Head Trauma
Heretic
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After a 20 year absence, drifter, George Walker, returns home to settle his grandmother's estate. As if awakening from a long dream, he finds his childhood home condemned and littered with the remnants of squatters. In the midst of trying to save his past, George falls and strikes his head, triggering an onslaught of vivid nightmares and waking visions. As the horror intrudes on George's reality, his conviction grows that someone or something is trying to kill him.

Far too often movies try to mess with your head without any real payoff or purpose. Sure, there might be a twist or a curve thrown at you, but when you actually stop to think about it, it doesn't make any sense. This certainly isn't the case with Lance Weiler's indie psychological horror Head Trauma.

Stylish in an artistic sense (as opposed to appealing to shortened attention spans like a lot of today's horrors), Weiler successfully mixes reality and dream to create one of the creepiest things I've seen since a furry spider went crawling across my kitchen floor. Every scene is all about mood. And if you're easily spooked, you might last eight minutes before giving your couch neighbour's arm a squeeze. Much of the time you're guessing what's real and what's not, but it's not done in such a way that you're lost and confused. Instead there's this creepy vibe that crawls across your skin.

Video: How's it look?
Considering its low budget, Head Trauma looks spectacular. Sure, it's in letterbox format, which cuts all the edges off on all four sides, but the picture that is there is very clear -- not an easy task when making an indie film.

Audio: How's it sound?
The Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround further adds to spooky and ominous feel of the film.

Extras: What additional goodies are included?

• Writer/director Lance Weiler provides a commentary track that is not only informative about the making of this specific film, but indie filmmaking in general. He breaks down not only what he did, but why.
• "Blowing Up a Car" is another how-to of sorts, showing how a big stunt came together.
• "Shooting in the House" looks at the main location of the film.
• Ever wondered how they get those really cool aerial shots in small-scale movies? Look not further than "John Magdic and His Amazing Flying Machines."
• "Behind the Music of Head Trauma" takes you into the studio and behind the sound board.
• Artist and writer S.R. Bissette talks about the film's graphics.
• Cast interviews.
• Theatrical trailer.
• Eight-page booklet.

Closing Thoughts
Have seen a lot of crappy Hollywood horrors recently, Head Trauma is a welcome change. I can honestly say I'm not spooked easily and this did it for me many times. It comes on an excellent, fully loaded DVD that serves two purposes: it looks deeper at the film itself and it provides a manual of sorts for aspiring filmmakers who might want to take the step out from watching to creating.

Review brought to you by our friend Ryan @ Movie-Views.com