenna Kenall), the co-stars, visit the Triangle as part of an opportunity to try to rekindle their friendship, which took a beating after the death of Cameron\u2019s older sister, Dakota, played by Danielle Evon Ploeger.<\/p>\n<p>After the motorcyclist arrive in the desert, Cameron, a recovering addict on the mend, supports her friend\u2019s decision but is wary of the cult.<\/p>\n<p>Publicity and marketing as well as other information pretty much bleep, bleep, bleep about the eerie and the weird and the surreal taking place.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_33800\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33800\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-33800\" src=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-darkhair-2-300x162.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"162\" srcset=\"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-darkhair-2-300x162.jpg 300w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-darkhair-2-560x302.jpg 560w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-darkhair-2-260x140.jpg 260w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-darkhair-2-160x86.jpg 160w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-darkhair-2-768x415.jpg 768w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-darkhair-2.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-33800\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jenna Kanell (Campbell).<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_33795\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-33795\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-33795\" src=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-blone-Buildout_06-300x125.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"125\" srcset=\"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-blone-Buildout_06-300x125.jpg 300w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-blone-Buildout_06-560x234.jpg 560w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-blone-Buildout_06-260x108.jpg 260w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-blone-Buildout_06-160x67.jpg 160w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-blone-Buildout_06-768x320.jpg 768w, http:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pub-blone-Buildout_06.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-33795\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hannah Alline (Dylan)<\/p><\/div>\n<hr align=\"center\" noshade=\"noshade\" size=\"1\" width=\"60%\" \/>\n<p><strong>Director-Writer:<\/strong> Zeshaan Younus<br \/>\n<strong>Cinematographer:<\/strong> Justin Moore<br \/>\n<strong>Editor:<\/strong> Matt Latham<br \/>\n<strong>Music:<\/strong> Jack Bartman<br \/>\n<strong>Cast:<\/strong> Jenna Kanell (Campbell), Hannah Alline (Dylan), Natasha Halevi (Cleric Kanner), Danielle Evon Ploeger (Dakota), Michael Sung Ho (Cleric Barrow), Ariel Barber (Barrow\u2019s Vision)<\/p>\n<p>Runtime: 70<\/p>\n<p><strong>Producers:<\/strong> Nicholas Thurkettle, Zeshaan Younus, Trevor Dillon, Sailor Larocque Ethos Releasing.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr align=\"center\" noshade=\"noshade\" size=\"1\" width=\"60%\" \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>THE BUILDOUT has the aesthetics of a 360-degree panoramic selfie, giving the audience multitudinous angles, perspectives and views that can be interesting when not fascinating, fascinating primarily because of the superb cinematography. But too much of the film feels weighed down by way too much abstract, enigmatic and metaphorical.<\/p>\n<p>The mind, body and soul will wander in the course of a film if too much ennui sweeps, seeps or creeps in. Cutting to the chase, THE BUILDOUT needs to be about 30 minutes shorter than its current running time. Editing out extraneous scenes of the motorcyclists blitzing across the canvas of a desolate desert, for example, as well as extraneous closeups of characters could turn this film into a humdinger of a slam dunk.<\/p>\n<p><span data-huuid=\"1107079977117974204\">Ethos Releasing is a newly established film distribution company that recently announced its first slate of genre movies for 2025, including sci-fi drama, found footage, mystery thrillers, and horror films. P<\/span><span data-huuid=\"1107079977117970723\">roducer Noah Lang is its founder.<span class=\"pjBG2e\" data-cid=\"faed2e9e-ccbc-4739-9fcf-34881e1d8de4\"><span class=\"UV3uM\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"NPrrbc\" data-cid=\"faed2e9e-ccbc-4739-9fcf-34881e1d8de4\" data-uuids=\"1107079977117974204,1107079977117970723\">\n<div class=\"BMebGe btku5b fCrZyc LwdV0e FR7ZSc OJeuxf\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"View related links\" data-hveid=\"CAYQAQ\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwjn1be7rdyLAxXDL1kFHQC7BJIQ3fYKegQIBhAB\">\n<div class=\"niO4u\">\n<div class=\"kHtcsd\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_7155\" style=\"width: 160px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7155\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7155\" src=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/gwm-700x700-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"100\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-7155\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Editor, Reviewer Gregg W. Morris<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THE BUILDOUT has been selected by the Panic Fest, Popcorn Frights and Chattanooga film fests. It hit VOD streaming platforms via Ethos Releasing on Tuesday, February 25. &nbsp;<br \/>It was filmed in Southern California\u2019s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is steeped in mystery and inexplicable phenomena in an area known as the Borrego Triangle. Real life paranormal researchers coined this description leading to intriguing interests for visitors. \u2013 Review by Gregg W. Morris<em><strong>the WORD.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/the-buildout-2025-film-review-by-greggwmorris-theword\/\">Read more &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":33795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2269,31,29],"tags":[2278,2277,2279,54],"class_list":["post-33528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2269","category-film-tv-reviews","category-film-tv","tag-desert","tag-scifi-ish","tag-spooky","tag-surreal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33528"}],"version-history":[{"count":126,"href":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33822,"href":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33528\/revisions\/33822"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}