Let's be realistic.

Admirable film.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

OCTOBER MOON is a very low budget shot on video gay relationship drama with a few horror touches. It's only really notable for featuring NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD's Judith O'Dea and scream queen Brinke Stevens in support. The horror elements only really feature at the climax and until that point the journey is grainy, long-winded, and populated by characters you simply don't care about.

This film contains many of the elements so many 'wannabee' writers strive for. The suspense and horror infused with comedy and a slant of 'old school horror genre'. The story seems to surround the viewer with a credulous feel but only on purpose. This film carries a viewer through the darkness of obsession, whilst maintaining that excellent subtext of "love what one has for it could be gone in an instant". That precise combination is something so difficult that many writers only hope to have accomplish and achieve such a balance. The filmmakers intentionally obfuscate the viewer to immerse them in this journey, making this a very gripping story to watch unfold. The overall feel in the film from scene to scene is beautifully played out for the audience, and inherent to the very horrific ending. Watch this film with great pleasure. Do not listen to the mindless and vapid chimes of those who refuse to embrace a different journey. This is a film worthy of every moment and beautifully presented. It is deeply encouraging for those of us who strive to create such a journey in film and succeed in sharing it with the world. Our hats off to a brilliant story, superb actors and a flawless cinematic experience!

Contrary to my initial assumption, "October Moon" really isn't a horror movie. Not that there aren't some rather disturbing moments, but the film plays itself out more like a psychological drama in the vain of "Fatal Attraction" (yes, the comparison is inevitable) or "Unfaithful." The climax of the film verges on "slasher" territory, but ends up being more depressing that actual scary.The film centers around Corin, a thirty year old professional, and his younger, party-loving boyfriend Jake. The two have been together for awhile. but it is obvious that all is not rosy in their relationship. While Corin has settled down and likes to spend quiet evenings at home, Jake still loves the "bar" scene, and often views his relationship with Corin as holding him back from enjoying his youth. At work, Corin is able to confide in his boss and good friend Nancy (Brinke Stevens) about his relationship troubles. She listens with a caring ear and seems to be the only person to really understand him. Due to an increased work load and his unstable home life with Jake, Nancy decides to hire an assistant of sorts name Elliot to help Corin with some of his duties. At first, Elliot is awkward and somewhat nerdy, but likable nonetheless. Corin learns that Elliot lives with his over-protective mother (Judith O'Dea) and is engaged to be married to long-time girlfriend, Marti. Corin begins spending some time outside of work with Elliot, inviting him home and to various outings. Before long, Elliot begins to develop feelings for Corin and realizes that he is a homosexual. This causes severe mixed emotions in him; his mother is deeply against this lifestyle because he husband left her years earlier for another man. With no real support for his new feelings, Elliot's feelings for Corin begin to become a dangerous and disturbing obsession, resulting in a dark, depressing climax."October Moon" is truly a character driven story and because of this, may cause some viewers to lose interest. No real action occurs until the films final moments, but the build-up is almost more intense. Elliot's behavior does become more and more disturbing and where the film excels is in its believability. The characters actions and reactions are realistic and because the characters are developed extremely well, it is easy to sympathize with their individual situations. Even at the end of the film, it is hard to really blame Elliot for his actions; he desperately just wanted to be loved and accepted, and like many gay men, the emotions that came with falling for another man, when his entire life he had been told how wrong that was, were almost too much to handle. The writers takes careful steps to ensure that Elliot never becomes a despicable character and it works to the film's benefit. While there is some clichéd and dialogue steeped with stereotypes, overall, it does an adequate job of moving the plot along and creating interesting characters.The biggest flaw present in "October Moon" is certainly its low-budget, resulting in extremely amateur looking production values. For example, the picture looks dated and often times is no better quality than you'd get with an old hand-held camera. The sound fades in and out in many spots, making conversations hard to comprehend. These issues don't necessarily make this a bad film, but do, at times, make it hard to take seriously. The acting really is a mixed bag; the actors portraying Corin and Jake are adequate, but often times some cheesy dialogue interrupts their performances. Jerod Howard is effective as Elliot, but some particular scenes seem to put noticeable strain on his range. Horror veterans Brinke Stevens and Judith O'Dea are both serviceable, but criminally underused. What is really distracting about the performances is that in some scenes, the actors are brilliant, but in the very next scene, verge on being terrible. The climax is rushed and, while somewhat effective, doesn't pack the punch that it really could have.Overall, "October Moon" is an interesting, engaging little independent film. Like so many other low-budget films out there, it is very apparent that the filmmakers actually cared about the final product and did the best of their ability and resources to make a decent film. While those expecting gore and non-stop action will likely become extremely bored with "October Moon," it is an effective that not only cares about its characters and presents a believable portrait of obsession and desperation, it subtly makes a statement about expectations, relationships, and the consequences of intolerance. It's a slow burn, but "October Moon" is an effective, creepy film that puts substance before style; the end result and a memorable portrait of love gone wrong on many levels.

Having myself seen my fair share of independent movies of both the gay a straight persuasion, I can honestly say that October Moon is definitely a shining example of honest story telling with fictional edge. Recently I saw the movie "Ice Men" and have to say it was pretty awful....definitely expected more considering director Thom Best (Ginger Snaps, Queer as Folk) has done better in the past. The characters were flat and predictable and the acting was at times reminiscent of "Showgirls". With October Moon, this was definitely not the case. I found the characters believable and the writing to be an honest portrayal of people in general. The movie has a wonderful flow and holds your attention from beginning to end. Collum has shown a great deal of personal development in writing style and direction from previous endeavors. Apparently his work with TEMPE and as assistant editor for Femme Fatale has matured his talent and craft. I definitely recommend this movie, its storytelling at its best.