Reviews

This review contains a spoiler - a summary of the whole plot! I've done this because you're very unlikely to ever see this film since it had such a small initial release:

"Appleseed Lake" is a once leafy, suburban town, inhabited by the narrator of the film, Eddie Freeman (Gregory Bell) and his ex-girlfriend turned mother, Kimberley Freeman (Sharon Gavin). After marrying his father and inheriting everything, she wants Eddie to leave the family home. Eddie's screwed up by events and starts making illegal wine, beer and spirits, aided by thirteen year old Chrissy Winlings (Jodie Wilde) who helps him deliver the booze. A delivery of beer to Dark Robinson (Jamie Scott) results in a meeting at the local "greasy spoon" where Eddie's heartthrob, Andie Farrow (Sally Humphreys), works as a cafe waitress. Following a sequence of soap dialogues, he wimps out of asking Andie for a date, despite encouragement from friends. Dark introduces Eddie to some rich new customers, the Cassidy brothers (Gareth Wilmot, Marc Parry) who need regular deliveries, so Eddie tries to convince the cafe manager to store some of his liquor on the premises. Unfortunately, Andie's brother, Max Farrow (Adrian Wrench), just happens to be visiting his sis - he's a local cop and takes the opportunity to warn Eddie to watch his step. Several more ensemble dialogues later and Eddie finally meets up with his ex, Robin Hudson (Elizabeth Gordon); Eddie takes the blame for their break-up and has mixed feelings for Robin, who leaves insulted and heartbroken. Meanwhile, Chrissy's father, Mr Windlings (Mike McConnel), is misled by Kimberley into thinking that Eddie is hitting on his daughter, for which he beats him up. Eddie limps back to the cafe with his mates and is confronted again my Max, in response to an irate phone call from Mr Windlings. In the end, it's up to Andie to ask Eddie out on a date as he sits by the cafe bins, nursing his wound. Robin is upset and runs off when Eddie announces his date to his friends. He runs after her and they have a heart-to-heart. She asks him to leave town with her but he refuses. Eventually she persuades him to sleep with her for the last time - which they do outside, but don't make love. The following day she gets ready to leave and Eddie goes with Dark and Billy Charles (Nick Washrook) to the Cassidy house to deliver their order. Hot in pursuit, Max ambushes the house. A comic chase ensues in the stately grounds of the Cassidy home, but Walter ends up hitting Clive accidentally with a bottle of wine. Eddie, Dark and Billy make a getaway, only to hear an explosion from the cafe. It turns out that one of the customers, Crazy George (Peter Hearn) blew himself up whilst in the cafe - apparently disappointed when he found there was no Lake in Appleseed! Max is convinced that Eddie has something to do with this until an agonising cry in the distance reveals Walter Cassidy bearing the body of Clive in his arms. Robin leaves Appleseed Lake again, placing her message in a bottle in a tyre swing. Eddie meets Andy in the cafe and kisses her, only to make a fast exit after Robin. He gets as far as the tyre swing and reads her final message to him.

The film cost around £5000 to make and was released only on VCD. It was originally shot in colour Super 8mm stock and telecined at the Pro8mm labs by Giles Musitano, however the final cut was made into a black & white film, which is tolerably grainy. Peter Hearn (director) describes the film as a "black comedy", however if timing and delivery are as important as they say in comedy, then the actors and director don't manage to pull it off. Sally Humphries (Andie), Edmund Dehn (Johnny Boothe) and Elizabeth Gordon (Robin Hudson) stand out as noteworthy actors.