The Confession By Steve Rudd

Expertly directed by Dave Kebo and Rudi Liden, The Confession is an extraordinary movie for many and varied reasons, not least because it was shot all in one take. Another major reason why the movie is so unique comes down to the fact that it is 'interactive' and features three and a half addictive hours of multi-angle footage. Having been shot via a multitude of strategically placed CCTV cameras in a house, the viewer is able to decide which cameras they wish to view the action through.

Even better, if they wish to gain a multi-angle view from more than one camera at any time, they can select the option which enables them to view footage from four cameras simultaneously. As a result, viewers have the ability to produce their very own 'cut' of the movie which is a hugely exciting prospect indeed, and is precisely the type of cutting-edge detail that could in due course inspire a new style of movie-making to mutate.

The plot of The Confession revolves around the mysterious death of a woman. The closest friends of the woman are all invited to a party, oblivious to the fact that the 'party' has been arranged in order that a full-throttle interrogation can occur as the former boyfriend of the deceased attempts to get to the bottom of how and why his beloved partner died. As if that wasn't enough, one of the men present subsequently catapults another 'mystery' into the night's tense proceedings when he claims that a cache of his drugs have gone missing.

He, too, suspects somebody in the house must be 'the guilty party.' Thus, the drama comes to primarily pivot around a tension-heightening volley of questions and answers as the two men who have lost things close to their hearts go all-out to pin the blame and exact comeuppance on whoever has betrayed them. In turn, all unlucky souls present carefully give weight to reasons why they couldn't be to blame, concocting excuses and coming up with alibis to aid their defense.

The fear coursing through the characters' veins is palpable at all times, not least because the highly effective fly-on-the-wall feel genuinely does involve the viewer, making them feel part of the pulse-quickening and stomach-churning scenario as those who are deemed guilty are reduced to whimpering shadows of their former confident selves. As debut forays into film-making go, The Confession is nothing short of a low-budget masterwork. The beauty part is that Dave and Rudi have proved that the size of any given budget for a movie is irrelevant. After all, big budgets never guarantee that a movie is likely to be more successful than a film shot on a low-budget.

The strength of the film resides in the fantastic script and tension that gradually escalates out of control due to the pressure all the characters are under to be brutally honest with one other or risk reaping the violent consequences. The Confession really is a phenomenal piece of film-making, and it's impossible not to be drawn directly into the fray as the drama develops from such ominous beginnings into an all-out battle of wills that has a devastatingly dramatic climax that not even the cleverest viewer will predict for the life of them.

Starring the hugely talented Joe Basile, Jessy Terrero, Jason Pace, Deborah Dir, Amie Carey and Jason Bagby, The Confession is propelled by moments of sheer drama driven by the fear of the characters, and all that is interlaced superbly by moments when the intensity temporarily cools off (for example, when some of the characters take 'toilet breaks') in order that it can build up again.

All the actors and actresses are superb. Indeed, this movie highlights what real acting is all about, especially when the people involved can 'act' in real time and improvise if necessary.

In legions of latter-day Hollywood movies, many scenes seem to be getting shorter and shorter. I don't mean to suggest that shorter scenes mean that it's getting easier for actors and actresses to pull them off, but the way in which The Confession is executed, one genuinely can't fail to watch it and appreciate the 'art' involved, and be thoroughly mesmerized as a result.

Inspired by the way in which The Confession turned out, Dave Kebo and Rudi Liden have since worked on another movie together called Death Valley, a Horror-imbued Thriller about four friends who attend a rave in the Mojave Desert and run into a bunch of shady locals in the process. Sleek and stylish, it's yet another stunning example of how movie magic transpires when Dave and Rudi hook up. What's more, the movie is available to buy on 'Amazon' and 'Netflix' - amongst other online retailers - should you feel inclined to check it out for yourself. For more information about The Confession, meanwhile, please visit www.filmschoolinabox.net Links Exclusive Dave Kebo Interview By Steve Rudd

Copyright © Steve Rudd 2009

thisisUll.com Featured Writer Steve Rudd
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