DeadGirl (Marcel Sarmiento, 2008): USA

Reviewed by Jason Sanders.  Viewed at the AFI Film Festival, ArcLight Hollywood

As I went into DeadGirl, I thought it would be more of a comedy with the short summary in our AFI Film Festival guide read.  Even though I was wrong, i was glad i was.  DeadGirl turned out to be a deep emotional film revolving two friends in a crazy conflict of what they both want, and think is right.  

The film starts by introducing the main characters, Ricky and J.T in school, and revealing their unique personalities.  The two leave school to an old mental hospital, and it is here where it is revealed that J.T. has an influence on Ricky’s will power, as J.T. pressures or talks Ricky into a lot of troublesome ways.  At this point, J.T. talks Ricky into going down to where the hospital used to keep murderers.  They find an empty room with old and rusty pipes, and there is where they find a dead girl.  This is what causes conflicts and realizations between the two friends.  

Each character in the film has their own personal agendas and that is what I personally found most intriguing.  As time went on, I caught myself tied into the story, and felt as if I was watching them from a distance.  They are portrayed as everyday students such as the weird goofy one, the jock, the quiet one, etc.  

The way the movie was shot was fantastic.  Each scene felt real and raw.  When I say raw, i simply mean it seemed to be the natural view, and angle that it should be watched from.  Not only were the scenes filmed perfectly, it was the simple settings that pushed this film over the top for me.  They were so natural, and the use of the real non working hospital were amazing.  As the film went on, the room where they find the dead girl, starts to take a natural change and growth.