Pieces of Talent- Joe Stauffer

The story itself, is simple. A girl who is trying to make it as an actress, ends up witnessing a man beat. She helps him, and they strike up a friendship. He chats with her about a role she would be perfect for. This decision will change her life forever. See, it turns out. David is a fucking psycho.

As I type that, I realize it sounds pretty generic, and to be honest, at points it is. With that said, there is plenty of great things in this film. As mentioned before, David is a psycho. Imagine if T.J. Miller and Weird Al were in the back of a shed fucking. Then Mick Taylor showed up from the outback, and interrupted. They are worried, but it turns out he just wants in on the action. He tells them to continue. He is mostly a watcher, but this time, he decides to show them what a "knife" looks like. Next thing you know, they are all climaxing, and their love juices all bleeds together. Instantaneously, a creature starts to rise up from the gooey mess on the floor. That creature is David. Kind of nerdy, kind of friendly, but also as terrifying as they come. My point being. David is a wonderful bad guy. It is easy to hate and love him, to pity and look up to him, to feel sympathy and fear him. He embodies everything good and bad.

The atmosphere is fantastic, and the imagery feels like my childhood. David's house is full of so many electronics from my childhood. A top loader VCR, a VHS camcorder, and a TV that looks like it was pulled out of my grandparents RV.  These were just a few of my favorites, but the movie is full of  some great design, and atmosphere. 

The style in which this film is made, is in some ways quite unique, and in others, a mishmash of genre and style. It almost has a nineties indie feel. Think Greg Araki, Harmony Korine, or even Vincent Gallo. It also has a strong surreal overtone. When we go inside David's head, we are flooded with experimental, almost hallucinogenic scenes. Sure they can be overly artsy, but sometimes that's okay. I could not help, but think of the nineties Canuxploitation classic "Subconscious Cruelty"  when viewing these scenes. The way the blood flowed so beautifully, and freely.

This is by no means a perfect film. It drags at points, and there is some filler. I found myself losing interest somewhere in the middle, but it didn't take long to get going again. Every time it almost lost me, it would suddenly throw its hooks in my face, and drag me back into the surreal, brutal, funny world it had earlier created.

One last thing I want to touch on, is the gore. There is plenty of it, and gorehounds will have to resist pleasuring themselves awkwardly when their friends are around. Now if you watch it by yourself like I did, well, I will just quit there. Just know that the blood flows like Countess Bathory  on her period. That is how science works right? If you drink a lot of blood, then you bleed, you will bleed more blood? Sounds right to me.

You can purchase Pieces of Talent directly from the filmmakers on their website. There is a special edition with commentaries, behind the scenes, music videos, and shorts. There is also a standard version hitting in September. If you don't want to wait, you can get it digitally, and for the collectors, there is a couple of VHS options.



3.5/5


-Tromeric

Pieces of Talent Coming Your Way

Joe Stauffer's Pieces of Talent, an award-winning independent horror film, is now available on DVD exclusively at PiecesOfTalent.com. This special edition release comes autographed and includes a second disc featuring an hour of bonus content. Watch the official trailer on YouTube: http://youtu.be/iZ-UCbCPfio

Pieces of Talent features special effects by Tony Rosen, who created the iconic Annabelle doll for The Conjuring and the upcoming Annabelle. Stauffer's unrelenting vision brings to mind the visual finesse of  David Fincher's Se7en with the unflinching intensity of Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

In addition to the DVD, Pieces of Talent is also available for instant stream on your computer/mobile device and on limited edition, bloodied VHS tape. Collectors can also take home a unique "death scene" VHS and a hand-crafted bobble head. All of these items are available directly from the filmmakers via the Pieces of Talent webstore. For a limited time, you can enter the coupon code "horror" at check out to save $2.00 on your order.

"After an amazing run in the festival circuit, we are excited to finally have the film available to the public," explains Stauffer, who, in addition to directing, served as co-writer, cinematographer, composer and editor. "We poured our hearts into this project and can't wait for people to see it on the screen."

David Long, who co-wrote the script with Stauffer, stars as a maniacal serial killer posing as a filmmaker, with Kristi Ray as his latest muse. They are joined by Jon Stafford (Full Metal Jacket), Barbara Weetman (Stuck in Love) and Taylor Kowalski (Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever).

Synopsis:

Set in the small coastal town of Bright Leaf, North Carolina, Pieces of Talent centers around Charlotte, a disillusioned aspiring actress that can barely get by. Charlotte catches a break when seemingly chance circumstances put her in contact with a local filmmaker, David Long. David and Charlotte form a quick friendship that leads to Charlotte landing the starring role in David’s newest project. David quickly becomes obsessed with Charlotte and begins building his bloody masterpiece. David is a happily obsessed individual willing to do whatever it takes to make “true art.” He utilizes his charm and skills to make something dark and deranged seem utterly beautiful and loving.

For more information and to purchase Pieces of Talent, visit the film's official website at PiecesOfTalent.com. Pieces of Talent can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.