Trailer SGTH from Cinekat Filmworks on Vimeo. directed by:
Steve Helgoth written by: Steve Helgoth genre: Drama |
Seemingly overnight, a virus has devastated the world. This is a virus that could possibly have come out of China, and no, reader, it's not Covid-19. Not exactly. Although C-19 was clearly the inspiration, this is something different - although little hints of the real-world pandemic can be seen throughout the film. Our protagonist Sean had dropped his life and moved to L.A. because he felt he needed to be there, but now he's not so sure - are any of us ever certain when it comes to big decisions?
It's implied that this virus is everywhere, and as stated above, it all happened fast - but there's something else going on here. As Sean laments on his decision to pack up and leave, he slowly guides through a nearly deserted Los Angeles with the few remaining people scared and, yes, reader, dangerous. But not everyone is mentally ravaged, and it's not long before Sean begins meeting normal(ish) people - such as Carla, who has a tent of her own and a very special pet. As the bad men in Hasmat suits roam, capture, and execute people, eventually, they manage to find their way to Sean and Carla, and as a result, Carla is captured. But Sean's journey is far from over, and frankly? I don't want to spoil the entire film. My recommendation? Check this one out when you have the chance. This is a film I don't believe would have been completed or even started if not for the real-world pandemic. With that said, "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" makes excellent use of a city in fear holding everyone indoors. Without a big budget, I doubt some of the shots used in this film would have been possible, but because of the pandemic - you get the idea. There's definitely a Stephen King vibe to the whole production that works well to counter the pacing of the film. Yes, reader, said pacing is a little slow. There's a lot of walking and then more walking. Even the credit sequence at the start of the film is nearly ten minutes. In my humble opinion, had a more brutal editing process been used and some time shaved off, "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" may have earned a slightly higher score.
Although a little long in the tooth, there's a definite eerie charm to this film. Fantastical elements aside, "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" presents an excellent example of desolation, fear, and loneliness. This is a film that may be a little slow for those who love bullets, explosions, and action in every scene - but for those who enjoy a well-written, well-executed and thoughtful production - this one is for you—three and a half stars. |
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