The Vern: A One Hit Wonder Story (2010) User Reviews

This is a really fun movie with great characters!

[tmcreynolds · 9/10 · 2 July 2010]

This is a really fun movie with great characters! It has lots of quirky humor with some drama thrown in, which makes this movie a good pick for those who like a little bit of both. I enjoyed the off-beat lovable Vern character and wondered where he would take us next on his journey. If you like "The Big Lebowski" you'll love this film. This film was shot for on a Micro-Budget but it doesn't look like it. It looks much better than a lot of films I've seen from major video rental stores. The cinematography was outstanding and the editing was top notch. It has won several film festivals including The Indie Gathering and Underground Exposure, best Narrative screenplay at South Slam in Austin Tx and was nominated for best Dramedy at The Bare Bones international film festival in Muskogee OK. All in all you will be pleased to lucky to find this Independent gem.

a small time hood gets stuck between murderers in a Texas town

[richardrbili_99 · 8/10 · 3 July 2010]

This is the kind of film Robert Mitchum would have made back in the day. He would have been perfect as Vern. But then Karl Anderson was pitch perfect as the title character. In fact, the whole cast did an amazing job on this zero budget project. There are tent pole summer movies that can't boast a fraction of the talent these players have.

First time film maker Joe McReynolds does wonders with very little money. Someone give him some real cash for the next project please! Interesting mise en scene, some great cinematography, great bits of dialogue all come together to make this a way above average thriller. Well worth the viewer's time.

I like the way Raymond Chandler put it on the cover blurb for Paul Cain's Fast One, "Some kind of high point in the ultra hardboiled manner."

An Amazing First Attempt

[blane2012 · 8/10 · 10 August 2010]

First of all I'm reviewing this from a realistic perspective. By this I mean that you have to compare this movie to other micro-budget movies, such as Clerks, Primer, and El Mariachi; which on a scale of 1 to 10 I personally vote 5, 8, and 6, respectively. So yes, that's right, I think this is better than Kevin Smith or Robert Rodriguez's micro-budget first features.

The beauty of this gem is in the synergistic affect of how well the pieces work together. All the main elements such as the writing, cinematography, acting, music, and editing were all surprisingly well above any bar that should be set for a film of this limited budget. I can't wait to see what this Sweet Baby Jane team and this Joe McReynolds guy can do in the future with a budget.

The movie is a fun road trip with a purpose. Too bad on this road trip your family hunts you down, your memories and regrets drive you to drink, and your new acquaintances along the way suck you into their screwed up murderous entanglements. It seems like a drag or an unwinnable situation, but not for the affable and often times laughable Vern, to him, "It's debatable." It's the bottom on the ninth and the bases as well as The Vern are loaded so get your peanuts and Cracker Jacks or as I prefer another La Vern screwdriver and enjoy the action.

I LOVED IT! - So much happened I didn't expect!

[JanetMayson · 1 July 2010]

I absolutely LOVED "The Vern" and it's collection of crazy characters, with its wacked storyline that kept totally surprising me or making me laugh myself silly at times! You can't help but want to cheer the lead character "The Vern" on during this film, and the supporting characters and scenes were brilliantly played throughout. I found this film very entertaining, I enjoyed the clever writing all the way through, there's a great music soundtrack, and I thank the outstanding cast and all the brilliant work of everyone behind the scenes for totally drawing me into this story. I've already watched it twice, and I can't wait to enjoy it all over again! Congrats to the entire cast and crew!

A film that packs a lot of punch!

[studioguild-1 · 10/10 · 1 July 2010]

An excellent film shot on a very small budget, but one which gives the audience the feel of a multi million dollar effort. Story line, editing and talent that should make this a must see film. I have watched many films labeled INDIE and have come away shaking my head in disbelief at their lack of effort and talent. Quite the opposite, The Vern not only gives me hope that talented Indie film makers exist, but that maybe we'll begin to see efforts that wrestle away market share from the big buck film makers who present lack luster projects and expect us to like them. It's hard to believe that this is this film maker's first attempt at a full length film. What's next, a film that we might be voting on at the next Oscars? I think that's a good bet.

Very entertaining!

[patfanbatch · 10/10 · 26 October 2018]

Great stuff to watch. A dash of the Coen brothers mixed with a bit of Tarantino. The acting is exceptional. The overall look and feel is very appealing. The music is outstanding and compliments the film perfectly. The surprise plot twists keep you guessing right up to the end. Definitely give this movie a look!

Fantastic first full feature!

[andrewnourse · 10/10 · 5 August 2010]

This film is very impressive in numerous ways! A clever script keeps the viewer entertained and excited for more throughout the production. The high level of excellence for a first feature is outstanding! The cinematography, acting, scene sequence, lighting, momentum, climax, and overall job is super high quality for such a small budget. I rarely see films like this in which I wonder how they pulled it off. This is the type of film that you would not guess to be Independent with a limited budget, actors, equipment, etc. There's no doubt I want to see more from this crew! It's evident that everything was very well thought out and beautifully executed.

Great job Vern!