{"id":23261,"date":"2022-08-26T00:35:47","date_gmt":"2022-08-26T04:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/?p=23261"},"modified":"2022-09-07T13:13:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T17:13:32","slug":"2022-low-life-film-review-by-gregg-w-morris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/2022-low-life-film-review-by-gregg-w-morris\/","title":{"rendered":"A F*ckin&#8217; A, 5-Star Beast of a Movie \u2013 Audiences Should Prepare to Be Blown Out of Their F*ckin&#8217; Seats"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0gEpsWotN34\" width=\"1000\" height=\"560\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The IMDb publicity-marketing blurb for LOW LIFE that says, &#8220;<strong><em>Benny Jenson, a small time YouTube star who catches predators online, experiences a night from hell when he lets one of them into his own home<\/em><\/strong>,&#8221; is immeasurably tepid and definitely misleading for this 5-star, 105 minute monster by Director-Writer Tyler Michael James, who wouldn&#8217;t be faulted by this film reviewer if he has plans for a new sub-genre action adventure bearing his name \u2013 just sign me up TMJ.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hint:<\/strong> Infectious parody and irreverence are wantonly infused in the story telling of Director-Writer TMJ&#8217;s startling pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance. Parodied by a rapier wit throughout the film are cherished Americana, easily recognized by film connoisseurs. <strong>One More Hint:<\/strong>\u00a0Keep in mind the &#8216;predator&#8217; whom Benny J purportedly let into his home. Is he really a predator?<\/p>\n<p>The plot thickens and twists and turns beyond belief throughout the 105 minute running time.<\/p>\n<p><strong>LOW LIFE is on North American VOD this date, August 26, from XYZ Films<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr align=\"center\" noshade=\"noshade\" size=\"3\" width=\"50%\" \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23287\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/theman01.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23287\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-23287\" src=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/theman01-300x229.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/theman01-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/theman01-1024x781.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/theman01-768x586.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/theman01-560x427.jpg 560w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/theman01-260x198.jpg 260w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/theman01-160x122.jpg 160w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/theman01.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-23287\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Benny Jensen played by Wes Dunlap.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The first 15 to 20 minutes of LOW LIFE is immaculately AWESOME, a 5-star cinematic, reinvigorating razzle dazzle for the entertainment industry as well as mitigating the doldrums of film audiences unable to see good movies because of the consequences caused by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/media\/releases\/2022\/p0811-covid-guidance.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#Coronavirus <\/a>\u00a0and worried how the anticipated threats of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/poxvirus\/monkeypox\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#Monkeypox<\/a> might turn out to be.<\/p>\n<p>LOW LIFE generates a visceral cinematic vibe akin to the visceral whoosh freedom fighters experience from a f*ckin anti-Putin HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) obliterating a column of #fckinRussian tanks and weaponry \u2013 if not Vladimir Putin himself. True, this film is not about the Ukraine-Russian war but a cinematic war of sorts being wage against pedophiles by a small time You Tube-ing vigilante, Benny Jensen, played by Wes Dunlap.<\/p>\n<p>Benny J has branded himself the You Tub-ing cock of the walk for ridding the community where he lives of pedophiles \u2013 even though he can&#8217;t partner with the local police authorities because they regard Benny J as a wonk who needs to be under surveillance. Wes Dunlap&#8217;s hyperbolic portrayal of the narcissistic megalomaniac Benny Jensen is a hoot!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Benny06.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-23283\" src=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Benny06-1024x559.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"656\" height=\"358\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Benny06-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Benny06-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Benny06-768x419.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Benny06-560x306.jpg 560w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Benny06-260x142.jpg 260w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Benny06-160x87.jpg 160w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Benny06.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 656px) 100vw, 656px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr align=\"center\" noshade=\"noshade\" size=\"2\" width=\"50%\" \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>5-Star, 3-Star, 5-Star \u2013 What the F?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The following all blend together, smoothly, for an unexpectedly creative cinematic gestalt:<br \/>\n1\u2013 Funky dialogue, sometimes over the top, flushed with everyday garden-fresh profanities;<br \/>\n2 \u2013 Bare bones flick-enhancing film score;<br \/>\n3 \u2013 Stellar minimalistic cinematography;<br \/>\n4 \u2013 A plot with what seems never ending zany derangement and OMG! plot twists;<br \/>\n5 \u2013 Superb acting by a number of veteran character actors, actresses;<br \/>\n6 \u2013 Other story and film elements yet to be deciphered.