Written By: Ryan Dailey
Big N Funky has another cult classic on their hands with Camp Smokey. Directed by Vinnie Vineyard and Luke Walker and written by Luke Walker with an assist from Kandi Thompson and Vinnie Vineyard, the film manages to make the audience re-evaluate how they see things while providing tons of blood, humor, heart and boobs.
Luke Walker should be revered as the next generation Bruce Campbell. The man is able to carry the film by himself through a good portion of the run-time. He does so by delivering a performance that exudes common-man, bad ass and lovable goof in a way that the horror-nation has not seen since Ashley J. Williams.
The story is very character driven, which makes the jaw-dropping ending all the more poignant. The team at Big N Funky consistently presents the movie viewing public with characters that are well-balanced and actually likable. (take notes, Hollywood.) Camp Smokey is the bookend to a trilogy that could easily become comfort movies to some.
Much like with the other movies in the trilogy, the acting is on point, the dialog tells the story while speaking to the viewer and never pandering to anyone. You either get these films and what they are going for or you don’t.
It has been said by this reviewer that if Big N Funky had more than a micro budget, they could be the next A24. In the realm of zero budget filmmaking, this company is just like mid 90’s Dimension, minus the weird Hollywood figureheads. Much like the heyday of the aforementioned company, Big N Funky manages to elevate independent film to another level by taking risks. A gamble that pays off not only for the creators, but the audience as well.
The films coming out of Big N Funky deserve attention. They are filling a void that has been left in filmmaking since the uprising of superhero films and the House of Mouse tightening their grip on any and all media platforms they can assimilate into their monopoly. They offer films that make the viewer laugh, jump and think.
After all, is that not why film was invented?
Camp Smokey will be available on blu ray in mid-September