Late Bloomer

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04/30/2010 4 star review on filmthreat.com - Below is the review from Filmthreat.com: “What is that ungodly thing?” “It looks like an octopus.” “This is the vagina!” And so begins the fabulously perverse and brilliant little gem that is “Late Bloomer”. If you thought your seventh grade sex-ed experience was troubling, you have nothing on the unnamed boy at the center of this film. For him, Miss Lovecraft’s lecture on the male and female reproductive systems is apocalyptically terrifying to the point of insanity. It all starts with the sight of a giant Vagina, or a giant chalk-drawn depiction of one, at least. Then the Penis is unveiled like a demon freshly summoned from the bowels of hell. If He is the One Who is Not To Be Named, then surely the unholy union of these two ancient gods of carnality is One Which We Do Not Even Think! Transfixed by these preposterous images and their strange implications, the boy begins to descend into the darkest depths of his psyche, to places where few mortals have ever dared tread. His female classmates begin to writhe like lustful sirens, sweat explodes from his every pore, his classroom transforms into an alien landscape of hidden dangers, and that damn Vagina comes alive, threatening to swallow him whole. His downward spiral culminates with an insane, orgiastic thanksgiving, in which he speaks in tongues, proclaiming his allegiance to the almighty Vagina and Penis, and cavorts with the thrashing females, now in the full throes of ecstasy. Of course, this is all in the boy’s head and nothing particularly untoward is ever actually shown (hey, these are kids after all, you sicko!). Without a doubt, “Late Bloomer” is one of the funniest things I have seen in some time. Describing the film’s “plot” cannot possibly do justice to this fine example of short filmmaking, which might otherwise sound like some disturbing bit of exploitation. Directed by Craig Macneill from a script by Clay McLeod Chapman, “Late Bloomer” is in fact a spot-on re-creation of the horrors of sexual awakening. The filmmakers’ take on this fascinating subject is not only bold and honest, it is also utterly hilarious, thanks mostly to the deliciously creepy voice-over work of screenwriter Chapman. As the inner voice of the boy most affected by Miss Lovecraft’s wild revelations, Chapman sounds like a deranged poet who’s clearly spent too much time studying that other Lovecraft while in the asylum. His fevered hysteria during the boy’s ultimate breakdown rivals that of the great Gene Wilder for sheer simulated delirium, a true spectacle indeed. As the boy himself, first-time actor Sam Borenzweig is wonderfully expressive. Without uttering a word, Borenzweig conveys confusion and panic and that hell-and-back glint like a pro. I’m sure it was difficult for the filmmakers to find a young actor to star in such a… touchy role, but I doubt they could’ve done any better than Borenzweig. Overall, “Late Bloomer” is surely a film not to be missed! by Daniel Wible See more 10/14/2009 Well this is one of the strangest films I have ever seen. Didnt watch the end..but most of it..I hung in as long as I could. Just got weird for me with the killing..Trippy film..the cover looked so interesting. But it was good to see someone with disabilities working. But I didnt care for the seriel killer part. I also felt very gratful for abilities and not so severe disablities. See more 07/29/2009 twisted movie. I love the fact that they cast an actual disabled person, something Hollywood would never even consider. There was one shot that really scared me. Excellent, creepy, and very interesting piece. See more 05/19/2009 Haunting, intense, disturbing and technically brilliant, this tale about a disabled lonely man turns all the stereotypes upside down and provides something fresh which is sure to linger in your mind for a long time! See more 03/26/2009 Very surreal yet honest film about a lonely disabled person who finally snaps after being rejected by a girl and becomes a serial killer. Shot with actual disabled people but never exploitative. Felt very honest and packs quite a punch. See more 09/19/2008 This is a quasi-experimental film that plays with digital video technology to create jarring images and buzzing electronic sounds, which is not exactly my cup of tea. The film was interesting, but lost me, from an emotional standpoint, about halfway through by turning the main character, the mute Sumida, into a lunatic. The movie ends up being a sort-of curiosity piece, along the lines of Crispin Glover?s films featuring real disabled people in strange situations. See more Read all reviews

Late Bloomer

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