This is a special one to review. it only has 3 actors in it and is played in one set. Not that that is a problem but by doing so you really have to have a good story. It's the director's first attempt to make a flick and by doing so he even made it longer than a normal flick. It clocks in at 105 minutes. I found this one at a convention just after seeing the other flick with the same story, The Disappearance Of Alice Greed. Alice had his plot changes that made it a great flick. Here we doesn't have that, no surprises but we go deeper into the characters than Alice did. By doing that you really have to take a lot of talking. It's only in the last reel that things go wrong and the flick becomes bloody and messy. It wasn't that bad but if Andrew Moorman could made it a bit shorter it would have been really great. Still it's one to see if you are in the mood for a lot of talking. If you watch it you want to know what's going to happen next. I admit, i had sympathy
19 Reviews
Not Perfect, But Shows Potential
gavin694213 April 2011
A failed bank robbery leads to a hostage situation in a hotel. An escaped convict also arrives at the hotel, commencing a series of three-way mind games.
The movie starts off pretty strong, right in the middle of the hostage situation. There is no bank robbery shown, and the entire film consists of one room and three people. This is a minimalist approach to filming and a good way to stretch a budget. "The Disappearance of Alice Creed", a similar yet different story, relied on this tactic to keep the film simple and easier to storyboard. Here we have a poor man's "Alice Creed", simple enough that it could even be a stage production.
The directing and cinematography are above average (thank you, Andrew Moorman) and the sound is also quite good. If there is any weak point, it may be the casting. I do not mean to imply that the acting was bad. Everyone here played their parts well. My only concern was that the captor did not have a menacing look and I doubted his ability to pull off such a caper. This inconsistency is somewhat resolved later on in the plot development, but not to my full satisfaction.
The second actor, playing the convict, is more convincing for me. He has a natural darkness to him, a sort of stereotypical Sicilian look. He does play the more violent and threatening of the two, so that was a wise choice (having the little guy boss around the big guy would look silly if it was anyone other than Joe Pesci doing it).
In short, the film did not do it for me. I sort of regret saying so, because I feel this was more a budget issue than anything else. There is plenty of talent behind this picture and I really hope to see Andrew Moorman's work in the future. He has the skills, he has the eye of a masterful director. But something just did not ignite on this one.
The movie starts off pretty strong, right in the middle of the hostage situation. There is no bank robbery shown, and the entire film consists of one room and three people. This is a minimalist approach to filming and a good way to stretch a budget. "The Disappearance of Alice Creed", a similar yet different story, relied on this tactic to keep the film simple and easier to storyboard. Here we have a poor man's "Alice Creed", simple enough that it could even be a stage production.
The directing and cinematography are above average (thank you, Andrew Moorman) and the sound is also quite good. If there is any weak point, it may be the casting. I do not mean to imply that the acting was bad. Everyone here played their parts well. My only concern was that the captor did not have a menacing look and I doubted his ability to pull off such a caper. This inconsistency is somewhat resolved later on in the plot development, but not to my full satisfaction.
The second actor, playing the convict, is more convincing for me. He has a natural darkness to him, a sort of stereotypical Sicilian look. He does play the more violent and threatening of the two, so that was a wise choice (having the little guy boss around the big guy would look silly if it was anyone other than Joe Pesci doing it).
In short, the film did not do it for me. I sort of regret saying so, because I feel this was more a budget issue than anything else. There is plenty of talent behind this picture and I really hope to see Andrew Moorman's work in the future. He has the skills, he has the eye of a masterful director. But something just did not ignite on this one.
Mediocre At Best
shark-4322 August 2010
I can't believe the gushing reviews for this film - it has to be relatives or friends of the filmmaker and/or cast and if so - I get it. I understand how you want to support an effort by friends and there is some talent behind the film but NOT Hitchcock for crissakes. Get a hold of yourself. Now if it is true that a bunch of locals made this in a barn structure in Indiana - that is impressive to pull this all together and get it made. But the script and the two male leads reek of bad college experimental theatre - lots of screaming and then threatening whispers - guns and knives being pointed - just lame Tarantino posing. The girl - who is handcuffed to a bed most of the picture gives a solid performance - she's believable - you look in her eyes and see wheels turning but the two male actors just seem like amateurs - not believable at all - you can yell all you want but I don't believe for a second that you are dangerous. And look - the film got released on DVD - that's big - that will get it seen by a lot of people but people who have nothing to do with the production - just film fans who paid money to rent it or buy it and they are entitled to say what they think - and I think it is a good effort but overall - it drags and sputters and doesn't really work overall.
