Film Review: Reeseville (2003)Production Companies: Pied Piper Productions, Doomed Productions Ltd. Director: Christian Otjen Screenplay: Christian Otjen Cinematography: Jerry Holway Music: Kevin Saunders Hayes Producers: Dan Kattman and Holly Mosher Main Cast: Brad Hunt, Mark Hamill, Majandra Delfino, Brian Wimmer, Sally Struthers and Missy Crider. DVD Release: Doomed Productions Ltd. Rating: R for violence, sexuality and language Run Time: 99 minutes Director Christian Otjen (Lady in the Box, Frightened to Death) is back with another mystery set in Wisconsin. Reeseville is an engaging character study about small-town secrets. Part mystery, part drama, it holds the viewer with its engaging characters and some stellar performances.Otjen's polished film is set in the small Wisconsin town of Reeseville, which is located about half-way between Milwaukee and Madison. However, it could be set in any small, Midwestern town, which is part of its appeal. Without giving away too much, the basic plot involves the apparent suicide of an old man on the very day his estranged son shows up back in town after nearly twenty years' absence. The town's Sheriff (Brian Wimmer) suspects the son (in a fine, understated performance by Brad Hunt) of foul play after the town's quirky coroner, played by Mark Hamill, informs him it might not have been a suicide.The strength of Reeseville lies in several wonderful performances, most notably Mark Hamill and Miss Crider. Mark Hamill plays the coroner Zeke in a quiet, understated performance which really highlights what a wonderful character actor he has become. The beautiful Missy Crider steals every scene she's in. She plays the best friend of the Sheriff's sister. Ms. Crider is radiant and the camera obviously loves her. My largest complaint about the film is that she was not featured more prominently.As he did with Lady in the Box, Otjen has made a wonderful looking film here. Reeseville is expertly shot by DP Jerry Holway. The film captures the small-town feel of Midwestern life expertly. Christian Otjen is obviously talented as a filmmaker, and I await his next film excitedly. The film's flaws are not many. Reeseville works more as a character study than a thriller, although there are some suspenseful moments. The film could have actually used another twenty minutes or so, in order to flesh out the characters and provide more of Ms. Crider and Mr. Hamill.As of right now, the film is only available on DVD in the United States through the film's website. The DVD itself is very well presented. Crisp picture and sound. Thirty minutes of deleted scenes provide a glimpse of an even better film. The DVD also includes a few theatrical trailers as well as a behind-the-scenes photo album. Perhaps in the near future, a large distribution company will pick up this smart, taut character-driven mystery.

I am local to the area that the movie is suppose to be set in and was wondering if this is a completely fictional story or if it might be based on a true story. Also, were any scenes actually shot in Reeseville? I noticed one mistake. The Sheriff said he was going to go and get a judge in Watertown and it should have been Juneau.It was an interesting story in any case, but I found many of the lines to be unbelievably artificial and the character of the Sheriff to be a little far-fetched.Most of the actors did a great job of portraying their parts and could have used a little better writing, but did well with the lines given. I would say its worth watching, but I wouldn't pay to see it twice.

I mean, come on! This movie had such nice potential but it's like they ran out of money to finish the script and just telegraphed the whole damn rest of the movie about 2/3rds of the way through. Characters start spouting this movies whole reason for existence to other characters who didn't ask for the information on extremely flimsy premises. They also fall into some stereotypical behavior because that must be what's expected in this genre of movie. It's really pretty sad because this movie could have been so much more.I was really hoping this would be a good movie. There was some good acting. Mark Hamill does an excellent job until the movie falls apart, so does Sally Struthers. It was fun to see them working and succeeding at their craft. Majandra Delfino was pretty good for awhile until her lines just became untenable. I felt sad for her that she had to say these lines that just shot the whole movies credibility for any thinking movie goers. Brad Hunt does an excellent job. He really has a surprising range of talent judging from another of his movies I recently saw, Lucky 13. (which was a piece of crap). This guy could be a star if he could pick the right scripts and get lucky with the right director.Almost forgot! The music was so heavy handed you might think this project was handed to some minor film school to be scored. I call this kind of music "Teller Music" because you can just tell what's coming next based on the music. Less is more sometimes.Cut half of the music from this movie, get a good film editor, a small rewrite or two and this would be a very good movie.

The most interesting aspects of this film is the pacing and small town feel to it. The passage of time can be tedious but to me that is what the film maker was trying to pass along to the viewer. Similar to a frog in a pot of water. When the temperature is turned up slowly will characters and audience pay heed? There are some flaws to the film. It makes a real point to this being a small town as the locale but aside for a few major characters you don't really get a feel for that town and how the characters fit and are perceived in this town. Mark Hamill works brillantly in this piece in a role I never would have thought him for. Also well cast were Majandra Delfino. Many of the elements of this story were well telegraphed to the audience when I think the writer should have give the audience a little credit. A capable work but it left me wanting.