WOW! This has got to be one one of the best independent efforts I have ever seen. A film like this is the reason why I will never be easy on independent filmmakers, mainly because the budget for this movie was only fifteen thousand dollars, but looked like it was made for close to a million. Not to say that this film does not have it flaws, but director, producer, writer and editor Gregg Bishop did one hell of a great job putting this film together on such a small budget.
The Other Side show a lot of references to the like of Star Wars, Phantasm, and Dark City. I say this because it has characters that are similar to the likes of these films but story wise the idea is original. The film is about a guy named Sam North who’s on his way to his hometown early to see his girlfriend whom he’s been away from for a while. However before he gets to see her, he is mysteriously murdered and wakes up in a place only known as “The Pit”. In the confusion of the pit he is lifted up by strangers whom seemly have found a way out of the pit, but are being pursued by an unseen force. Next thing that happens is Sam wakes up in a hospital room, and the doctors working on him believe they have saved his life. However Sam was not supposed to wake up, and either were the other corpses in the Hospital morgue. But at a funeral home across town the things that were chasing them in the pit have also awaken in the bodies of the deceased, however what these bodies are possessed with in a lot more than just the souls of humans being, these bodies are possessed by full blown demons (Reapers), bent on bringing back the damned to the pit. Sam meets up with two of the other sols who escaped the void, a tall strong black guy named OZ and his skinny little sidekick named Mally. Both have experience of coming back from the dead, and both vow to help Sam not only get rid of the reapers from the pit from killing them, but they both help Sam find out what happened to his girlfriend Hanna, who has mysteriously gone missing. In a Star Wars like adventure full of horror, gun fights and plenty of fun to go around the trio take us on one hell of a ride.
The script for this film is just great. I am for the most part awestruck as I actually don’t have one bad thing to say about the script. Besides the fact that the story was fresh and original, the script offered us some great characters, each of which had different types of personalities that the audience could identify with. The overall structure and use of dialogue also really helped bring this script to life. I have to to give Gregg Bishop a lot of credit for writing such a great, original script that I felt was for the most part perfect.
While I’m on the subject of the man behind this film, Gregg Bishop; I have to mention how awesome, (not good, but awesome) of a director this guy is. I have never come across someone that can put a film together like this one on such a small budget. For lack of a better term here’s guy that really made the money count and used it wisely. Everything from the performances he got out his actors to his use of shots and cuts all worked out great in bringing this film to life.
The acting in this film is also surprisingly not half bad. Usually when your making a film with such a small budget you really can’t use union actors. However Bishop must have searched the whole state of Georgia to find the right talent for this flick, and boy did he ever. Probably the most recognized face in the film is that of Jamie Alexander (Rest Stop). The Other Side is a film she did before she gained fame with her film and notably television fame, and while her role was a small one, her great ability to act even showed then. Actor Nathan Mobley was perfect in the part of Sam North, and pulled off the part very well, however I can’t give him all the credit as his friends and partners in the flick Poncho Hodges as OZ and Cory Rouse as Mally were also great in their roles and help round out the great cast in this film. I also must give credit to the many actors whom played the reapers in this film whom all did a fine job, as well as the rest of the supporting cast that help make the acting in this film come full circle.
The production value in this film is fair. I’m not going to say it was great mainly because the locations were basic. Also there are some problems with a few of the shots, that could probably be fixed in a post house. those problems are mainly shots that where the color does not match that great, but nonetheless it’s something that down the road can be fixed. The movie was shot on film, which to me was a big surprise considering the budget, but still I’m very impressed. The make-up and visual effects were also very good. I was actually surprised to see how great the majority of the make-up effects were in this film. I also want to touch base on a scene that looks as if it took place in a cave. This of course is the scene that involves the pit, but the way it was lit, shot and decorated really gave you the sense that you were right there in hell with the characters.
Overall, The Other Side has got to be the sleeper hit of the year in my opinion and is by far one of the best produced independent films I have ever seen. It had a great original script with one hell of a wacky story, good acting, great directing and so much more. If every independent film were done with as much love and effort as this one, them my life would be made a hell of a lot easier. My hats off to the man who did everything to get this film made and that’s none other than Gregg Bishop. Look out for this guy, he’s got what it takes to be a big shot Producer/Director in Hollywood.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