Decorating a Motel's Walls with Blood and Guts.
vitaleralphlouis16 September 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I'm writing this because I got sucked into seeing this mess by the absurd reviews (written by the filmmaker's mother perhaps) praising this stinker of a grade Z movie.
The entire 105 minutes takes place with 3 persons in one room of a cheap motel, and will involve more blood and guts than any Clint Eastwood western. None of the three have any redeeming qualities, none of the three are attractive to look at, even without the blood.
The movie reeks of stupidity. Shots are fired and there's lots of screaming, but this attracts no attention. The #2 guy wants to order food, but can't because the phone doesn't work. It doesn't work because the girls legs are tied with the phone cord. She's handcuffed to the bedpost, but guy #2 can't figure out he can untie her legs, reconnect the cord, order, and eat.
Even in 2010, a year when stupid movies abound -- particularly the amply stupid "Inception" -- this 2007 mess stands out.
The entire 105 minutes takes place with 3 persons in one room of a cheap motel, and will involve more blood and guts than any Clint Eastwood western. None of the three have any redeeming qualities, none of the three are attractive to look at, even without the blood.
The movie reeks of stupidity. Shots are fired and there's lots of screaming, but this attracts no attention. The #2 guy wants to order food, but can't because the phone doesn't work. It doesn't work because the girls legs are tied with the phone cord. She's handcuffed to the bedpost, but guy #2 can't figure out he can untie her legs, reconnect the cord, order, and eat.
Even in 2010, a year when stupid movies abound -- particularly the amply stupid "Inception" -- this 2007 mess stands out.
What?
takato052413 February 2021
Who was this movie for? Who was the target audience? Who thought this was a good idea to produce? These are the questions you'll be continuing to ask yourself as you watch this travesty.
I think I laughed majority of the movie from the acting alone. The lines were awful, the characters unbelievable, and the setting an eye sore. If the second guy just escaped from prison, why was he handcuffed? Why was no one else at this motel? If the first guy was just robbing a bank, why did he have everything needed for a hostage? The girl was the most entertaining and clever. But this is a solid 1 star film.
I think I laughed majority of the movie from the acting alone. The lines were awful, the characters unbelievable, and the setting an eye sore. If the second guy just escaped from prison, why was he handcuffed? Why was no one else at this motel? If the first guy was just robbing a bank, why did he have everything needed for a hostage? The girl was the most entertaining and clever. But this is a solid 1 star film.
Good for insecure women and that's about it.
markneil-354488 October 2022
It's a jumbled mess of bad ideas and bad actors.
"female empowerment is how one fruitcake Variety reviewer called it.
I, as an Italian American male, have NEVER need to call myself empowered, I have not needed to see someone who is an Italian American male like me be a hero or antihero in a movie to get my "empowerment"
I know what I am. And that's good enough.
I feel bad for all the groups that need "empowerment" through movies.
Cause no matter what you say....it ain't real life.
In real life, the people who don't know or don't need the word "empowered" are the real ones with power.
Ciao.
"female empowerment is how one fruitcake Variety reviewer called it.
I, as an Italian American male, have NEVER need to call myself empowered, I have not needed to see someone who is an Italian American male like me be a hero or antihero in a movie to get my "empowerment"
I know what I am. And that's good enough.
I feel bad for all the groups that need "empowerment" through movies.
Cause no matter what you say....it ain't real life.
In real life, the people who don't know or don't need the word "empowered" are the real ones with power.
Ciao.
Pleasant surprise
movieman_kev27 March 2013
Two people, a criminal and his hostage hole up in a dingy hotel room during a dark stormy night, only to be joined by an enigmatic third who takes them both hostage in this tense little independent film.
I was a bit cold to this movie when it first started due to some overacting in the beginning but after I warmed up to it and got used to the stage play mentality of the piece, I found it to be quite interesting. The movie slowly burns to a fairly taunt third act that makes the film all the more worthwhile. Well-acted all around and while not the best low-budget movie I've seen, it is remarkable well-done especially given its limitations.
