my brief thoughts on.... 'Blackout' (2008)

there's a lot of talk right now about the M. Night Shyamalan produced 'Devil' about strangers on an elevator and one of them may be the devil.... before that was made, there was 'Blackout' starring Amber Tamblyn.... this film was about 3 strangers trapped on an elevator that's stuck.... what two of them don't know about the third is that person is a serial killer.... sounds simple enough, right....? what's really impressive about this film is how much drama and action they were able to squeeze out of such a small place.... it's an edge of your seat thriller and despite the fact that you find out who's the killer before the end, doesn't make this any less powerful.... it's a nail biter.... and it proves once again that Amber Tamblyn is a very underrated actress.... she carries this film on her shoulders and does it well.... i only wish that other films would follow this same example.... it just doesn't seem that there's enough thought put into filmmaking these days.... there is a lot of junk being put out just for the sake of getting something out in the theater.... whether it's because of a certain actor they want to cash in on or a certain trend.... even remakes can be original, if done right.... so please, take the time to look beyond the 'new release' wall at the video store or explore Netflix in your spare time.... Google a film you love and look for referrals to other films.... there's a world of films that are waiting for a fresh set of eyes, you just have to be willing to take a risk....

that being said....
i can say, without hesitation, that this was a 4 out of 5 star film.... a little diamond in the rough that needs to be seen by more people.... kind of like another Amber Tamblyn gem, 'Spiral' (which is OnDemand right now).... it's another low budget thriller that needs more people to see it.... not too mention it also stars Joel David Moore and 'Chuck's Zachary Levi.... 'Blackout' proves that simplicity can be just as effective as an intricate plot and a big budget with a big name producer behind it.... it's a solid film with solid direction and solid acting.... and you should probably consider checking this one out soon before it's gone from Netflix's OnDemand section.... i highly recommend it.... and if it means anything, this will someday be a part of the Joel DVD library.... i enjoy films where actors get a chance to act and to tell the story with words, rather than with pictures.... this is absolutely one of those films.... and on that note, i'll be using the stairs.

if you like Amber Tamblyn, also check out: 'The Grudge 2', 'Spiral', and 'The Ring'