Back from the 2011 Rock and Shock, Waterborn interviews the Cast of the independent film Serena and the Ratts.
As many of you know, I recently had the opportunity to attend and cover the Annual Rock and Shock Horror and Music Festival for 2old2play, which took place in Worcester, MA not far outside of Boston. One of the pleasant surprises encountered during this event was meeting the cast & crew of Serena and the Ratts and getting the opportunity to check out this independent film that was shot and produced by Horrorible Films entirely in New England. Written and directed by Kevin James Barry and starring Evalena Marie, Johathan Thomson, Jermey Bates and a very memorable "retro" cameo by Joe White, Serena and the RATTS has been coined a "Cerebral Action Thriller" by Barry and Marie. The plot of the film deals with the repercussions of the decisions that we make as individuals, and how those results affect the entire balance of existence. The movie itself pays homage to Barry's noir and grindhouse influences while setting a tone all its own. Barry's direction and shot design bring a gritty, almost myopic feel to the screen, setting up an environment that really allows this cast of newcomers to shine. Thomson is an enigma of fatherly protectiveness and harsh brutality in his role as "Boss", the leader of a rag-tag band of young assassins. Think George Clooney meets Michael Madsen in his role as Vic Vega, aka "Mr. Blonde" in Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. Keeping this crew of twenty-something killers on line and focused is like herding cats that have had razor blades attached to their tails. The film is brimming with action and some pretty interesting plot twists. However, the real strength of Barry's script and direction is his willingness to step away from the chaos and allow the viewer to get a rather intimate and sometimes humorous glimpse into the personal intricacies that bind this band of misfits together. It is in these moments that Marie truly shines. Her vulnerability, often masked by her tough-girl-on-the-streets exterior in much of the film, comes through in such a way that forces the audience to become completely enamored with Serena. At first glance, Marie's portrayal of Serena brings up that of Natalie Portman in "The Professional". However, it quickly becomes evident that Marie is not attempting to channel anyone's performance from the past, but setting out to create a strong female character all her own. In this she succeeds without question. Keeping in mind that this film was produced by an independent studio on a shoestring budget, I strongly recommend that EVERYONE check out this movie, currently available for purchase on DVD at www.serenathemovie.com . This is the first of many films to come from this talented group. They are destined for greatness, so climb aboard early in the journey and enjoy the ride.
Check out my interviews with Barry, Marie and several of the cast and crew of Serena and the RATTS via the clips below. I want to send out a HUGE Thank You to JPNor, my intrepid cameraman and video technician. Jeremy has been working incessantly to bring this and all of our Rock and Shock content to you (Stay tuned for my interviews with Joey Fatone, Jonathan Silverman, William Forsythe, Kane Hodder and Robert Englund - COMING SOON). I think you will agree that he not only did an amazing job with the production of these interviews, but somehow made me look good in the process. Thank you sir.
NOTE: During the interview Evalena Marie mentions a URL for Horrorible Films' new movie "Among Them". The correct web site is Here.
As always, I have goodies for you, my faithful followers. Leave a comment about my review, the movie or anything in general via this blog for your chance to win a copy of the Rock and Shock Limited Edition of Serena and the RATTS, signed by the cast and crew. I will randomly select the winner from those who comment. Thanks for watching and stay tuned, you haven't seen anything yet (Freddy Vs Jason People! They're coming!)
