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SLIFF 2009 Review: DROOL – We Are Movie Geeks

Film Festivals

SLIFF 2009 Review: DROOL

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Nancy Kissam succeeded in making an interesting, heart-warming yet dark film with the twisted ‘Drool’. Laura Harring plays Anora, a shy, beaten down wife who lives unhappily with her  husband Cheb (Oded Fehr), and their two children, Tabby and Little Pete (Ashley Duggan Smith and Christopher Newhouse). Tabby acts out both verbally and sexually, while Little Pete struggles with his own sexual identity. The two kids are brats acting out for attention based on their environment.

Anora survives her day to day by living inside of her own little fantasy world until the new neighbor moves in. Imogene Cochran (Jill Marie Jones) is a bright, loud mouthed cosmetics saleswoman who is new to town. She takes Anora as a friend, and soon a spark is lit between the two. Cheb comes home to the two of them sharing a moment, and goes for his gun. Now the new girlfriends, the bratty kids, and a bullet filled Cheb are on a cross country journey to get him out of their lives once and for all.

The cast is fantastic in this film. Harring and Jones light up the screen. It would be really hard not to like them. Smith plays a very convincing teen acting out for some attention and love. The teen scenes and themes might be hard for some to swallow, but I think that it is  necessary  to bring these issues to life. Teens today are much more free with their sexuality, and I applaud this movie for not dancing around it. At the same time, the director makes it very clear that the movie is still more of a comedy. Imogene is a prime example. Although caring and sweet, she is also a loud mouthed southern princess that won’t sugar coat anything. She has a bubbly personality that can change to stern and sassy if the claws need to come out. The film is also animated with the drawings of Tabby to illustrate certain stories. The notebook lined paper and sharpie imagery tend to lighten up the mood of the film as well.  The screen shots are really nice too. Between all of the bright colors, the kitschy sets, and the interesting sets compliment the story without completely overpowering it.

Although just under 70 minutes, the movie makes sure to grasp the viewers attention and still tell the tale without feeling rushed or incomplete. I highly recommend checking this one out!

DROOL will screen at the Frontenac on Monday, November 16th at 9:00pm and on Tuesday, November 17th at 9:15pm during the 18th Annual Whitaker Saint Louis International Film Festival.

Nerdy, snarky horror lover with a campy undertone. Goonies never say die.