Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!

Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Dirtylogy It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

janks46 Film Review: Reeseville (2003)Production Companies: Pied Piper Productions, Doomed Productions Ltd. Director: Christian Otjen Screenplay: Christian Otjen Cinematography: Jerry Holway Music: Kevin Saunders Hayes Producers: Dan Kattman and Holly Mosher Main Cast: Brad Hunt, Mark Hamill, Majandra Delfino, Brian Wimmer, Sally Struthers and Missy Crider. DVD Release: Doomed Productions Ltd. Rating: R for violence, sexuality and language Run Time: 99 minutes Director Christian Otjen (Lady in the Box, Frightened to Death) is back with another mystery set in Wisconsin. Reeseville is an engaging character study about small-town secrets. Part mystery, part drama, it holds the viewer with its engaging characters and some stellar performances.Otjen's polished film is set in the small Wisconsin town of Reeseville, which is located about half-way between Milwaukee and Madison. However, it could be set in any small, Midwestern town, which is part of its appeal. Without giving away too much, the basic plot involves the apparent suicide of an old man on the very day his estranged son shows up back in town after nearly twenty years' absence. The town's Sheriff (Brian Wimmer) suspects the son (in a fine, understated performance by Brad Hunt) of foul play after the town's quirky coroner, played by Mark Hamill, informs him it might not have been a suicide.The strength of Reeseville lies in several wonderful performances, most notably Mark Hamill and Miss Crider. Mark Hamill plays the coroner Zeke in a quiet, understated performance which really highlights what a wonderful character actor he has become. The beautiful Missy Crider steals every scene she's in. She plays the best friend of the Sheriff's sister. Ms. Crider is radiant and the camera obviously loves her. My largest complaint about the film is that she was not featured more prominently.As he did with Lady in the Box, Otjen has made a wonderful looking film here. Reeseville is expertly shot by DP Jerry Holway. The film captures the small-town feel of Midwestern life expertly. Christian Otjen is obviously talented as a filmmaker, and I await his next film excitedly. The film's flaws are not many. Reeseville works more as a character study than a thriller, although there are some suspenseful moments. The film could have actually used another twenty minutes or so, in order to flesh out the characters and provide more of Ms. Crider and Mr. Hamill.As of right now, the film is only available on DVD in the United States through the film's website. The DVD itself is very well presented. Crisp picture and sound. Thirty minutes of deleted scenes provide a glimpse of an even better film. The DVD also includes a few theatrical trailers as well as a behind-the-scenes photo album. Perhaps in the near future, a large distribution company will pick up this smart, taut character-driven mystery.

Vallygirl34 Being a fan of both Majandra Delfino and Mark Hamill I got this movie last year when it came out on DVD in Europe. When I watched it last year I felt that it wasn't a bad movie but I did think it could be better.When I saw the official site had the DVD with deleted scenes for Region 1, I figured what the heck I would get the new version. I was right, this movie could have been better.The theatrical version was cut to be a thriller but the deleted scene had more of a character study feel to them. They also tied together scenes that didn't really make sense in the theatrical version. Like how Iris got David's mother necklace that Jason grabs from around Iris's neck before the big showdown when David hasn't given it to her yet.In the deleted scenes we see Athee actually gave Iris the necklace for David after Iris and him had a fight and that the scene where he tells her about the necklace actually took place after they had gone out on a date bowling and David walked her home.Iris and David relationship also seem too rushed in the theatrical version. There are a couple of nice scenes with them that were cut which would have made their relationship more plausible and it's too bad because when I first watched it I didn't think Majandra and Brad had a much chemistry but when you see the deleted scenes when they were allow to relax a little you could see that they did have chemistry. Especially the scene that was cut where Iris goes to see David while stoned.Mark Hamill was great in this movie and it was so nice to see him in this. He really has turned into a wonderful character actor. Also Missy Crider as Athee steals every scene she is in. Her and Majandra had such a great chemistry together.The 'mystery' isn't that hard to figure out and is pretty paint by numbers. Also why Iris continues to live with her brother Jason after he beats her old boyfriend to death is never explained, which is one of the plot holes this movie suffers and the movie does suffer from a few plot holes but nothing that should keep you from checking the film out. So if you are looking for a mystery with a big surprised ending, you probable won't be too impressed by Reeseville but if you want a nice little mystery to watch on a rainy day then give it a shot, especially if you can get your hands on the DVD with the deleted scenes. Also if you are a Mark Hamill fan this is a must see!!

Alfredo at the projector The most interesting aspects of this film is the pacing and small town feel to it. The passage of time can be tedious but to me that is what the film maker was trying to pass along to the viewer. Similar to a frog in a pot of water. When the temperature is turned up slowly will characters and audience pay heed? There are some flaws to the film. It makes a real point to this being a small town as the locale but aside for a few major characters you don't really get a feel for that town and how the characters fit and are perceived in this town. Mark Hamill works brillantly in this piece in a role I never would have thought him for. Also well cast were Majandra Delfino. Many of the elements of this story were well telegraphed to the audience when I think the writer should have give the audience a little credit. A capable work but it left me wanting.

Tiffany_Vogt_2000 "Reeseville" is at times excrutiatingly slow, but on the whole a suspenseful microscopic mystery-suspense kind of story. Despite the slow beginning and pacing, by the end I was on the edge of my seat shivering at the creepy and climatic ending. Hence I found the film to be clever and very twisty. It rates highly in my "must see" book!