Posted: 04/29/2008

Pool Party

(2007)

by Hank Yuloff

My “List of Unholy Films” just got longer. I believe that there is a Rule of Unholy Triumvirate in movies. To be on that list, a movie has to be 1) horrible, 2) poorly made and 3) one person has to do three of the following four tasks: produces, writes, directs and/or stars. The idea is that there is no one looking over the shoulder of one person, and if they have no talent, it will certainly come across on screen. In Pool Party, a barely watchable, beginner student film level direct-to-video release, we have a first: two new members of this club from one film.

Timothy M. Snell directs, writes and produces Pool Party. His co-producer is the co-writer and lead (I would never say “stars” for this one) in the movie, Justin Bowler.

The story revolves around Matt (Bowler), a law clerk studying to take the bar exam for the third time. Five days before the exam, his boss, Richard, makes him watch his house while he and his wife go on vacation. How will Matt get his studying done when Richard has banned from the house children keep wanting to have a pool party? Who cares?

The best thing about the movie is the DVD menu. It seems to be ripped off of a Kevin Smith film, with about 50% of The Funny, but it was interesting.

It is difficult to find the worst thing. I would guess it is a tie between the bad sound, horrible lighting and miserable cuts between most of the scenes. It looks like it was shot with a $200 video camera with one omni directional microphone on top. To use the word amateurish to describe the settings would be an insult to amateur filmmakers. The best example is that the filmmakers use a stuffed animal as Richard’s killer instinct dog.

I gave this film five paragraphs, which is about four too many. My personal message to Misters Snell and Bowler is: go get a job at the mall.

Hank Yuloff is a co-founder of Film Monthly and a film critic living in Los Angeles.

Got a problem? E-mail us at filmmonthly@gmail.com