review: NUMB

Heretic Films  //  Buy from Amazon.com In the past we believed that angels were supreme beings of benevolence. In the future, they will be mindless machines, created from the computer-scanned bodies of people so desperate for physical immortality they're willing to die to achieve it. They maintain a broken and failing civilization that is hopelessly addicted to a debilitating and ubiquitous narcotic known only as the "Drip". It is in this world that Claire and her guide Miles, genetically modified to be immune to the "Drip" epidemic, venture. Miles possess a dangerous charisma which draws Claire to him and deeper into his corrupt realm of violence, sex and addiction... Called a "potent addition to the grand tradition of indie sci fi" (Variety) and "Reminiscent of George Lucas' THX 1138" (MicrocinemaScene), let NUMB take you on a journey of discovery, addiction, sex and fear!" I'm still trying to make sense of what I just watched - "Numb" is a film that had me hooked from minute one with its striking cinematography and visual style, but soon enough it became clear that the this is not going to be a normal film story-wise, either. Redefining the term "jump cut," the director must have edited this sucker in a linear fashion, and then went crazy with reorganizing the order of clips and sequences, leaving behind a true mix-mash of scenes that will have you scratching your head right up to - and even after - the ending. I get the sense that maybe I'm just not smart enough, or hip enough, to "get" this film - whether that's true or not (hey, I fancy myself a cool dude), the film seems to want me to think that about myself, and that irks me. On one hand, I enjoyed the trippy visuals, and can at least appreciate the creative approach to filmmaking this indie director took to make his film stand out from the pack. But on the other hand, I did pay attention the whole time, I did watch it through right to the end, and I'm still not sure if I'm getting it... and maybe that's the point. Time to watch a second time? One day, perhaps, but give it a whirl and see if you're cool enough to diggit. Video Despite it's low-budget origins, "Numb" is given the deluxe treatment by Heretic Fils for his DVD release. The 16x9 transfer is stunning - clean & crisp throughout! Audio Dolby Stereo 2.0 mix is clean & audible throughout, but not overly dynamic. Extras deleted scenes (w/ director's introduction) audio commentary w/ director trailers Closing Thoughts Visually stunning, but ultimately weak-storied, film + a few decent extras = definitely worth checking out (even if only for the visuals)