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twobitches02.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-23288\" src=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twobitches02-1024x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"656\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twobitches02-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twobitches02-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twobitches02-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twobitches02-560x295.jpg 560w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twobitches02-260x137.jpg 260w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twobitches02-160x84.jpg 160w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/twobitches02.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 656px) 100vw, 656px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>This has to be stated, consider it a Major Disclaimer:<\/strong> 1, in the hands of another director-writer, LOW LIFE would be rated XXX to the Nth Degree for all the F***s and F***U-s sluicing liberally throughout the 105 running time; and, 2, I can&#8217;t at the moment imagine any other filmmaker with the derring-do to make a film that is figuratively demanding its own sub-genre category. I dared not, as much as I wanted, to what might turn out to be spoilers about Director-Writer Tyler Michael James and his filmmaking cohorts demonic use of bleak black humor that seems to be pulsing beneath the surface throughout the film.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, after the first mesmerizing 15-20 minutes, this reviewer was thrown off track by what looked like a plot diversion that lacked a lot of the oomph of the earlier scenes. I give this sequence period 3 stars. It features an extended poker game of 30 to-40 minutes involving Benny J, two friends and a local high school teacher whom Benny has targeted as a wimpy pedophile (who, unknowing to Benny, happens to be the dad of a 16-year-old girl who is in an apprentice-mentoring-relationship with Benny as her sensi for learning how to take out pedophiles.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, there&#8217;s this serial killer who tangled with Benny J in the opening of the film and he&#8217;s out for bloody revenge.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/coward03.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-23284\" src=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/coward03-1024x454.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"656\" height=\"291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/coward03-1024x454.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/coward03-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/coward03-768x340.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/coward03-560x248.jpg 560w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/coward03-260x115.jpg 260w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/coward03-160x71.jpg 160w, https:\/\/hunterword.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/coward03.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 656px) 100vw, 656px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The last \u00a040 minutes \u2013 less frenetic than the first 15 but stellar none the less \u2013 is 5-star bloody incendiary. How the filmmakers pulled this 5-Star, 3-Star, 5-Star accomplishment off is to convoluted to explain in this review. Audiences, however, should just be on the ready!<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Directed by Tyler Michael James<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>Produced by Jake Dvorsky, Annie Milligan, Noah Rotter<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>Written by Hunter Milano, Noah Rotter<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>Starring Lucas Neff, Wes Dunlap, Lucy Urbano, Jake Dvorsky, Hunter Milano, Anthony Sorrells, Luna Montana, Devin Sidell, Annie Milligan, Marguerite Moreau, Nancy Nazari, John Dellaporta<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>Music by Zach Michel<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>Cinematography : Ian Hussey<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>Edited by Zoe Bower<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>Distributed by XYZ Films<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>Release date : August 25, 2022 (United States)<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><em>Running time : 105 minutes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Gregg W. Morris can be reached at gregghc@comcast.net, profgreggwmorris@gmail.com<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LOW LIFE generates a visceral cinematic vibe akin to the visceral whoosh Ukraine freedom fighters reportedly get from a f*ckin anti-Putin HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) obliterating a column of #fckinRussian tanks and weaponry \u2013 if not Vladimir Putin himself. True, this movie is not about the Ukraine-Russian war but a war of sorts being wage against pedophiles by a small time YouTube-ing vigilante, Benny Jensen, played by Wes Dunlap. \u2013 By Gregg W. Morris<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/2022-low-life-film-review-by-gregg-w-morris\/\">Read more &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[2031,2037,2039,2033,2043,2030,2042,2034,2036,2038,2040,2041,2032,2029,2035,2045,2044],"class_list":["post-23261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-film-tv-reviews","tag-annie-milligan","tag-anthony-sorrells","tag-devin-sidell","tag-hunter-milano","tag-ian-hussey","tag-jake-dvorsky","tag-john-dellaporta-zach-michel","tag-lucas-neff","tag-lucy-urbano","tag-luna-montana","tag-marguerite-moreau","tag-nancy-nazari","tag-noah-rotter","tag-tyler-michael-james","tag-wes-dunlap","tag-xyz-films","tag-zoe-bower"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23261"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23346,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23261\/revisions\/23346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}