I’ve always felt that instead of asking “what is God” we should be more focused on asking “what is the nature of God?” Should we really be so concerned with who or what such a power is, if we do not truly understand what purpose that power holds in our lives? Watching RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH is a personal cinematic experience and this is what I feel is at the core of the film’s story.
Based upon science-fiction legend Philip K. Dick’s posthumously published novel of the same name — a story line that first began with VALIS (1980) — RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH is adapted for the screen and directed by John Alan Simon. Originally filmed in 2007, experiencing more than its share of difficulties, the film found itself stranded in post-production in 2010 where it remained until a successful Kickstarter campaign allowed the filmmakers to complete the film for official release. I am glad this finally came to fruition.
John Alan Simon has been involved behind the scenes on such films as the cult horror comedy BASKET CASE (1982) and the werewolf film THE HOWLING, PART 2 (1985), so at a glance, it seems a philosophical science-fiction film such as this may be a peculiar choice as his feature-film debut. The result is quite the contrary. Simon seemingly has a very clear and confident grasp on Dick’s material and has created a surprisingly original yet highly accessible motion picture adaptation.
RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH tells the story of Nick Brady, played by Jonathan Scarfe, a man suddenly prove to visions transmitted into his mind by something he calls “VALIS.” These dream-like, sometimes prophetic visions lead Nick to relocate to Los Angeles where he creates a successful music recording label. Everything he does is driven by these visions, and in the beginning, things could not be better in his life. Nick meets a woman named Sylvia, played by musician Alanis Morissette, and soon after finds both of them tangled up in a deadly political game involving an oppressive authoritarian government and a secret revolution in the making.
One of the most important things to understand when entering into this film, is that it takes place on an alternate Earth; another dimension, so to speak. What we witness is not the Earth we know, but a similar version of Earth where things have occurred differently. Where forks appeared in the roads of history, alternate paths were taken. RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH portrays a somewhat autobiographical story, as Nick’s best friend Phil, played by Shea Whigham, is a science-fiction author with similar tendencies to the real-life author. In this alternate Earth, the Unites States of America is a “big brother” state like nothing we’ve ever seen, ruled by President Freemont, played by character actor Scott Wilson of THE WALKING DEAD fame.
Simon manages to find a friendly no man’s land in RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH where a spiritual awakening can coexist peacefully with progressive science-fiction philosophy. The film handles these contrasting principles with a subtlety and gentle hand, allowing the story to make its case that the two are actually more harmonious than they appear on the surface. Nick’s evolution as a human being exposed to a greater knowledge and purpose is portrayed tastefully, avoiding what could have come across as heavy-handed soap box preaching. The visions are both short and limited in frequency, but give a taste of the strange and vivid nature of their form.
The potential audience for RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH is broad, from traditional science-fiction fans to more modern crossover fans of films such as JOHN DIES AT THE END (2012) and viewers more prone to dramatic inclinations will find tonal similarities to THE MAN FROM EARTH (2007) — a personal favorite — extremely inviting. The story is complex but not difficult to follow, avoids becoming predictable and maintains interest from beginning to end, despite a relatively unconventional protagonist shift two-thirds into the film.
RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH has much to offer the open-minded viewer, but that is not to says it is without its flaws. Given its independent nature, a science-fiction film as this does require a certain level of special effects, but they are kept to a minimum and the result is far above the level of SyFy Channel original movie but noticeably below that of a major Hollywood motion picture. With that said, I recommend viewing the film not for its CGI but rather for its overall storytelling. Visually, RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH looks and feels like an indie film shot on digital, but not in a bad way. The script itself and the acting, overall, are accomplished, but there are moments when it feels a touch artificial or forced, but never so much that the film is unable to pull itself back up and draw the viewer back into its grasp.
Like so many films, the true test of success is in how long it remains present in your conscience after viewing. RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH is one of those films you’ll talk about with friends and be thinking about for hours, if not days after the initial experience is over. This isn’t a groundbreaking film on any level, but it is a film that leaves an impression. Simon succeeds in telling an intelligent, thought-provoking story that leads the audience to ask questions and formulate their own answers, and that’s never a bad thing.
RADIO FREE ALBEMUTH opens in theaters on Friday, June 27th, 2014.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
