1 out of 5

Director: Jon Hewitt

In films, music functions a few different ways. Obviously we have our scores, which give us that non-reality thematic rush to scenes and really do serve to highlight or underplay moments effectively. Some movies are tied to the music they use – the Big Chill comes to mind, and more recently, Pirate Radio. Hate or love the soundtrack, the music choices are specific to the film and theoretically evocative of something. Batman Forever was the first movie I noticed trying to sell the soundtrack first- tracks were heavily pushed with the film, with songs getting rotation way before the film’s release. Obnoxious, doesn’t enhance the film, but probably some studio exec’s choice anyway. The last one I’ll mention is the juxtaposition of diegetic / non-diegetic music in films. Woody Allen was good at switching this up for ironic / dramatic effect. Now: we have Acolytes. I’ll get to the plot in a moment, cause it really wasn’t a bad setup, but let’s talk about the music – you’re an indie film, so maybe you want to show off some cool tunes you know. Fine. But – when more than once you use a diegetic trick to show off some songs, and when more than once you prove that these songs have NO relation to the actions, the characters, or the film, I start to hate you and say ill things about you. Case in point: this review. Some kids stumble across a body being buried in the woods and figure out who it is, planning on using this informational leverage to take revenge on a bully. Good start. Stupid execution. Plenty of “meaningful” shots that I can feel the director story-boarding and proudly explaining the obvious meaning of, blended with unnecessary narration threading (i.e. we couldnt figure out how to smoothly relate these plot points) and quick edits / music stings that were never effective, especially when used EVERY THIRTY SECONDS. There was talent here, in the actors and crew, but it was poorly, boringly, and at times annoyingly applied.