Dual: The Lone Drifter, a 2008 release by Cinema Epoch directed by Steven R. Monroe and written by and starring Michael Worth, tells the story of Luke Twain (Worth), a drifter in the 1800's Old West who finds himself in a town where all the locals have been gunned down. Surveying the damage, he decides to stick around and attempt to figure out what transpired. After spending a few lonely days burying the dead and exploring the town, he finds a survivor named Ember. She's a local girl but not much help in figuring out what has befallen this small town. The remaining character is a weathered cowboy type whoappears now and again, always at a distance from the town and initially appearing to be investigating as well. Only when the paths of these three characters collide do we have any understanding of what happened here. This film is best summarized as an attempt at creating a psychological thriller in a Western atmosphere. As an independent film with a modest budget, it is defined by several pros and cons. The set design is quite good, and the script has some foreshadowing that I was not expecting. However, I found myself distracted by the intense use of color filters in the first half of the film. After seeing the film in its entirety, I understand what the intent was, but it is overpowering initially. The acting is better than average, with the characters believable and sympathetic in their own ways. The production does a good job conveying the loneliness of an abandoned Western town. If I were forced to break out my red pen, I'd give the setting and acting a B, and the story would net a C. While this film did keep my interest the first time around, I doubt I'll give it a second spin in the future. |
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