The Butcher and the Fox -- a film by AJ Brooks

It started very good....and it continuous very good :p

The travelling to the boy is very nice, it gives it that little extra.

Maybe indeed a good idea was not to show the face of the storyteller and then at the end of his story suddenly show it (from dark in to light or so).

So all the scenes before the guy suddenly wake up out of a dream....is a dream ?

Nice sound design and music.

The story itself is also nice. Although it gives me a "I do have some questions, where were you between 3pm and 5pm" feeling.
 
This is a really strong film AJ, the first 2:45 are amazing. Justin's score culminating with the story as it reaches it's peak is perfect symmetry! Definitely the best score this fest. And some of the best acting too, the dad and his son and the mother were all creeeeepy. Great cinematography; you really like the single shots i noticed, and don't do many wides or over the shoulder shots... so i guess you figured out your style. It really works.

The best part was the flashbacks: the costumes, the muted color correction, the axe in the air and the hanging feet. It was effective and spooky.

The only thing I didn't fully get, was the babysitter stripper living room scene where the dad looked like he was on drugs. He woke up from a dream,
so i will consider it all a dream. it just threw me for a loop.

But then when it gets back to the son in the tub and the mom tells him another story, it gets back to what I was loving.

You are consistently a good filmmaker, and this, to me, is your best film yet!
 
SPOILER REVIEW:

The good: The look of this whole piece was amazing. Beautiful work. Camera movements, lighting, acting, sound design, et al. That kid is AMAZING! Kids are so hard to deal with. He NAILED it. The color treatment on the flashbacks was great stuff, too. I like the story that tied it all together, as well. Very well done, sir.

The not as good: I can't say that I fully understand some of it. It looked like the dad was on X with a stripper, then she's cut open? Oh, it was just a dream ... but the door is bleeding now?

Favorite part: When the hanged man opens his eyes.

PS ... this is my 3000th post. Glad you could have it!
 
from T-virus: "(the baby sitter) was just the embodiment of the threat to the baby and mama fox"

AJ, is this true?
 
Good opening lighting and acting. He's telling that story to a kid at bedtime? His storytelling is really good.
His wife is going to kill him. Love the pan in on the kid at the liver part. Okay - with that sitter - you have my vote for best film.
You know how to swing votes. :) The guy sort of looks drugged, not sexy. You show the door that many times, the knob better turn!
Nope - it bleeds - cool. Well after all this we know why he's divorced. I didn't get the angle on stair shot. Isn't the lady the sitter?
Is that his wife? I liked the twist, but it needed alluded to better and who she is fleshed out. Good cine/light, acting.
 
AHHHH!!!!! I was loving it and then it ended and I realized I didn't understand how the whole bad dad and the killer mom story mixed and what the hell happened. But damn if it wasn't sharp looking, great sounding, and excellently performed! Great job, definitely one of the tops.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top