Bullethead (1999) User Reviews

Not a Summer Blockbuster, but an enjoyable movie

[Chanwood · 7/10 · 2 September 2010]

Most of the other reviews tell as much as they can about the overall plot, so I'll skip that. I will say that I didn't see any of the movie as "pointless"; even the sex scenes were used to set up the main character and give you a sense of his lifestyle and "morals." The narrative voice-over clarifies, but isn't excessive. The ending...well, a friend of mine put it best: "During the last two minutes, you're thinking, 'Ooooo-kay?' And during the last 30 seconds you just sort of blink and stare." I think most of the actors carried their roles well, and were pretty convincing with what they were trying to convey, especially considering the entire cast is made of virtual unknowns. Worth viewing, even if it doesn't wind up being one of your favorites.

the wackiest movie you'll ever see

[KHayes666 · 5/10 · 2 March 2005]

I'm speechless on this one. One one hand we have the most violent B Movie I've ever seen with countless gun-shots, murders and sex scenes...and on the other hand we have probably the worst lighting in the post-60's era. Did someone forget to tell the producers that if you can't see anything, what's the point of watching? This movie can be so god awful and yet so great at the same time. I must admit I liked the transformation Dekko made from the laid back robber type to the mass murderer type after he got shot. The things that I didn't understand was what the hell was the point of the ending...I won't spoil this too much, but wow.

5 of 10

pretty good for a sunday afternoon

[nomysogeny · 7/10 · 1 December 2002]

I saw this movie in another country as "7 days." It's pretty good and Colin Gray O'Hara is totally hot! (?Spoiler?): the violence in one scene (culminating in the bathroom): we see it all second hand on video (mostly hear it), was pretty extreme by my standards. Reminded me of Al Pacino in Scarface or Paul Bettany in Gangster No. 1. All in all, though, a good two hours on Sunday afternoon. I hope we see more of Cherie Davis in the future too.

I assume they saw the same movie as I did...

[jesusschwartz · 1/10 · 31 December 2007]

...yet I'm amazed that other people enjoyed it at all; the friend who watched it with me seemed to enjoy it too, but I know his tastes.

Even for a low-budget affair, this is bad: the violence was not necessary, the story was not cohesive, the random "truely tasteless" jokes thrown into the dialog were old in the '80s (I recall at least two word-for-word), the one-dimensional characters (dad with a cane, brothers who follow dad's orders without question, cursing street preacher), and the longest set-up for a plot ever: not until an hour into the movie does the incident happen where the movie title gets it name! I was hoping to see a cheap splatter flick about an undead murder victim exacting revenge, as the box had alluded to, but instead I myself became an undead victim by the end of the tape. They were trying to achieve some level of "Pulp Fiction", but only amounted to a plump infection...

Excessive Violence Erases Its Own Remedy.

[rsoonsa · 4/10 · 5 July 2005]

Director Mark Burson is highly creative and in this debut feature there are many moments that reveal the energy of an auteur, but Burson's fondness for shock cinema eventually causes the film to collapse into near chaos. The work begins with a voice-over by immigrant Joe Dekko (Colin Gray O'Hara), his text indicating inner turmoil, while he and two crime partners prepare for a robbery of two drug dealers. Dekko craves a more responsible life but any chance of achieving it is slim as it is soon apparent that Joe consistently makes poor decisions. These generally involve his criminal peers although his donation of his share of the drug rip-off loot to a friend as an investment in the latter's computer business only backfires when the treacherous fellow blackmails Joe. Revenge then becomes the film's cardinal motif as Joe, along with his cohorts and his enemies, all go on the attack during scenes of wildly escalating violence. The eponymous Dekko, with a bullet reposing in his skull, and with a proclivity for extreme self-abuse, ostensibly has also an iron constitution, as he struts along his path of vengeance with unalloyed intensity. Prominent upon Burson's cinematic agenda is development of scenes for their sensationalist value, including repugnant violence, heroin use and stylized sexual activity; unfortunately, few of these advance the storyline and none has narrative worth. However, he uses his players very capably, deriving strong performances from many of the cast, the charismatic Glaswegian O'Hara impressive with his turn, and with his versatility, as well, contributing the music performed during the closing credits. Multifaceted, too, is Burson, as for this low-budget affair, shot in Ohio and released in 2000, he produces, directs, and edits, with more naked force than most directors within any genre; it is a pity that his penchant for frenzied grotesquerie is not a minor imperfection; Mark Burson - - thy name is excess.

my thoughts on the movie

[traceyburgett2000 · 8/10 · 17 February 2005]

I have seen this movie and I found it pretty decent.

My father is the forklift driver in the movie. It was filmed in Columbus Ohio and right where my father works. It may not be big budget but it does have a decent plot and storyline. It is full of betrayal and shows you can not trust anyone. At first I only wanted to see the movie because of my father but I enjoyed the film. If you like movies that are crime dramas basically then you will like Bullethead.The dialogue was great in the movie and I found it very refreshing seeing a movie that did not have to rely on a bunch of special effects to captivate the audience. It was a clean true film that reminded me of films from the 1940's and such that drew you into the story and held you there.

Great Movie

[misfit469138 · 10/10 · 23 November 2007]

Low budget film-making at it's best. Seriously, this movie is everything an indie film should be. Dark and gritty with plenty of nudity, violence, and drug use. No big name actors, either. Fans of Killing Zoe should definitely check this out.

Even though Joe Dekko is obviously a real lowlife, you can't help but like him. Colin Gray O'Hara (whom I have never seen in anything else) gives an outstanding performance. Perhaps we will see more of him in the future.

This film has been out for quite a while. I keep hoping that someday it will be released on DVD, but I'm not holding my breath. They don't make movies like this anymore.