Bad Fever2012

The performances are superb. Both Kentucker Audley and Eleanor Hendricks are present in their characters throughout, twisting and squirming through their lives like worms in the dirt. Audley's Eddie character in particular is tremendous, bringing a Freddie Quell type of discomfort to the screen which is at once utterly captivating and cringe inducing. David Lowery's edit is solid as well, lending his jazz rhythm to an otherwise static narrative. The film calls to mind Vincent Gallow's Buffalo 66 but lacks the coherence needed to elevate this classic outsider tale to greater emotional heights.

In Eddie we witness the parts of our self we are vulnerable to release, struggling as we do find that part unfiltered by expectation.

There is something quite affective about this odd sort of mis-fitted film. Dustin Guy Defa's movie manages to keep you watching even when it becomes cinge-inducingly uncomfortable.

Kentucker Audley delivers a constant stream of frustrated and awkward confusion that often feels could turn violent. Audley's character's stand-up routine is painfully absorbing. It is the mixture of Audley's worrying performance and Defa's quickly off-beat lo-fi style that makes this film into something of note. Off-kilter and like some sort of lost documentary -- by the film's end everything about it makes sense and is surprisingly exceptional.

Tough to get through, because you keep rooting for Eddie and you think he's just not going to get there. A good meandering indie character film, if you like that sort of thing. I did.