I was a bit cold to this movie when it first started due to some overacting in the beginning but after I warmed up to it and got used to the stage play mentality of the piece, I found it to be quite interesting. The movie slowly burns to a fairly taunt third act that makes the film all the more worthwhile. Well-acted all around and while not the best low-budget movie I've seen, it is remarkable well-done especially given its limitations.
An astounding first effort from a young filmmaker with a future
g-suarez-112 May 2007
I just finished watching a screener DVD of Sympathy and I was left floored. I grew up a couple of houses down from director Andrew Moorman, so I was anxious to see what a kid from my hometown could do if he were given a chance to break away from a small berg in Ohio.
Wow. Just... wow. This is a chilling and often disturbing character study that could have easily been nothing more than a bad student film. But thanks to Moorman's eye for excellent photography and ability to direct his actors, Arik Martin's riveting script and the cast's brutal, naked honesty in their portrayals, this film stands among the best first efforts from any director. If you liked Reservoir Dogs, you'll love Sympathy.
Sympathy is Hitchcock's Rope for the 21st century. The entire movie is shot in one hotel room and has only three actors. The story grows deliciously claustrophobic as the trio continues to chew and gnaw at each other's psyches, culminating into some "Holy sh*t!" moments later in the film. Again, the story is sharp, witty and holds the audience's attention. But what impressed me the most was Moorman's use of a seemingly endless amount of shots that kept the claustrophobic setting alive. Where Hitchcock used protracted, contemplative photography in Rope, Moorman edited his film so that it was a rusty shiv constantly swiping at the audience until the end when it severs the Jugular.
The only complaint that I can register for Sympathy is a matter of logic that comes up late in the film. I cannot go into more detail without spoiling the ending. However, the rest of the film is so solid that I am willing to overlook it.
Watch out for Andrew Moorman because if Sympathy is any indication, he is ready to take on Hollywood. Do yourself a favor and go out of your way to see this film. Because when Moorman is making successful, critically acclaimed films in the coming years, you can brag to your friends that you were a fan of Moorman's before he was famous.
Wow. Just... wow. This is a chilling and often disturbing character study that could have easily been nothing more than a bad student film. But thanks to Moorman's eye for excellent photography and ability to direct his actors, Arik Martin's riveting script and the cast's brutal, naked honesty in their portrayals, this film stands among the best first efforts from any director. If you liked Reservoir Dogs, you'll love Sympathy.
Sympathy is Hitchcock's Rope for the 21st century. The entire movie is shot in one hotel room and has only three actors. The story grows deliciously claustrophobic as the trio continues to chew and gnaw at each other's psyches, culminating into some "Holy sh*t!" moments later in the film. Again, the story is sharp, witty and holds the audience's attention. But what impressed me the most was Moorman's use of a seemingly endless amount of shots that kept the claustrophobic setting alive. Where Hitchcock used protracted, contemplative photography in Rope, Moorman edited his film so that it was a rusty shiv constantly swiping at the audience until the end when it severs the Jugular.
The only complaint that I can register for Sympathy is a matter of logic that comes up late in the film. I cannot go into more detail without spoiling the ending. However, the rest of the film is so solid that I am willing to overlook it.
Watch out for Andrew Moorman because if Sympathy is any indication, he is ready to take on Hollywood. Do yourself a favor and go out of your way to see this film. Because when Moorman is making successful, critically acclaimed films in the coming years, you can brag to your friends that you were a fan of Moorman's before he was famous.
Intense low budget greatness
gregsrants10 September 2010
Note to all you first time filmmakers that embark on the journey of making a low budget horror or thriller film – 'Keep it Simple'.
If only more directors without much funding would take this to heed we would get more films like Long Pigs and Sympathy and less like The Landlord and Dead Noon.
This was not lost on director Andrew Moorman who took a smart thriller by writer Arik Martin and turned it into a very competent and highly entertaining film called Sympathy.
The beauty of the film is in its simplicity. The story has but three characters and all takes place in a motel room. That is where a suggested bank robber named Tripp (Steven Pritchard) brings his hostage Sara (Marina Shtelen) and handcuffs her to the bed. While trying to formulate an escape plan, Tripp's getaway is interrupted by Dennis (Aaron Boucher), an escaped convict who coincidentally end up in the same room with multiple agendas.
In a film style that clearly pays homage to Alfred Hitchcock and Brain DePalma, the three characters will spend an evening revealing depths of their personalities while setting in motion an intense cat-and-mouse game convoluted with bulging egos and personal motivations.
