The Horror Show
American Antichrist
by Dakota Ray
I've written about the films of Dakota Ray before and they are among my favorites to write about. It all started with my viewing of American Scumbags. I was super entertained right from the start. I suppose I could use a more elegant expression such as “immediately engaged” or “quickly my interest was piqued,” but while those are accurate expressions, “super entertained” fits the best. The phrase is just like the film itself: fun, down to earth, and wearing its style right on its sleeve. There was a refreshing quality to the viewing experience and so I eagerly checked out Ray's other work. This journey recently led me to his latest project American Antichrist. I had no worry in my head about whether it would stack up to Ray's other films because I had developed that trust throughout my viewing of his filmography. It turned out that my lack of concern was warranted because American Antichrist was every bit the entertaining blast that I was expecting it to be.
American Antichrist is told in a vignette-style which right away I already love. Think anthology, but with a more free-flowing and intertwined style. The stories all take part in a world gone mad, a dreary, desolate wasteland of sorts. We begin with a character played by Dakota Ray himself. This character is a serial killer, surrounded by the skulls and corpses of those he has taken from this world. The headlines say that he has died from a drug overdose, but what the papers don't know is that he's returned. Returned to wreak new havoc on the world and open the portal between this world and the world of fire below.
Thrown into the mix is a young drug addict (Meg Lacie Brown) in desperate need of a fix. However, the road she takes to get it puts her in the vicinity of a shady individual (Nick Benning) who has sinister connections. One of those connections involves the making of a certain type of underground film that the actresses don't walk away from. We are also introduced to a religious fanatic (played by L.B.) whose faith in the bible has taken a dark turn. It leads him to go after the homeless with the scripture in his head and murder in his eyes, using a mixture of bloodthirsty tactics.
The film moves fluidly, complimented by a rocking score from Fallow. The scenes are accented by the songs as well as great special effects from Dakota Ray and Sebastian Oak. There is a consistent tone throughout the movie's running time and each segment fits together wonderfully. It left me with a solid impression, balancing the various topics and events well.
All in all, I was completely satisfied with my viewing experience of American Antichrist. It's exactly what I wanted it to be and contains every bit of the flair and uniqueness I've come to expect from Dakota Ray's work. He has clearly honed his skills but has also kept the fresh “hitting the pavement” style that I've come to appreciate from his work. Not only do I recommend the flick, but I also cannot wait to see what Ray and company come up with next!
P.J. Griffin, HMS
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