Plot: What’s it about?
A small band of friends is about to throw a massive rave inside an abandon warehouse. But in order to make this event a success, they need to find some killer music, decorate the place, and of course, invite tons of people who want to dance all night long. After an email is sent announcing the rave, a couple hundred kids start making plans on when to go, how to go, and with whom. Leyla (Lola Glaudini) sends out an email to all who will listen, asking for a ride to the shindig and soon enough, her phone is ringing off the hooks with offers. Elsewhere, Colin (Denny Kirkwood) is prepared to surprise his current girlfriend, Harmony (Mackenzie Firgens) at the rave and wants his brother, David (Hamish Linklater) to be present as well. In most instances, David wouldn’t attend a rave, but he agrees because of his brother’s insistence. Once they arrive at the rave and Colin’s surprise is revealed, David consumes some illegal substances and his whole perspective is changed. David and Leyla will cross paths at the rave, but their story is only one of many that unfolds while the records spin.
I’ve been looking forward to this release of Groove, as the film didn’t play in my town and I wanted to check it out. I admit, I am not an expert when it comes to raves or techno music, but I tend to like the visuals, music, and characters shown in the existing films on the subject matter. Groove delivers in spades on those elements and also weaves in a terrific storyline, to create an overall solid film that shines in the vital areas. Along with some incredible music and intense visuals, this film has some very good writing and the characters are diverse & likable. We never get to know them too much because the film moves at a brisk pace, but the depth is adequate for this type of picture. The storyline isn’t complex by any means, but again it is more than up to task for this style of movie. I was never let down by the writing at any point, although a few characters should have gotten some extended screen time. This is a very unique and effective film, one I think will stand up very well to repeat viewings. Add in a terrific disc and Groove is well worth the investment, whether you rent or purchase the title. If you want more on this film, an interview with director Greg Harrison can be found on this site, in which I discuss the process behind this disc with him.
Groove was written, edited, and directed by Greg Harrison, who makes his feature film debut with this picture. Although it is his first effort and the resources were limited, Harrison delivers a more than solid film and never falters much in the basic presentation. I think Harrison and his crew have captured a unique brand of visual and audial power, which alone is worth the price of admission here. The writing is also very good, but the visuals and soundtrack are nothing short of fantastic. I don’t extensive experience when it comes to raves and such, but I do think Harrison’s film has a realistic texture and tone, which adds a lot to the movie’s impact and appeal. This is a very good debut film for Harrison and I look forward to his future projects, whatever they might be. The cast is loaded with unknowns, but a few familiar faces manage to surface here and there. Rachel True (The Craft, Half Baked) is charming like always, while Steve Von Wormer (Idle Hands, Meet The Deedles) is also pretty good within his role. The cast also includes Hamish Linklater (Tv’s Gideon’s Crossing), Denny Kirkwood (Never Been Kissed), Vincent Riverside (Fast Sofa), Lola Glaudini (Down To You), and Mackenzie Firgens.
Video: How does it look?
Groove is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame version also included on this dual layered disc. This film uses a very rich and pulsing color scheme and I expected some problems, but I was pleased to find no such instances. Even in the richest reds and oranges, no bleeds or smears are evident in the least. The colors also remain distinct, even when several layer on top of each other. No problems with contrast either, although some grain can be seen in darker scenes. The grain is minimal however and no real trouble surfaces in the end. This is a very complex film in terms of visuals, but this transfer delivers on all counts.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is outstanding and as such, I am giving this disc my highest rating in this section. The music is so vital to the film and in this mix, it sounds crisp and pulses through the surrounds. I have heard some excellent music on this format, but a few sequences in this film rival even the best I’ve heard. The mix needed to come through here and thankfully, it does and with flying colors. The rest of the elements don’t suffer however, as subtle sound effects and dialogue also come through in fine form. Of course, dialogue is not always meant to be loud and clear in this film, but you’ll hear everything you need to, rest assured. This disc also contains 2.0 surround tracks and subtitles in English & French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I was pleased to find this disc had an isolated musical score, as I liked the soundtrack a lot and couldn’t wait to give this feature a spin. You’ll also find an audio commentary track with director Greg Harrison, cinematographer Matt Irving, and one of the film’s producers. These three seem very enthusiastic here and really offer insight into how & why Groove was made. I didn’t hear many silent spaces on the whole, this is an informative and enjoyable audio track. A selection of deleted and/or extended sequences is also found on the disc, which you can view with or without Harrison’s comments. Again, more insight is offered here and Harrison is quick to discuss why the scenes were axed from the flick. A very cool camera test piece is also found here, where we learn how Harrison and his crew manipulated the slow motion process used in the film. A couple minutes of audition tape footage can be seen, which again offers optional commentary from Harrison. Also on this disc is a brief behind the scenes featurette, a music video, some talent files, a still photo gallery, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