To further obstruct a clean getaway, characters will be shot, stabbed and emotionally tormented as the story unfolds revealing characters that are not whom they appear to be. The final chapters will include a blood soaked ending that will remind you of an early Tarantino work and a satisfying end to an evening's odyssey.
Kudos to director Andrew Moorman for not trying to squeeze more out of the intelligent script than what was pressed onto the straight to DVD release. His directing was able to hide from this seasoned reviewer a reveal that I didn't see coming (granted it wasn't M. Night-ish, but it still generated a 'wow' response).
When producing a movie with one setting and limited characters, it is important to have strong acting to accompany the script pages or all is lost. Pritchard, Shtelen and Boucher put on believable performances even if the acting is at times uneven. Shtelen in particular starts off weak, but by the end of the film, she plays the role of Sara with a seasoned confidence.
Revealing any specifics would be an injustice to anyone who follows this review with a screening, but as low budget, independent films go, this one ranks in the top tier.
www.killerreviews.com
If only more directors without much funding would take this to heed we would get more films like Long Pigs and Sympathy and less like The Landlord and Dead Noon.
This was not lost on director Andrew Moorman who took a smart thriller by writer Arik Martin and turned it into a very competent and highly entertaining film called Sympathy.
The beauty of the film is in its simplicity. The story has but three characters and all takes place in a motel room. That is where a suggested bank robber named Tripp (Steven Pritchard) brings his hostage Sara (Marina Shtelen) and handcuffs her to the bed. While trying to formulate an escape plan, Tripp's getaway is interrupted by Dennis (Aaron Boucher), an escaped convict who coincidentally end up in the same room with multiple agendas.
In a film style that clearly pays homage to Alfred Hitchcock and Brain DePalma, the three characters will spend an evening revealing depths of their personalities while setting in motion an intense cat-and-mouse game convoluted with bulging egos and personal motivations.
To further obstruct a clean getaway, characters will be shot, stabbed and emotionally tormented as the story unfolds revealing characters that are not whom they appear to be. The final chapters will include a blood soaked ending that will remind you of an early Tarantino work and a satisfying end to an evening's odyssey.
Kudos to director Andrew Moorman for not trying to squeeze more out of the intelligent script than what was pressed onto the straight to DVD release. His directing was able to hide from this seasoned reviewer a reveal that I didn't see coming (granted it wasn't M. Night-ish, but it still generated a 'wow' response).
When producing a movie with one setting and limited characters, it is important to have strong acting to accompany the script pages or all is lost. Pritchard, Shtelen and Boucher put on believable performances even if the acting is at times uneven. Shtelen in particular starts off weak, but by the end of the film, she plays the role of Sara with a seasoned confidence.
Revealing any specifics would be an injustice to anyone who follows this review with a screening, but as low budget, independent films go, this one ranks in the top tier.
www.killerreviews.com
Everyone Should See This Film!
horrortrucker3 May 2007
People need to see this film! Sympathy's unlike any film I've ever seen. It's horrific, but it's not a horror film. It's filled with twists & turns, but it's not just a thriller. It feels like a Hitchcock movie, but it's not dated. It just feels alive. It pulls you in and never lets you leave, literally. The film all takes place inside a dingy motel room, one of the few I've ever seen in movies that actually looks and feels like a real dingy motel room, the kind we've all stayed in. I don't know where they shot it, I saw the outside for a split second at the beginning of the film but never again. The sense of claustrophobia I felt for the hour and a half is unbelievable. By the end I was glued to my seat for what I think is the best final act I've ever seen in an independent film -- but I couldn't wait to leave. I saw a matinée of the film in the middle of the afternoon, but when it ended I had no clue what time it was. I stumbled out of the theater I had to rub my eyes and b-line for the door, where a smoggy LA day never felt so refreshing. It was truly an experience. Unexpected for a movie I'd never heard of by a filmmaker & actors I've never heard of. But fear not, they all turn in a really stunning performance in my eye. The acting is as solid as I've seen in a long time, some really grounded character work. The director thank god never fell into that music video style almost every horror film has now that I hate. Instead there were some things I'd never seen before. The whole thing is just honest. I looked up the film's website and it finally makes sense. It's a group of kids that shot the movie in some barn in Indiana and worked on it for three years. That passion spills onto the screen. I highly recommend anyone who loves horror films, independent films, or just great films see this one. I think it's only playing in this theater in LA (Wilshire Fine Art, had never been but cool old school theater). It's been a long time since something like this hit the screen, I hope Hollywood either let's them expand this to a wider audience or make another one, but the same way they made this one. An incredible film!
