One of the highest compliments I can pay to a film and one of my necessary criteria for a film to stand the test of time is this: did I still think about the film long after it was over? Trevor Juenger's "Coyote" is a film that I was thinking about at least 4 days after I finished watching it.
Having seen some of Trevor's previous works, ("Live or Die" and "Johnny Be Gone,") I knew what to expect coming into "Coyote." These are not cuddly, warm, family fare. These are intense, psychological films that treat film like an art form rather than brain-dead popcorn entertainment. As a previous reviewer mentioned, think Cronenberg. Think Lynch. The tone is dark, experimental, avant garde, and at times even darkly humorous. I hate describing a film in what sounds like "ad speak" or flowery language, but it really is hard to describe "Coyote" without giving away too much of the guts of the film. To spare you from any spoilers, the 2 line synopsis on this page does plenty: it is a film about a writer who is hopelessly detached from reality and quickly losing control. Anything further than that might ruin the impact of the movie.
Which brings me to the absolute highlight of the film: Bill Oberst Jr's portrayal of the character Bill. Oberst plays "unhinged" so well that I genuinely felt uncomfortable many times throughout this film. How he interacts with other performers and the escalation of his unraveling character is off-putting in all of the best ways. Seeing as most of the film rests on his shoulders, it really is a make-or-break performance. For me: his performance is the highlight of the film.
This movie is a journey through the darkest depths of madness and I believe it will stick with the viewer long after they finish the film. I highly recommend it for the anyone not squeamish, easily offended, and who thoroughly enjoys avant garde cinema. Keep your eyes on Trevor Juenger, his films are going to be talked about for a long while.
Having seen some of Trevor's previous works, ("Live or Die" and "Johnny Be Gone,") I knew what to expect coming into "Coyote." These are not cuddly, warm, family fare. These are intense, psychological films that treat film like an art form rather than brain-dead popcorn entertainment. As a previous reviewer mentioned, think Cronenberg. Think Lynch. The tone is dark, experimental, avant garde, and at times even darkly humorous. I hate describing a film in what sounds like "ad speak" or flowery language, but it really is hard to describe "Coyote" without giving away too much of the guts of the film. To spare you from any spoilers, the 2 line synopsis on this page does plenty: it is a film about a writer who is hopelessly detached from reality and quickly losing control. Anything further than that might ruin the impact of the movie.
Which brings me to the absolute highlight of the film: Bill Oberst Jr's portrayal of the character Bill. Oberst plays "unhinged" so well that I genuinely felt uncomfortable many times throughout this film. How he interacts with other performers and the escalation of his unraveling character is off-putting in all of the best ways. Seeing as most of the film rests on his shoulders, it really is a make-or-break performance. For me: his performance is the highlight of the film.
This movie is a journey through the darkest depths of madness and I believe it will stick with the viewer long after they finish the film. I highly recommend it for the anyone not squeamish, easily offended, and who thoroughly enjoys avant garde cinema. Keep your eyes on Trevor Juenger, his films are going to be talked about for a long while.