... with the best setup.
Lets review.
A B-movie is at its essence where the producer (usually also the director and the writer) raises just enough money for the camera and the editing studio, period. Everything after that is barter or begging. Which is why the Bs usually feature a small cast and a limited choice of shooting locales. Like for an example, a diner and a forest.
A "setup" is the dramatic device that sets the tone for the rest of the film and prepares the audience.
This little gem as an "overlong setup" as Wes Bentley and Abagail Breslin spend a lot of time, just the two of them, training, as if this were some sort of MMA epic. Which of course it is not.
The setup runs over 20 minutes and -- who knew? -- it works a treat. Breslin is Jim dandy for the role but Bentley oddly enough gives the performance of his life. His crazy eyes and strange demeanour have never been uses so effectively in his entire career.
It is the brilliance of the overlong setup that carries the viewer into the second Act and the finale.
The highest compliment I can pay this film is this -- if they do a sequel, I will stand in line to see it.
And if Hollywood stole the idea and did a remake -- I would see that too.
