Imprint

Imprint (2007)

Shayla Stonefeather is in a difficult position. She is one of the prosecuting attorneys in the cast against a young Indian boy accused of murdering a woman. After securing a conviction she takes some time off to head back to her home and say goodbye to her dying father. But when the convicted boy is killed trying to escape during his transfer to prison strange things begin to happen. Shayla begins to see shadowy figures around her home and begins to hear noises that no one else can. Is it the restless spirit of the dead boy or is it her brother that disappeared years before? Shayla decides it is time to start unraveling the mysteries surrounding her family and her heritage, but will she like what she finds?

I hate to sound like an old “crusty” movie reviewer, but I’ve pretty much seen all the tricks. So for a movie to fool me or give me something I didn’t expect it has to be very clever and well written. This is doubly so of independent movies, which to be honest are normally made by those with less than “A” level talent. That isn’t me trying to be mean, it is just a fact of life. So when I sat down to watch a low budget independent thriller called Imprint I didn’t have high expectations. But I’ll be damned if it isn’t a really entertaining and solid movie. The story has an interesting Native American twist to what is an excellent tale of the supernatural. Not only that, but the movie is written in a way that on a couple occasions it lets the audience think we have figured it out, only to throw yet another twist our way. But these twists aren’t the typical Hollywood ones that feel forced on the story and are just there to say, “got you!” Nope these twists fit nicely with the story and are completely believable. This makes for a movie that is unpredictable, but never takes you out of the situation with hard to swallow twists.

Another thing that really sets this one aside is the quality of the cast. Now I’ve not heard of most of these actors, but they are all incredibly talented and fit nicely into the story. Tonantzin Carmelo does a wonderful job in the role of Shayla and shows the talent and charisma to carry much of the movie herself. Also outstanding is Carla-Rae Holland and Charlie White Buffalo as Shayla’s parents. I was especially impressed with Buffalo who is asked to give a performance that had to be very difficult. Finally I wanted to mention Michael Spears, the only cast member that I did recognize from an earlier role. He is excellent and it boggles my mind that he hasn’t had more work.

Not only is this a well-acted and written movie, but the talent behind the camera is certainly there as well. Now much of the special effects are handled with CGI. I’m not a big fan of CGI, as most of you that read my reviews know by now. But I’ll cut the movie some slack, partly because it isn’t an effects heavy movie and partly because of what goes along with the effects. The lighting and camera work are really very good. From the dark shots in the house with shadowy figures moving around outside of the characters vision, to the beautiful exterior shots of the surrounding countryside which gives the movie much of it’s scope and heart this movie is something to see. If that weren’t enough the director Michael Linn, who was also the cinematographer responsible for the wonderful camera work, wrote the music for the movie as well. Music that fits perfectly with the film and brings even more feeling and depth to the movie.

This movie will be available from MTI on Tuesday February 10th, 2009. I really recommend that everyone give this gem of an independent a chance. For more information check out the website at http://www.mtivideo.com/

3 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer