Southland Tales…holy hell, what an enormous pile of crap that turned out to be. I’m devastated, in fact devastated doesn’t truly sum up my feelings on this film. I wanted to love this film, I really wanted it to be amazing and to blow me away.

What’s not to like:

Sarah Michelle Gellar - Check

Richard Kelley (he of Donnie Darko) - Check

Kevin Smith - Check

Apocalyptic Future - Check

This had such potential, but it just feels convoluted and confused by the end. I’ve not read the graphic novels that the film is based on but I can’t shift the feeling that if I had then perhaps a lot of the gaps presented by the film would have been filled in.

At its heart the films got a lot of messages that it’s trying to tell in a far reaching, interwoven story. But this only serves to keep you distant from the characters in the film and trying to retain a grip on the expansive storyline.

Don’t get me wrong the film has its merits, it looks great and some of the social commentary cuts pretty close to home but it’s a messy attempt with the ever twisting story falling flat as you approach the climax. Also to give the cast their due, they play it well but equally end up overwhelmed by the story.

You have to applaud the balls of taking on a film featuring reaching social satire/post-apocalypse dystopia/dance videos/all out comedy/political commentary, it just didn’t quite come off this time. Perhaps the 2006 release date listed in IMDB but not being out on DVD till today was an indicator…