Indie filmmaker produces a hit with The Haunted Heart
Gary Bartle
Issue date: 10/19/04 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
First off, I'm sorry to those people who believed me when I said that Taxi would make about $20 million. Since I was so far off ($8 million), I punished myself and watch it a second time.
Ha! Right! As if I would ever put myself through that again! However, I was fortunate enough to catch an Indie flick at Novi's Emagine Theater called The Haunted Heart.
October 14 was a great night for first time filmmaker Nick Moretti. After seven painstakingly long years, the film he directed, wrote (and re-wrote) and starred in was finally here. And he never imagined it would premiere at...the Emagine!
I also want to congratulate the Novi Fountain Walk for hosting an event that should gain recognition. It provides exposure for up-and-coming filmmakers. If the Emagine Theater did a couple of these a month and didn't charge movie producers to show it, they'd make more money than they think. It would become an outlet for budding filmmakers and actors, for that matter.
Sorry about the tangent. Back to the movie...
I don't think this is Moretti's ticket to Sundance. But it's certainly a step in the right direction. He has a gift in vision. Had the movie been filmed and not digitally recorded, a viewer would have a hard time not distinguishing it from a normal feature film.
However, there were certain problems with the film that were mostly caused by the low-budget. There were several instances where the sound would jump in volume or the echoing of a shoe would dominate the dialogue.
Fortunately, through the 75 minutes that is The Haunted Heart, we are encapsulated in a moving paranormal love story. Two promising writers marry and move into the famous "Octagon House." They soon realize they are not alone in the house, and the horror ensues.
Not many Hollywood movies, let alone indies, make good movies that involve horror and love. But since this is more of a love story with a hint of horror, it works well. Well-placed special effects and effective, raw acting make this an indie worth checking out.
Watch out for Moretti's next flick. It is bound to sweep the local area by storm. It's about a Muscular Dystrophy Association camp and how it affects the lives that it touches.
Ha! Right! As if I would ever put myself through that again! However, I was fortunate enough to catch an Indie flick at Novi's Emagine Theater called The Haunted Heart.
October 14 was a great night for first time filmmaker Nick Moretti. After seven painstakingly long years, the film he directed, wrote (and re-wrote) and starred in was finally here. And he never imagined it would premiere at...the Emagine!
I also want to congratulate the Novi Fountain Walk for hosting an event that should gain recognition. It provides exposure for up-and-coming filmmakers. If the Emagine Theater did a couple of these a month and didn't charge movie producers to show it, they'd make more money than they think. It would become an outlet for budding filmmakers and actors, for that matter.
Sorry about the tangent. Back to the movie...
I don't think this is Moretti's ticket to Sundance. But it's certainly a step in the right direction. He has a gift in vision. Had the movie been filmed and not digitally recorded, a viewer would have a hard time not distinguishing it from a normal feature film.
However, there were certain problems with the film that were mostly caused by the low-budget. There were several instances where the sound would jump in volume or the echoing of a shoe would dominate the dialogue.
Fortunately, through the 75 minutes that is The Haunted Heart, we are encapsulated in a moving paranormal love story. Two promising writers marry and move into the famous "Octagon House." They soon realize they are not alone in the house, and the horror ensues.
Not many Hollywood movies, let alone indies, make good movies that involve horror and love. But since this is more of a love story with a hint of horror, it works well. Well-placed special effects and effective, raw acting make this an indie worth checking out.
Watch out for Moretti's next flick. It is bound to sweep the local area by storm. It's about a Muscular Dystrophy Association camp and how it affects the lives that it touches.