A Very Special Night At The Movies!
buckeye_fan_5254 July 2007
I recently attended a very special night at the movies. In Yellow Springs, Ohio the director of this film returned to his hometown to present it to one of the more enthusiastic crowds I've ever been a part of at a movie theater. Some were there to support the filmmaker, others had heard about it through the local press the film and its director had received, and it seemed some just stumbled off the street, caught by the image of this girl on the poster. Regardless of how we all got there, much like the characters in SYMPATHY, I don't think any of us had any clue what we were getting ourselves into! This film is... Wow! I don't know how else to describe it. Taking place all in one room the premise sounded a little arduous to sit through, but the movie never leaves you bored in any capacity. In fact, I still have claw marks on my arm where my wife gripped me most of the night. While I don't consider myself a critic or anything more than your typical and occasional movie goer, I do think this film was masterfully directed by its young director. After the film he spoke with such insight, enthusiasm, and charm it seems no mystery that it would end up like this, but based on what he said it wasn't an easy battle to get there by any means. That being said, I applaud all the artists behind this film for whatever they went through was worth every minute. They've created a film that I'll never forget. The cast was especially incredible for what the director described as 'first-timers.' The bankrobber added the needed levity to the film, the girl was unbelievable as images of her covered in blood will not soon leave me, but the standout performance for me was the escaped convict, Dennis. I hope to never run into this guy in a dark alley as his psychotic nature and portrayal of a true psychopath was the most convincing I've seen since Hannibal lector. Also to mention his finale, which I won't give away, was so riveting I think it deserves whatever awards they give out for such an act. My wife said she couldn't take her eyes off the screen, but she had to look away, that seems like a good combination for this genre. All and all I sincerely hope this film makes it to theaters across the country so they can experience what we did that night - a night at the movies we weren't expecting, and we'll never forget. The director had mentioned in one news article that he used to attend this theater because they played the types of alternative films that transported him to a different time and place and made him realize what a movie was capable of doing. Kudos Mr. Moorman, you've now done that thing you once admired to us. Amazing work everyone, can't wait for the next one!
Smart indie film
emorgret14 May 2008
I discovered this movie while building the schedule for my new film festival. Now called Maelstrom Festival of Horror and the Fantastic.
It was so well received at the screening that I am bringing it back for Crypticon Seattle. It will play at 11:00pm Friday night the 23rd of May.
This is a film worth checking out. If you spend any time looking at small indie films you will appreciate "Sympathy". Powerful and compelling find it and watch it.
People stuck in a room after a heist. What are they doing in the hotel room and who is really calling the shots?
It was so well received at the screening that I am bringing it back for Crypticon Seattle. It will play at 11:00pm Friday night the 23rd of May.
This is a film worth checking out. If you spend any time looking at small indie films you will appreciate "Sympathy". Powerful and compelling find it and watch it.
People stuck in a room after a heist. What are they doing in the hotel room and who is really calling the shots?
Sympathy is also a good example of how a low budget doesn't necessarily mean a bad movie.
eddax15 January 2010
This was a really low-budget indie, with just 3 actors and one set - a motel room. But Sympathy is also a good example of how a low budget doesn't necessarily mean a bad movie.
I was quite surprised to like this movie, since it started off kinda shrieky annoying. It's about a guy who takes a girl hostage while on the lam from some bank robbery job, and who in turn gets also taken hostage when an escaped convict happens upon the both of them. Or so it began, before secrets unraveled and it turned out that nothing was as it seemed.
So the movie's kind of a psychological thriller, and the actors, though unknown, are all pretty good. I like how the characters were developed, and I thought them and the story pretty plausible too. And the ending's a doozy.
I was quite surprised to like this movie, since it started off kinda shrieky annoying. It's about a guy who takes a girl hostage while on the lam from some bank robbery job, and who in turn gets also taken hostage when an escaped convict happens upon the both of them. Or so it began, before secrets unraveled and it turned out that nothing was as it seemed.
So the movie's kind of a psychological thriller, and the actors, though unknown, are all pretty good. I like how the characters were developed, and I thought them and the story pretty plausible too. And the ending's a doozy.
