Zombos Closet friend (and odd relative on Zimba's side, I believe) Bruce Murray was recently invited to take a first look at Sin-Jin Smyth. Sure, he gets invited. Lucky for us, he graciously sent along the review in time for Halloween. Which is apropos, as the film takes place during one dark and stormy Halloween night. Boo! Here's his review:
The eternal struggle between good and evil creates a presence we all feel throughout the human condition. We have front row seats for this battle played out on the grand stage which is this life. Many different cultures develop the same themes that attempt to understand, explain, and guide us through our struggle. The great religions of the world warn us of the darkness we face inside and in the world around us. This darkness is best exemplified in the persona of the Devil. The King of Darkness. Lucifer. Beelzebub. Sin-Jin Smyth.
Countless films have attempted to portray the Devil. From the cold, serious reality of Viggo Mortensen's turn at the Dark Prince in The Prophecy, to the charming and terrifyingly charismatic character Al Pacino played in The Devil's Advocate. The Fallen Angel has been characterized in many ways on the silver screen. So many different ways that logically one would assume the fascination would wear off. But not so with a subject that is inherently instilled in us: an idea that is part of the understanding of our human condition and the world we live in.
No, the Devil still packs them in at the theater. And every once in awhile, truly creative minds come up with a completely original and innovative take on the Lord of the Flies that connects with audiences in such a way, it helps us to define the evil in this world from a new perspective. Which in turn leads us to a broader picture and deeper understanding of our condition. That's why the medium of film is so powerful. The sharing of experiences and ideas in an entertaining way, touches and changes us all on some deeper level.
I was recently invited to view a film that tries to yet again define the Devil. Sin-Jin Smyth is the latest creation from horror masters, Snapkick Productions. Writer/director Ethan Dettenmaier appears to be one of those "truly creative people" who has come up with a powerful and intriguing new take on Satan, and his purpose on this Earth. No easy task in a market flooded with similar material, though the term diamond in the rough comes to mind after viewing Dettenmaier's film.
Every Halloween at midnight, the Devil appears simultaneously in two places on Earth; the high plains of India, and the Great Plains of the United States. Events are set in motion when two U.S. Marshals are dispatched to the small town of Shin Bone, Kansas to pick up and escort a mysterious prisoner across state lines.
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