Shadows in the Garden (USA/2002), directed by Wayne Spitzer
Review written by Gauntgirl, April, 2003.
The road through the history of low-budget, short, independent film and video is paved with the early attempts and experiments of up-and-coming filmmakers. Shadows in the Garden is the product of one such filmmaker, Wayne Spitzer – currently affiliated with Kevin Lindenmuth’s Brimstone Media Productions (though I won’t hold that against him). Shot almost entirely on analog video with next to nil for a budget, Shadows stumbles through it’s technological road blocks to deliver an atmospheric, kitschy cult potential. In following the do-it-yourself movie making aesthetic the likes of Ed Wood Jr., this not easily classifiable film layers the cheese on thick with costume, props, and soundtrack; while the Minimalist script simultaneously develops a subtle, almost abstract, atmospheric quality. The classic tale of the kind hearted ‘beast’ that the film portrays is flavoured with a vulgar sentimentalism – something like a horror ballad – but the cheap Lovecraftian references prevent it’s indie style from being overwhelmed with pretension. In sum, Shadows is a soft foray into the genre bending disposition of independent horror filmmaking that clearly demonstrates Spitzer’s love of filmmaking and his determination to produce creative projects despite economic challenges.
Shadows in the Garden will accompany the Brimstone Productions release of Monstersdotcom. For more information about Monstersdotcom and Wayne Spitzer, click HERE.