Outstanding film from new director
pat-23113 May 2007
Andrew Moorman is a new name to motion picture directing, but it's a name you should remember. Andrew has created a film that Alfred Hitchcock himself would admire, a study in people over their heads in a situation way beyond their control, a situation that their inexperience in crime and life only worsens.
Moorman used a single motel room (and, a few times, its bathroom), but it's not anything you'd recognize in, say, the Courtyard by Marriott. This was one of those old, 1930s, row units that remain on U.S. routes, far away from interstate highways. This location gave the movie a threatening, uncomfortable feel that Moorman exploited to its fullest. Hitchcock's 'Psycho' obviously came to mind. Since 'Psycho', there's been nothing like a cheap motel to set everyone's nerves on edge.
Moorman's direction and editing were very impressive for a first-timer. His use of reaction shots and odd camera angles added significant tension to a story already loaded with shot nerves. He drew the best out of his three principals, especially the alluring Marina Shtelen, who truly knows how to use her face and eyes to get across significant emotion, although Shtelen used her dialog convincingly. She, too, is a name to watch.
The movie's sound was something special, particularly the storm brewing behind the viewer in the rear channels. You want to turn around to acknowledge the storm, but you're afraid that when you turn back around someone will have a knife pointing at your nose! This is a must-see movie that will be featured this coming July in Indianapolis. Drive, fly, walk if you must to see this film there, but just be careful if you stay in a cheap motel!
Moorman used a single motel room (and, a few times, its bathroom), but it's not anything you'd recognize in, say, the Courtyard by Marriott. This was one of those old, 1930s, row units that remain on U.S. routes, far away from interstate highways. This location gave the movie a threatening, uncomfortable feel that Moorman exploited to its fullest. Hitchcock's 'Psycho' obviously came to mind. Since 'Psycho', there's been nothing like a cheap motel to set everyone's nerves on edge.
Moorman's direction and editing were very impressive for a first-timer. His use of reaction shots and odd camera angles added significant tension to a story already loaded with shot nerves. He drew the best out of his three principals, especially the alluring Marina Shtelen, who truly knows how to use her face and eyes to get across significant emotion, although Shtelen used her dialog convincingly. She, too, is a name to watch.
The movie's sound was something special, particularly the storm brewing behind the viewer in the rear channels. You want to turn around to acknowledge the storm, but you're afraid that when you turn back around someone will have a knife pointing at your nose! This is a must-see movie that will be featured this coming July in Indianapolis. Drive, fly, walk if you must to see this film there, but just be careful if you stay in a cheap motel!
Sympathy! This beautiful masterpiece needs to see the silver screen!
rokphotoz28 August 2007
At the Horror Hound Weekend convention this past July I was hearing chatter about a movie called Sympathy. Being a photographer myself, the first thing that attracted me to the movie was the poster. Excellent artwork! Just the poster itself has drama! Being that said, I had to see what all the chatter was about. Since I work for Horror Hound, I was very busy during the con shooting pics for the magazine. I became so busy that my editor ran up to me and asked if I was going to catch the ending of Sympathy. UGH! HOW COULD I FORGET ABOUT IT! So I went in the screening room and caught the last 15 minutes of the film. The last 15 minutes was AWESOME to say the least! I was hoping when I do get the chance to watch the full feature that the last 15 minutes wasn't the best the film had to offer. I was hoping the film would live up to the chatter and the poster art I loved...lol! A big thanks to director Andrew Moorman for not only sending me a copy of Sympathy but taking the time to have the cast & crew sign it for me. After watching the last 15 minutes of the film I had to have the cast & crew sign it. I had a strong feeling this was a masterpiece. I invited 5 of my friends over to watch the film with me. After the film was over everyone including me were speechless! This was an independent film? Could've fooled me! Sympathy had the sound, video, actors and editing of a blockbuster hit! I went and seen 'Vacancy' which I thought was a pretty good film and did take place in a hotel & outside the hotel room. Now 'Vacancy' made it to the big screen and Sympathy hasn't?! Come on you big time film companies, you fools are bypassing a truly great film! These actors, director, producers and all that worked on the film has a huge film career in their future as soon as the right people give Sympathy a look at. Everyone involved in this film will be walking the red carpet. This film deserves the silver screen! So for anyone out there that has a chance to see this movie, DO IT!. Anyone that has a chance to meet the cast & crew of Sympathy, better get their sigs! They're definitely just around the corner from being viewed on the silver screen worldwide! I can't wait to see what Andrew has up his sleeve for the future. Marina Shtelen, Steven Pritchard & Aaron Boucher, don't take anything less for your next film than what Sympathy is. You three are excellent actors in my eyes and deserve nothing less. My very BEST wishes to all of you and can't wait to see you on the big screen!!! Al Horror Hound
