By Geno McGahee
Adrienne King became famous in 1980 with her starring role in FRIDAY THE 13TH, but would be killed off the series in the follow-up in 1981. She would not return to film for 27 years after being scared off by a stalker that got way too close for comfort. It’s a shame considering that King had the same characteristics as Jamie Lee Curtis. She had the innocent but tough look and had her dealings with a horror franchise. She probably would have been in there battling Jason Voorhees and perhaps found success outside of the genre as Curtis did. Whatever the case, she is back again in ALL AMERICAN BULLY.
Written and Directed by Jason Hawkins, ALL AMERICAN BULLY focuses on a problem that we see a lot of…bullying…as the title suggests. Devon (Alexander Fraser) is an outcast at his school. Concerned more with video games and role playing games then he is with popularity, he has become a target for a group of bullies, led by John (Daren Ackerman), his former best friend. The bullying is intense and violent and Devon is torn. Although he is getting bullied without mercy, he remembers the friendship the two had and hesitates to retaliate.
Devon spends most of his time with Becky (Alicia Rose) and Garrett (Darren Hicks). They only want to live in peace but John keeps interfering in their lives and when he pummels Devon with his friends and puts it online, things go too far. Devon and Becky team up to blackmail John and stop the abuse but it opens up an entire new can of worms for them to deal with.
Mr. Taylor (Patrick Ford), the English professor, wants desperately to help Devon, but Principal Kane (King) immediately takes him aside and tears into him, noting that she does not like “his kind,” and that he ruined her son. The “her kind” comment turned out not to be because he was black but because he was gay and apparently dating her son. Maybe it was the age difference.
John goes crazy and is urged on by his psycho girlfriend, Shelly (Dara Davey). Davey was outstanding in this. She reminded me so much of Fairuza Balk in AMERICAN HISTORY X. In this minor role, Davey stood out and was so unlikable that John didn’t seem as bad. In fact, knowing John’s history, Shelly controlling him was not surprising.
The film concludes with a big showdown in the woods where John has to admit the truth and expose his true self to his former friend. There is a moment when you begin to see a softer version of the hardened bully but Shelly can’t have that. To make her more obnoxious, she has to record everything that they do with a camcorder. There are no apologies and no happy endings here. This film has a purpose and it is met.
ALL AMERICAN BULLY is a good indie film with some great acting. I was very impressed with Alexander Fraser and Alicia Rose. Fraser knew exactly how to play the role and did it convincingly. He was weak but was fighting that side of himself. Rose was also very believable and did a great job in this role. Daren Ackerman deserves a mention for his great effort as the bully, especially the emotional rollercoaster he had at the ending. I really enjoyed his performance in this.
Some of the dialogue was forced and didn’t feel real and some of the deliveries were a bit over the top. There seemed to be too much forced into this film at times. Everyone apparently needed something wrong in their lives to cope with and it sort of muddled it, but the good heavily outweighs the bad with this one. I want to say welcome back to Adrienne King. It was great seeing her back.
Wild Eye Releasing has put this film out and it is absolutely worth a watch. Jason Hawkins puts together a great examination into the world of bullying and explores some of the reasoning behind such behavior. The mob mentality, the need to use social media to further the abuse and the inability to relate from the adults will have this film hit close to home for many. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 7/10
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Great review Geno. This is one I will be checking out for sure.
THanks man!