Mark (Christopher Augustine, who kind of looks like Russ Tamblyn) picks up a girl, takes her home, and strangles her. He earns his living as a porn cameraman, but he wants to break out and do legitimate work. When Mark strikes up a friendship with a porn star ingenue Michele (Jeannette Dilger), he really seems to really dig her. The question is: Will he be able to keep his psychotic tendencies at bay long enough to have a committed relationship?
Hollywood 90028 is oozing with sleazy ‘70s vibes. It was the only feature by writer/director Christina Hornisher, and it’s a shame she never did anything else, because she has a real knack for setting a mood. I dug the leisurely paced scenes of Mark taking pictures in the zoo or just plain hanging out. These sequences never feels like filler as they’re often stylish and dripping with a retro-coolness that’s hard to replicate. Some of the hippie-dippy dialogue falls flat though (“Do you live alone?” “Everybody lives alone.”), but that’s to be expected I guess in a time capsule such as this.
What’s interesting (and okay I’ll say it, sometimes frustrating) about Hollywood 90028 is its reluctance (and often sheer refusal) to pigeonhole itself into a singular genre. For starters, it doesn’t have enough of a body count to qualify as a horror movie. It’s also much too laid back to be an effective thriller. It’s way too aloof to really function as a character study either. (There is plenty of skin to go around though.) Honestly, it plays more like a hangout movie with an occasional strangulation. If you’re looking for a programmer that conforms to genre demands, then steer clear of this one. If, instead, you want something a little artier and off the beaten path, then this will be a rewarding experience (even if it’s not entirely successful).
AKA: Insanity. AKA: The Hollywood Hillside Strangler. AKA: Twisted Throats.
No comments:
Post a Comment