Great Storytelling
lajr9 July 2007
Wow, I saw Sympathy in Indy at the Horror Hound weekend. It's one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Arik Martin's sterling screenplay is a powerful example of how writing is always the bedrock for any movies success. I consider myself somewhat of an expert at guessing the plot lines and figuring out the endings long before the movie is half over. Not this time though, Arik Martin's skill at storytelling was always two steps ahead and kept me at the edge of my seat. Just as I thought I had Sympathy figured it made a sharp turn and then made another and another until I was just left agog. For the first time in a long time I gave up thinking about the direction and the destination and just let this magnificent movie overwhelm my sense's. The three actors were fantastic and so believable that I felt I was in the room with them. The director did a great job with the actors and the action. They all get high fives for interpreting the screenplay and giving us such a fantastic movie. A big congrats to all.
The greatest thriller of this decade!
danielromanrojas15 July 2007
First of all I just want to say that this movie is phenomenal. This is one probably the greatest suspense film I have ever seen in my 19 years of life. The direction of the film is amazing and the plot has no holes in it. The acting is wonderful and believable. Made for only $6,500, this movie is genius. The director clearly allows you to get to know the characters throughout the film and actually feel for them as well. The movie doesn't drag at all what-so-ever. It's suspenseful all the way to it's climatic ending, which is one of the greatest endings I have ever seen in a movie. This should definitely get picked up by a Hollywood studio. Instead of releasing crappy movies like "Captivity," they should release this film.
Oh me Oh MY..... AWESOME!?
feev3 August 2023
I can't believe I missed this film. This is quite a ride from start to finish!! This director and writer need to make many more movies... Hard to believe it's been over 15 years since this film came out. What happened to this director? And all 3 actors are simply AWESOME.... They don't appear to have done a whole lot (at least according to IMDb) since this film..... And that's too bad.
It's very difficult to make a film in just one room. You need great dialogue and superb acting to keep the audience interested. All of those things happen in this film. Tarantino films have amazing dialogue. I would put this dialogue right up there with any of his. I sure hope this director and writer for that matter, get more opportunities.... I'm super disappointed that they don't appear to have teamed up for any more films of significance and neither have any of these three actors as far as I can tell I'm going to do some more research though.
So anyway sit back, grab the popcorn and enjoy this very cool ride!!
It's very difficult to make a film in just one room. You need great dialogue and superb acting to keep the audience interested. All of those things happen in this film. Tarantino films have amazing dialogue. I would put this dialogue right up there with any of his. I sure hope this director and writer for that matter, get more opportunities.... I'm super disappointed that they don't appear to have teamed up for any more films of significance and neither have any of these three actors as far as I can tell I'm going to do some more research though.
So anyway sit back, grab the popcorn and enjoy this very cool ride!!
A Long Time To Spend In One Room...
azathothpwiggins14 December 2021
SYMPATHY has its good and bad points. The best thing about it is the ending, which is a cool, twisty resolution. It's also very satisfying. The final 15 minutes are -almost- worth the wait.
The problem lies in what's involved in getting there!
At 105 minutes, it all seems to drag on endlessly. This is mostly due to its taking place entirely in one tiny motel room. At first, this adds to the tension and feel of claustrophobia. However, this wears off as it becomes static with the characters going back and forth over the same conversations.
If about 20 minutes had been excised from this movie, it would have been far less tedious. As it stands, much of the suspense is dissipated by the overall bloat...
The problem lies in what's involved in getting there!
At 105 minutes, it all seems to drag on endlessly. This is mostly due to its taking place entirely in one tiny motel room. At first, this adds to the tension and feel of claustrophobia. However, this wears off as it becomes static with the characters going back and forth over the same conversations.
If about 20 minutes had been excised from this movie, it would have been far less tedious. As it stands, much of the suspense is dissipated by the overall bloat...
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