| Not Another B Movie | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John Wesley Norton |
| Produced by | James Vallo John Wesley Norton Chuck Kelly Robert Foreman (Executive Producer) James Chisholm (Executive Producer) Z.D. Smith (Co-Executive Producer) |
| Written by | John Wesley Norton |
| Starring | Byron Thames Larry Thomas James Vallo David Faustino Joe Estevez Lindsay Gareth Reggie Bannister Erin Moran Lloyd Kaufman Robert Z'Dar Edward Asner |
| Editing by | John Wesley Norton Chuck Kelly Tony Passarella |
| Distributed by | Troma Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | July 12, 2011 |
| Running time | 85 minutes |
| Language | English |
Not Another B Movie is a satirical comedy film written and directed by John Wesley Norton which peers into the process of making a low-budget horror film. It was premiered in 2008 under the original title Working Title in Woodridge, Illinois. It has since been screened at the 2009 Naperville Independent Film Festival before being distributed by Troma Entertainment in 2011.
Contents |
The body of the movie revolves around a farcical business meeting at a restaurant between screenwriter Byron (Byron Thames), director Larry (Larry Thomas), and producer James (James Vallo). Byron struggles in vain to stick to his original vision while Larry and James are intent on altering the script. Aside from wishing to make money, they also want to create a film that will "make the audience walk out...in a good way!" Their shocking movie is tentatively titled "The Umpire Strikes Back", due to the narrative revolving around a baseball ump (Reggie Bannister) who goes on a killing spree (including a rip off of the iconic black and white shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, with a bat replacing the infamous knife).
The script alterations as well as the trio's recollections of past ventures are portrayed in short skits and scenes that are interspersed with the restaurant setting throughout. Many of these cutaway scenes feature the bickering (and at times outrageously violent) cop duo Hines (David Faustino) and Sterns (Joe Estevez) who are trying to find the killer ump.[1] The cutaways also feature appearances by Edward Asner (as a prospective investor not impressed with James' proposal...unless there's "lots of T&A and he's more than welcome to visit the set"), Erin Moran (as a women's apparel store owner who is not impressed with James' merchandising plan), Robert Z'Dar (as an actor auditioning for the role of the killer), and Lloyd Kaufman (as a victim in a previous feature from the trio).
Back in the restaurant setting, a waitress and struggling actress Holly (Lindsay Gareth) tries repeatedly (and unsuccessfully) to get the trio's attention to cast her in one of their projects through the encouragement of her pushy fellow waitress friend Kari (Erin Muir). She is finally able to reach Byron after he (dealing with frustrations of his own) takes a break at the bar to 'get numb'. Byron alludes to her that she will not be taken seriously if they put her in one of their movies. Holly however is at a breaking point and willing to take the risk no matter what it takes, but Byron respectably still resists.
The film concludes with Byron deciding to strike out on his own and 'do something he's proud of for a change'. He gives Holly his card and heads out.
Reviews have noted both positive and negative traits in general. Some samples conclude that "the acting is good, the movie looks nice, and it has a few chuckle moments, but the concept isn't all that intriguing and the thing feels more like a broke-ass episode of Family Guy the way it jumps to flashbacks and the movie-within-a-movie".[2] Online reviewer Upchuck Undergrind of Corazine.com was highly favorable stating that "it's a VERY well-written film. Given that much of it's running time is conversation, a lot of sharp writing chops were necessary to give us characters and dialogue to keep our attention, since this isn't a tits-and-gore affair" but also noting that the title and packaging are "misleading, more likely to draw fans of the dumb, endless parodies rather than the kind of viewer such a thoughtful film requires".[3] Craig McGee of Horrornews.net had this to say: "It isn’t for everyone, but not for the usual reasons – it’s a talky dramatic humorous satire with bits and pieces of a horror movie sprinkled in between via the described scenes of the movie the main characters are discussing over dinner"..."If you loathe character development, intelligent satire, and in-joke movie references, do not watch this flick. But if you don’t mind those things…if you DO wanna cheer for people to make the right choices and win in their lives while enjoying a viciously eloquent satirical skewering of the movie making process, then like me, NOT ANOTHER B MOVIE is exactly what you need."[4]