Jeanskynebu
the audience applauded
Nayan Gough
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Mathilde the Guild
Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
Theo Robertson
A great idea for a short film - a musical featuring the apocalypse . It's camp , crazy and cheerful . The problem is it's a bit too cheerful , not crazy enough and not sure if it's too camp or not camp enough . The one musical I do adore is Alan Parker's interpretation of PINK FLOYD THE WALL which makes a direct connection between stadium rock and Nazi rallies . Bad taste for sure but one that does have a ring of truth and that film does have the power to polarise an audience in to two distinct camps of love and hate both towards the music being played and the shocking imagery . Here however with SUDDEN DEATH I found myself being rather bored with the on screen events . I'm not missing the point Adam Hall is making here but having a story with a virus that is " The gayest disease ever " that turns its victims in to dancing , prancing , singing , fleet footed fools there seems to be a totally inoffensive nature to everything . The potential scope to really put the boot in to those dreadful , limp wristed , mincing singers and dancers from musical theatre just doesn't seem to be there and the inoffensive nature of SUDDEN DEATH is a handicap . It's also a bit too long for its own good and when you've got sappy songs featuring romance some cynics might say the fact it exists means it's 19 minutes too long
bob the moo
Although it has been contained to part of LA County, Sudden Death Syndrome (formerly known as Musical Theatre Disease or The Gayest Disease Ever) is killing all in its path – causing song and dance to break out shortly before sudden death. Racing against time, two scientists come together to try and develop a cure, but while the world pirouettes and then dies, the only thing developing is perhaps the early stages of love.I'm not really a fan of musicals and indeed if asked I would say my favorite one is the South Park film, because it is. However with Sudden Death! we have a short film that manages to deliver a typically big and cheerful Broadway musical (all teeth and high-kicks) while also making fun of those very same things while delivering a plot that is as far from Broadway as possible – so I think you can understand why I mention South Park and why I enjoyed this film so much. The humor throughout is bang on, with a great tone but also frequent specific laughs and silliness.The music is also really well done although it perhaps relies a bit too much on one song in particular, but it is catchy and even watched "straight" (which is hard to do) it satisfies as an odd musical. The cast really go with the spirit and I enjoyed the appropriately named Lutz and the talented Hurlbert while Doug Jones was an odd find for someone more known for his creatures work. It is all filmed really well with great camera work and direction and importantly very good sound work. Hard to fault for a short film – it is very clever, funny, catchy and charming from start to finish.
Beth-817-798887
Sudden Death! is a witty, fast-paced musical short film with a strong ensemble and bold leads.Director Adam Hall clearly understands the formula for making a successful movie musical. He takes the best qualities from the musical theater genre (jazz hands and all) and effortlessly translates a script and score that is worthy of a full blown stage production to the silver screen. Viewers will be able to appreciate his grasp of the film medium as he channels his confident vision making no apologies for all the quirky eccentricity in his piece.Matt Lutz and Autumn Hurlbert lead the cast with their stunning vocals as star-crossed scientists racing against time to find a cure for the deadly "Sudden Death Syndrome." Meanwhile, funny man Doug Jones serves up his fair share of laughs as the quirky head scientist leading the research team. Kahle Mccann steals the show as Todd, a scientist who, despite the fast pace of the piece in general, manages to dispense brilliant one-liners that viewers won't see coming.I highly recommend this short film. It is a refreshingly original and strongly executed production.
Gunnar Stevenson
Beautifully shot, fast-paced and exciting script, expertly acted/sung, with amazingly witty lyrics and catchy music; this movie really has it all. Not just for the musical theater junkie, Sudden Death! is so funny that I literally missed half the jokes because I (and the rest of the audience, at a screening in Westwood) was laughing so loudly.The story follows two young scientists as they search for a cure for a terrible disease that is quickly spreading throughout LA. The only symptom of the disease is randomly breaking into song and dance before keeling over. Hilarity ensues, people fall in love, some get shot, and then everyone dies... all in 20 minutes!! It has to be seen to be believed! Hurlbert is a standout, and McCann steals the scene as a receptionist.Definitely check this film out if you get the chance!
