jackhobhouse The style, pace and mood of this short distills the ethic of 70s horror to it's purest form. While Borchardt could be criticised for his poor exposures and lazy overdubbing (only noticeable if you know in advance) he should be commended for stunning use of bleak Wisconsin landscapes and music in black and white to create a dark mood. The long shots of deserted winding roads, desolate snowy trees and the drive in theatre are exceptional cinematography without doubt. Elements of living dead, wicker man and evil dead. And the ending is impressively abrupt. Watched in conjunction with American movie gives fascinating insight, but i suggest seeing this before watching the documentary - I hope he makes more horror. And i would like to see his basic style used more often in today's age of cgi and special effects horror. If i was producing a Hollywood horror i would employ him as associate producer. Respect.

interferon I watched Coven after the intrigue that manifests from watching American Movie, it is totally roughraw, this is a must-see for anyone interested in film making and film rhetoric, the inventiveness and creativity that is apparent here sticks out like a sore (bloody) thumb. The story is wierd yet strangely compelling (well it compelled me :) ) and some of the visual shots are ultimately memorable, there are some great bits of dialogue and the early signs of a great directing style waiting to be developed.Keep your eyes on this guy, if he ever gets lucky enough to get a decent budget he could make a real classic movie, hopefully starring Mike Schank as a gritty new york cop :)

tedg Spoilers herein.In true reflection, the same DVD hosts a film and a `making of' film, but the A and B sides are reversed - the attention is all on `American Movie,' a vile, non-cinematic exercise in slumming.Watch instead this little film. It is horrible. Forget about deficiencies in production values because they aren't so bad you can't ignore them. The problem with the film is that thanks to the documentary, we know that the filmmaker really is a dope - that there can be no shred of intelligence or insight here.But if we came upon it without the derogatory wrapping, we might be able to make something of it, along the lines of `Begotten' and `Carnival of Souls.'That's because the story is about a delusional man, and what we witness could be `real' or delusions or both, or perhaps they are same, or (since the making of films is the creation of worlds) reality is a delusion. Usually, the device is more overt than just booze - the best examples employ absinthe (Dracula, Moulin Rouge, From Hell). Usually, there is an attractor for the delusion, as in `Pi' as opposed to random drifting. Usually, there is some introduction to an external menace (`In the Woods'). Usually, sex plays a big role, as in `Blair Witch' of the same era.If you can, watch this with your imagination on and without seeing the documentary. At least it is honest.Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 4: Has some interesting elements.

SpiderCider This has got to be one of the worst films in the world. If you have ever seen "American Movie" you will know how big of losers these guys are. But non the less, my friend and I watched Coven, on the DVD from American Movie. And we agree the last shot in Coven, with the drug abuser beating that women and calling her "words that aren't in the guideline" is without a doubt the funniest thing ever in Cinema history. Buy or rent this movie just for the last minute or so, its great.