Surprisingly, I have read nothing but good reviews on DEAR GOD NO! While they tend to be enthusiastic about the 1970 style, gore, nudity and surrealism, the reviewers are missing what makes this film work. It has a deep understanding of classic film elements and how they all work together to make a cohesive and satisfying viewing experience. The underlying theme of this film at first appears ambiguous but on closer inspection some serious ideas lie deep under the surface. DEAR GOD NO! involves a generational struggle sparked by nurture vs. nature issues. It's reflected in almost every line of dialog. The characters and their motivations are based on the adverse effects of childhood nurturing. Bigfoot seems to represent the only element of nature. It's very well thought out and reflected in almost every frame. Someone should write a thesis on this film.
It's a huge leap to take for low budget horror and exploitation to incorporate these ideas into what would normally be a gross out sex filled party film. Dear God No! does an excellent job at keeping the right balance. This is precisely why it works and helps rise it above most genre film being made today. The motivations here may have been to encourage repeat viewings or maybe writer / director James Bickert is exploring his own personal demons. Either way, he unknowingly created the first Grindhouse art film and maybe even the first fun art film.
Once you are aware of the underlying themes, it's astonishing how much more offensive and unsettling it becomes. DEAR GOD NO! constantly rips on every element of film. Even what might appear to the average person as strange edits are riffs on French New Wave cinema. I've seen it twice and really need to see it many more times. There is so much to pull out of it and absorb. It's unique and well worth seeking out.
It's a huge leap to take for low budget horror and exploitation to incorporate these ideas into what would normally be a gross out sex filled party film. Dear God No! does an excellent job at keeping the right balance. This is precisely why it works and helps rise it above most genre film being made today. The motivations here may have been to encourage repeat viewings or maybe writer / director James Bickert is exploring his own personal demons. Either way, he unknowingly created the first Grindhouse art film and maybe even the first fun art film.
Once you are aware of the underlying themes, it's astonishing how much more offensive and unsettling it becomes. DEAR GOD NO! constantly rips on every element of film. Even what might appear to the average person as strange edits are riffs on French New Wave cinema. I've seen it twice and really need to see it many more times. There is so much to pull out of it and absorb. It's unique and well worth seeking out.