directed by:
Peter Lane written by: Peter Lane genre: Comedy, Sketch |
The truth? I quite enjoyed Peter Lane's sketch series "You're Welcome to the Deadzone" much more than I expected. The type of comedy reminds me of old-school flicks such as "The Kentucky Fried Movie" and even, to some extent, "UHF." It's a darker kind of comedy, and some might perhaps even consider a lot of the content quite risqué - all traits I happen to enjoy quite a bit. And yet, reader, here's the rub. Lane's series is not really a visual film or series at all, and so it's kind of hard to rate it as one.
The truth is that "You're Welcome to the Deadzone" is, or should be considered, a podcast - so for those like me, that are expecting some kind of visual entertainment - this probably isn't the program for you. With that said, let me also add that I personally loved the dark comedy, but it really, really won't be for everyone. I thought the content I watched/heard was mostly pretty damn funny. My wife happened to be in the room, and she didn't even crack a smile. During some segments, she even groaned - and I don't mean that in a good way. But screw her! This is my review! If you don't mind jokes that go against the social norm, and maybe even a baby joke or two... this may be right up your alley. Typically, this spot would be reserved for my thoughts on the production quality of the project. Well, reader? It sounds good - although sometimes the static seemed a little loud. As far as visuals go, there's not a lot to write about. "You're Welcome to the Deadzone" features static pictures of televisions that don't change at all. Well, that's not quite right; one of the sets showcases a static image here and there with some television grain thrown in for good measure. In my humble opinion, had Lane added more video to the series to complement the channel-surfing audio, I probably would have given it a higher rating. There are many stock video sites offering free footage, and even a rudimentary documentary style to accompany the audio - could have worked like a charm. I could totally see a series like this in the format of "Ancient Aliens" or something. Something to visually spice things up and take it beyond its podcast roots.
So there you have it. Peter Lane has got a great premise that, although doesn't really count as a film or series, will still make those with the right sense of humor smile a bit. Since there's nothing to really see, you could treat this series as if it were a podcast and listen to it to get your fill of dark comedy. There are only a handful of episodes currently available, and I encourage anyone still reading to check them out. Links are below. Three out of five stars. |
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