guilebranco
The art of making a good low budget film is a true skill. One location, only a few actors - many times these films are hard to watch. Anonymous 616 though is incredible, not only on a production standpoint, great cinematography and sound -- but the actors do a great job and it often kept me on the edge of my seat. And the bloody mess that it becomes is a high point if you're into that sort of thing. The script is masterfully crafted by Mike Boss who also directs, and although the ending not cup of tea, nonetheless I praise the masterpiece at work.
vqueenbee
Genuinely interesting premise and plot that goes into unchartered territory. I was pleasantly surprised by the intelligent exploration of both philosophical and psychological complexities. Definitely worth watching for its unique story as it shines a glaring light on PTSD, closeted opinions, repressed emotions, technology and Big Brother. The lead actor demonstrates an authentic portrayal of one affected by war, a God-complex, and betrayal in love and friendship.
maximumrush-91685
This film leaves an indelible impression, showcasing how great art is expressed from an original source of humanity and creation.The film leaves you wanting to watch it again to fully grasp the magnitude of its message. What I found most compelling is how the film allowed me to interpret the overarching message: an individual soul on an inward journey to heal pain.And all this before I arrived at the reality that the main character has brought "the war home from the war." The impact of PTSD is portrayed authentically in this film like no other. Every human being is a spiritual soldier - there is no escape but to look within and ultimately become one with everything.This film awakened me in a way I could only have imagined until now expressing pure power and vulnerability.The entire cast was playing for real, and the film's lead actor Daniel DeWeldon made me question my own authenticity. I had to remind myself, was this acting or real? DeWeldon set a new bar for what is great acting.At its heart, this movie demonstrates evolved filmmaking in 2018. Hats off to the original writing, creative direction, captivating cinematography, and a striking musical score. The storytelling is best compared with that of the Cohen brother's "No Country For Old Men" and a bit of Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction", yet Mike Boss' "Anonymous 616" stands on its own as a masterpiece. This is a horror film that needed no special effects, no frills, no green screen - just blood, sweat, and tears!"Anonymous 616", written and directed by Mike Boss, by James Scarborough
INTRODUCTION. Google something and you can feel omniscient, like a god. You can feel the same way with gnarly pharmaceuticals, with or without the imprimatur of a religious practice. Finally, mental maladies can make you think that God speaks to you and you alone and that you must enforce anything that He commands. Anonymous 616, written and directed by Mike Boss, reminds us how these delusions of omniscience actually go way, way back. The film doesn't make you question your sanity. Instead, in spectacular fashion, it makes you question your nihilism, your agnosticism, your lapsed church attendance, and your poo-poohing those fierce and fiery depictions of Hell in Northern Renaissance paintings.WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Soldier Jason's (Daniel DeWeldon) back from a tour in Iraq. He's got a girlfriend, Jenna (Jessica Boss) and a best friend, Eric (David Abramsky). Eric's got a girlfriend, Monica (Lena Roma). Monica has a teenage daughter, Emily (Bella Shepard).Jason and Jenna visit Eric and Monica. Feels chummy - friends reuniting after a spell. Drinks, snacks. Then they smoke some DMT. DMT's like magic mushrooms, like LSD. It distorts reality, it conjures up hallucinations. Each goes off into their separate bliss.On his way back from the loo (DMT has a bilious side effect), Jason receives a text from a computer atop a desk in a home office. It's not that this computer knows how his stock portfolio's doing, how long the drive home will take, what the Dodgers are up to. No, this computer knows a lot of stuff about Jason. A deep secret and then an even darker one. AI run amuck? Good, keep thinking that.On subsequent visits, Jason gets advice from the computer/oracle. Not what clothes to wear, where to eat, what movie to see. No, it empowers him. The computer asks, Want to feel like God? Who wouldn't, right? Jason says yes. Then do this, says the computer. At first the task is simply pervy, simply being relative for what comes next. Then the tasks become Manson Family diabolical. A side effect of the DMT? How about PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder)? Good, keep thinking both of those.Things go from worse to more worse. Seriously, stomach-turning worse. (Fortunately, the absolute worst scene isn't shown, just its aftermath.) Wait until you see what turned his life into a living Hell.WHY DOES IT MATTER? There's an article in Inc. magazine that came out the day of this writing. In it, Larry Page and Elon Musk come down on different sides of the threat that artificial intelligence poses to us carbon-based life forms. Page thinks that robots should be treated like people. Musk doesn't. It's a topical argument whose relevance this film blows out of the water. The real threat to mankind? If it had a phone number, it would begin a 616 area code.WHO SHOULD SEE IT? Fans of horror films whose slash-and-churn visuals are not gratuitous but serve a higher narrative function.WHAT SHOULD I FOCUS ON? Genre-bending. The production has the attributes of a slasher/horror/thriller film. It's all that (Oh Christ, is it). Really, though, it's a morality play. Red herrings. From the first scene, we see the ghastly havoc Jason wrecks. We don't yet know the Why. Three possible explanations. Artificial intelligence. A psychotropic drug. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Each is plausible, but each is wrong. The identity and implications of what set Jason off will take your breath away. The reveal moment. The innocuous way we find it's not a computer that speaks to Jason but a Higher/Lower voice is inspired. Let's just say that evil doesn't need AC/DC, a router, and an ISP. DeWeldon's Jason. The way DeWeldon transforms Jason from a hipper than thou vet to a dude with a serious God-complex has to be seen to be believed.VERDICT? Don't flee after the first 30 seconds, after each of a quartet of cataclysmic incidents. See how all the bloody pieces come together at the end. You will be astonished. Guaranteed.HOW DO I WATCH IT? You can stream it here on Amazon.
