in

Review: Tabloid Vivant

12189546_902355336520348_5600324666391222093_nWith a title like Tabloid Vivant, I knew going into my viewing that this was going to be a different kind of film than I’m used to seeing. It’s, obviously, quite artsy and not as self reliant on shock and awe tactics to sell the story as most films are. Described as Frankenstein meets “Twin Peaks,” Tabloid Vivant is due for full release later this year and here are my thoughts on it. Hopefully, my thoughts prepare you for your purchase making decision!

Tabloid Vivant is written and directed by Kyle Broom, who previously worked as a script supervisor on Homecoming (2009) and as an assistant director on The Cursed (2010). Tabloid Vivant was produced by Alexandra Spector and features cinematography from Laura Beth Love and visual effects from Mike Verta. Leading cast members include Jesse Woodrow (“Charmed”), Tamzin Brown (The Adderall Diaries), Amber Friendly (“Children’s Hospital”), Chris Carlisle, Lisa Valerie Morgan, Ana Corbi, Christopher Heltai and Nicole Stark.

“Max is an artist seduced by the allure of fame. Sara is an art critic whose obsessions exceed even his. When she lands a writing gig at a major art magazine, the pair retreats to a cabin in the woods, where Max reveals his strange new painting method. Convinced of its potential, she agrees to collaborate on a piece sure to revolutionize the art world. While both original and mesmerizing, the project reveals something dark and disturbing about their relationship. Like two digital-age Frankensteins, they manage to make a painting come alive – though the unsettling consequences of their success may be more fit for the pages of a blood-soaked tabloid than the chronicles of art history.” – October Coast

I’m not so sure that I agree with the comparisons to Frankenstein, although the similarities to “Twin Peaks” are as spot on as you can get. I’m confused as to why the team behind Tabloid Vivant didn’t use The Black Dahlia and the true-crime story of Elizabeth Short as their major selling point because this film contains a reenactment and many nods and homages to that murder. If anything, the only monsters created in Tabloid Vivant are the metaphorical monsters the two central characters are changed into through the process of creating something magnificent. OK, wait, maybe now I get the reference…

tabloidhorror

With that said, Tabloid Vivant isn’t very scary. Save for the amazing Elizabeth Short opening sequence, the mental unwinding of the characters and some creepy clown time, this movie doesn’t have anything that’ll make you feel uncomfortable or afraid. I would describe Tabloid Vivant as a psychological-drama, or, at the most, a high class horror film. The atmosphere created behind-the-scenes translated to film expertly and you always have the sense that things are going very wrong. It’s also thematically visible on the leads, as they lose their grip on reality, Tamzin Brown becomes paler and paler while Jesse Woodrow becomes dirtier and dirtier. Still, a moody trip into the asylum that a fractured mind creates is far from a horror film and I don’t think Tabloid Vivant is going to be marketed to the correct audience.

All this is not to say that Tabloid Vivant isn’t a fantastic movie, because it is. There is an big difference between a movie and a piece of cinema. Anyone can make a movie, anyone can get a camera and piece together shots, but few people are able to craft a cinematic experience. With Tabloid Vivant, Broom, Spector and Love have created a truly actualized piece of cinema which pulls different emotions from the viewer. Almost everything is a comparison or is contrasting the 1940’s/1950’s with 2015/2016. How has fashion changed? How has music changed? How has empowerment changed? How has sexuality changed? How has making art changed? What has stayed the same? To give my praise an artistic highlight, Tabloid Vivant is a classical, thematic and haunting masterpiece. Very catchy to the eye, too, with awesome cinematography and flashy visual effects.

My only two criticisms are with the horrible driving and talking on the phone scene and the moment the painter and the writer fall on each other. The quality of production was no where near as impeccable as the rest of the movie.

Well acted, well shot and an interesting look at the art darker parts of the art scene. I feel like I should have watched this film while sipping wine and eating a cheese and cracker platter. Tabloid Vivant gives a new meaning to getting lost in art and suffering for your art, but it’s not going to be for the typical horror fan. Final Score: 8.5 out of 10.

tabloidhorror3

Michael DeFellipo

(Senior Editor)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.