Deadly Obsession: The Films of Bill Reeves

Very unique

Great movie. . . Definitely worth checking out!!!

Certainly a subject most, if not all, buyers will never have heard of (I certainly hadn't), this ode to Lebanon, IN-based SOV director Bill Reeves is obviously a mixed bag, but worth the chance if you like outsider cinema that's very definitely on the margins.

The centerpiece here is the two-and-a-half-hour(!) DEADLY OBSESSION, a serial killer thriller that wanders all over the place and moves at a snail's pace, but also includes some unexpected moments of style that redeem it. Most of Reeves' films are like this, ramshackle affairs that nevertheless take on an odd degree of charm if you lean in and give them a chance.

Transfers are basically just ports of VHS tapes (no idea if they tried to find higher-quality masters or if any are even available), but given the extremely impoverished productions, probably the best we can hope for. Most of the films come with commentary by Reeves, which is often very sporadic and not all that interesting, but it's better to have the guy speaking than not, I guess, even if there's a lot of dead air (would have been better to have a moderator from VHShitfest, perhaps).

Decidedly not for all tastes, but for those who are feeling more adventurous or with a taste for drone cinema, you could do worse than taking a 20-hour tour (give or take) of Lebanon from Reeves' eyes.

This collection highlights the sheer creative tenacity of a dude from Lebanon, Indiana, proving that heart and hustle are just as important as a Hollywood budget.

It's one thing to make available an obscure SOV title, but it's a real treat when you get a chunk of output from one of these regional auteurs. I love getting to know the players & locations over the course of these stories. The mix of genres is also great. Plenty to enjoy for seekers of homemade, passion-driven cinema.