LATE PHASES

Ambrose (Nick Damici) is a brusque, tight-faced veteran who was blinded in the line of duty. Subsequently jilted by his wife and more recently forsaken by his son, this bitter old bigot - think Clint Eastwood in GRAN TORINO - been moved into a supposedly quiet retirement community. He soon becomes acquainted with oddball neighbours O'Brien (Larry Fessenden) and Clarissa (Tina Louise), along with local clergyman Roger (Tom Noonan).

What is it that has this community, situated close to the neck of the woods, on edge? Could it be the fact that its residents are being killed by what people insist must be wild dogs?

Ambrose is typically hard-nosed about this matter until he's attacked in his own residence one evening. Though unable to see his assailant, he comes to the conclusion that they are anything but mere dogs...

Such a brief précis? Yep. LATE PHASES doesn't really need any more than that. It's a smart film that relies on a simple premise and builds upon itself through a succession of quirky characters (the Welcoming Committee, anyone?), the curious watchability of a truly stoic lead, and - more than anything - a final showdown that seems thrilling in its inevitability.

Beautifully shot, expertly edited and bravely played out in a manner that bucks genre expectations - a slow start refuses to bow to pressure and give us an early jolt; most action occurs in the daylight; an unusual emphasis on character over spectacle works in the film's favour - LATE PHASES impresses deeply as one of the most refreshing, engaging new genre flicks to have surfaced in some time.

A faint whiff of SILVER BULLET admittedly surfaces when you see the synopsis in writing. But to see LATE PHASES is to overcome that suggestion immediately.

Eric Stolze's screenplay is intelligent, witty and keen to steer clear of tired clichés. It also hinges rather strongly on a suitable central performance. Fortunately, the casting of Damici was a masterstroke. Despite, as we learn in the extras, him being younger than the character he's playing, his physicality and presence dominate every scene he's in. He's likeable, strong and vulnerable - a believable lead, and we never once doubt the fact that he's blind - though nor does he portray such a condition as unnecessarily disabling. Solid support comes from the likes of Noonan, Fessenden and Louise.

Paced incrementally, my advice is to stick with it and let the film take a hold of you almost insidiously as it unfurls. Be patient, it's worth the journey. The FX work is impressive despite an apparent low budget, with practical methods having been employed to create the werewolves (praise the Lord). Even the score is highly effective from the start.

Director Adrian Garcia Bogliano continues to film with an eye for human truth - as evidenced in earlier works of his such as HERE COMES THE DEVIL and I'LL NEVER DIE ALONE.

LATE PHASES relies on warm orange and yellow hues for a great deal of its running time. These are conveyed expertly through this DVD's great transfer. Presenting the film in its original 2.35:1 ratio and enhancing the picture for 16x9 televisions, the presentation here is vivid, filmic, detailed and crisp. Blacks are strong and noise is non-existent: there are no complaints here.

English audio is available in both 2.0 and 5.1 mixes. Either is a reliable proposition. The latter in particular boasted impressive channel separation, evenly balanced levels and clear dialogue throughout.

An animated main menu page gives way to a static scene selection menu from which you can access the film via 12 chapter stops.

The meatiest extra on offer (don't faint - a Metrodome DVD with bonus features!) is undoubtedly the director's feature-length commentary track. In it he tells us - in English - about alternate scenes that were shot but deemed not to work, the risks taken by bucking against convention, praises his intriguing cast, draws unexpected comparisons to everything from KRAMER VERSUS KRAMER to LAST MAN STANDING, and much more. He's even gracious enough to confess that his favourite scene in the entire film was shot not by him but by his brother. It's an excellent, detailed and highly engaging listen.

A 14-minute Making Of featurette offers some great behind-the-scenes footage and interesting EPK-style chats into the camera from cast and crew members. Everyone seems justifiably proud of their achievements.

29 minutes of video diary footage from the film's FX artists proffers good, detailed accounts of how the werewolves were created.

The disc is also defaulted to open with trailers for THE BATTERY and ODD THOMAS.

LATE PHASES is arguably the best lycanthrope film since GINGER SNAPS. While that in itself may not be saying a great deal, it's worth emphasising that this is a highly entertaining, involving film. It looks great, benefits from an easily relatable performance at its centre, and finds a neat balance between its storyline and its more overtly horror moments.

Metrodome's disc serves the film well. Recommended.

Review by Stuart Willis