"AM 1200" Review - Written by Anthony Thurber

AM1200
Year: 2008
Director: David Prior
Studio: DreamLogic Pictures
Stars: Eric Lange, John Billingsley, Ray Wise
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 40 Mins
Official Website: http://www.am1200.com/




There are few short films that can leave a very good and very shocking impression with me. This film definitely left, an impression on me, back last month at the Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival, where I volunteered there. It was one of the few films that I managed to see while volunteering there, but I couldn’t give it the proper time to review it, as I was busy with the gig. This film is well deserved of winning, Best Short Film award, at the festival. To me, this film reminds me of the original “The Twilight Zone” and “The Outer Limits”, as this can easily be an episode, of either of these shows. But now, I’m able to give this film a proper review and give you a great reason, why you should check out this film, for yourself.

“AM 1200” is a short film about an investment analyst (Eric Lange), who hatches up a financial scheme. The scheme goes horribly wrong, which forces him to hit the road, so he can outrun his problem. Along the way, the analyst picked up a mysterious signal on the radio. The signal contains a distress call of a person (John Billingsley (Star Trek Enterprise)) that claims to be, in need of medical attention. He then drives down to the radio station, to help that person. Once inside the station, he discovers that no one is there except a person that is handcuffed to the pole, inside the studio. Soon, the analyst will discover that something strange is going on, at the station, which leads to murder, madness and a power that he can’t control. Ray Wise (Twin Peaks, Good Night and Good Luck, and Reaper) co-stars, in this frightening short.

“AM 1200” is truly one of this years best horror films. Director David Prior’s direction was just masterful and flat out phenomenal. He manages to create and direct, a very haunting and intense forty-minute short that brings you back to the early days of “The Twilight Zone”. Prior does this, by keeping the film very dark throughout the whole short, as there never was a dull or uninteresting moment. The film had a Hollywood production like feel to it. It also had, the feel of a full-length feature film with all setting and effects. He also, rely more on atmosphere, then find some brutal way to frighten people, which makes the scares, more effective. Prior’s direction, with his actors were one of the keys to its success. The performances were just that great. The actors did a great job making their performances, very dark and having great interaction with each other, even though there is not much interaction. Prior gets a very good lead performance from Eric Lange, who makes his character very tormented and dark through out the film, which makes you interested and tuned into the film’s story.

But the major key, to the film success was Prior’s screenplay. He does a great job making this very frightening and intense. One of the reasons, he did a great job was the fact that the main character was developed, very well. Prior does a great job going to into the crime that the film’s main character commits and how it blew up in his face, before relying on the supernatural elements. It helps with the background structure of this character, as you get to know him. His screenplay also provides a lot of suspense, especially toward the end of the film, when the mysterious signal starts playing its role. But what makes this screenplay great was the fact that most of this film plays like a silent film. It was done that way, to focus on the story’s dark atmosphere and make the film bleak and focus on the main character’s troubles. It adds to the darkness of the film’s story and makes the life of the main character tormented, by the fact that his scam has gone horribly wrong.

If there is one short film that I beg you to seek out and support, then this is the film. “AM 1200” is one of the most frightening and well crafted short films that you’ll ever see, as this definitely a short horror film that goes back to the days of “The Twilight Zone” and “The Outer Limits”.

I highly urge you goto the film’s official website at: http://www.am1200.com/ and purchase, a copy of this film. This is one of the year’s best films, period.

Review Rating: Five Stars

DVD Extras:

Audio Commentary with Director, David Prior
Previsualization: Detailed Animatic of the Entire Film
Alternate Ending
Visual Effects montage
Biographies
Still Gallery
Original Theatrical TrailerTeaser Trailer