by Eric DuPain
This gem of a movie has grown a renowned cult status since it’s nomination for Best Short-Feature at the International Short Film Awards in 2000.

Shot entirely on 35mm, the filmmaker's can feel hard-done-by not to scoop the top award, and I think had they not used Panavision lenses they probably would have got it. It's a shame; the whole 'Indie' scene's lead to some sort of underground society code of conduct that only permits DV-CAM and Super8 / 16mm for shorts -- despite the fact that all three of them are much easier to edit than 35 mil. And I thought these indie films were meant to show innovation!!

The story itself tells of a group of has-been gangsters who attempt a last score at the hope of 'getting out for good'. But when it goes pear-shaped and their escape route takes them as far as Africa, they're left with no loot, no access to their blood-money and a bounty on their heads preventing them from ever returning home. A string of luck comes their way when they hear of a legend involving hidden gold in an underground temple within the African rain forests - believed to be guarded by the un-dead who have tried to steal it in the past; their souls consumed by some strange creature that protects the sacred jackpot. With an act of desperation, the crew decide there's nothing left to lose, and nothing left to fear....

Mahmoudieh and Nilson wrote the project, and Froude, who has also produced David Mahmoudieh's 'Cause And Effect', re-teamed up with the young screenwriting prodigy to once more produce and direct, as well as adding his version of fictional events to the final shooting script. Post-rave reviews at the festival, I got the pleasure of interviewing Director Harvey Froude at the closing photo call, who revealed originally the production was meant to be a full-feature but prior to filming the team realised the budget wouldn't stretch the intended two hours Mahmoudieh scripted. So out came the script editors who chopped, chipped and haggled before a version was ready that literally JUST qualified for the festival at 58 minutes long (two minutes below the maximum 60 minutes allowed for short-features).

Froude said the motive behind the change was to "make a roller-coaster 60 minutes, instead of a bus-ride 90" in the hope that major production houses would see the film's potential and throw money at a remake. The stunt worked. Froude's company, Lightning Films Inc. has been approached by as yet two un-named big boys (rumoured to be WB & Dreamworks) who have hinted interest in the film.

Zombie fans -- if this one hits the big screen, you're in for a big, bad treat! Just remember where you heard it first.

Eric DuPain