Infinite

Infinite

Anyone will know that with the introduction of digital video that it seems that just about every keen wannabe filmmaker out there is producing their own short film production. With that in mind it also means that there is a massive amount of drivel swamping the market, but every now and again some real gems come our way and with the atmospheric short 'Infinite' we get one of those rare gems.

Many low budget indie filmmakers resort to sticking with what they have around them, frightened to go that extra mile with pushing the boundaries of the cinematic image, with 'Infinite' we get a film that delights in bombarding us with an array of sumptuous visual eye candy that wouldn't look out of place in a high end big budget production. The film opens with a confused and bewildered Gabriel Winther who awakes to find himself in a strange netherworld, filled with long corridors leading nowhere and surrounded by hundreds of doors going where no one knows. Gabriel knows something isn't right here and as time goes on he becomes only too aware that something here is horribly wrong. Where is Gabriel and why is he there? Has he been transported into some horrifying nightmare world and how exactly has he moved into this unknown beyond?

'Infinite' is a real surprise treat in the world of low budget filmmaking as it delivers in spades in every corner. It's been a long time since I've seen a indie short that is so atmospheric, filled with delirious visuals (including a mouthwatering shot 'sea of madness' that wouldn't look out of place in Fulci's 'Beyond') that add endlessly to the sinister ambience along with a subdued gothic soundtrack that wraps it all off nicely. The real bonus of this one though is the sly poke at the genre viewer who (like I did) will no doubt be completely misled by the clever scripting that caught me completely off guard. As the film progresses you are trying to one-step ahead the reasons for Gabriel's situation smugly believing that you know exactly what's going on (has he died and this is some sort of Twilight Zone stop off zone en route to hell or something?) but in the films closing moments the producers throw a curve ball that is so off kilter from the main premise that you'd be hard pushed to have seen it coming. That said, you'll laugh out loud in appreciation of the cleverness of the scripting taking the film from it's intense brooding atmosphere to something so everyday and normal.

Filmmakers Bastian Zach and Matthias Bauer should stand proud of what they have delivered with 'Infinite', it is a delightful little production and with this DVD they have wrapped the whole thing up delightfully with which should without doubt be their perfect calling card to the financiers of the film industry. The main short feature (running 18 minutes) is presented in its pristine widescreen format with optional english subtitles and the disc comes with a bustling selection of extra features to bolster the discs content including two trailers, a collection of production stills, storyboards, visual effects breakdown, outtakes and a behind the scenes video also - all making for a fascinating insight into low budget indie filmmaking (and hence perhaps ideal viewing for any wannabe filmmaker to get a taste of things 'should' be done).

I'm surprised I haven't came across 'Infinite' on the film festival circuit as this would look stunning up on the big screen (where it rightfully belongs) but meantime you really can't go wrong with checking this out on this very respectable DVD release. Switch off the lights, light up those 'special' cigarettes and submerge yourself in the mind blowing world of 'Infinite' - check it out!

For more info on 'Infinite' and filmmakers Zach and Bauer visit the films production website by clicking here.

Review by Alan Simpson


 
Released by Open Door Productions
Region 2 PAL
Not Rated
Extras :
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