Review by Derek Sharp (7/18/02)
Prehaps it was the title, that brought me to this screenplay or maybe it was just the cool looking costume, that graced the outside of the website. Maybe it was a little of both but this script, is the ultimate horror film, which manages to combine the elements of HALLOWEEN and many other horror films but what makes this script new is the fact that the script involves its share of drama and adventure, that keeps it from edging into the fall-out area that most horror films have gone. Even more interesting is the cast, Deric Myers, our reluctant hero for instance has his share of problems that have been hidden from him for years; Mariah Logan, the love interest of the story has just been forced into a game of life and death that she learns is from her own past as well; Ken Thompson, the very funny sidekick (if he can be called that) has found his beliefs tested; and Kristy, has yearned for Deric Myers for years. Now they're all caught up with the Boogeyman. Who is the Boogeyman, you may wonder? Well, without revealing too much, the character revolves around an urban legend which has engulfed Halloville, home of our cast. My overall opinion, this is not usual horror film instead it's a whole new world of adventure and horror.
THE BOOGEYMAN 101
Review By Derek Sharp (7/18/02)
Sequels. "These days it's all about the sequels," or so Stu believes in SCREAM. In my opinion, some sequels are not needed but BOOGEYMAN 101 is different it picks up a 10 years after the original and brings up Deric and Mariah, who are both living their own different lives. Deric has made the MASSACRE TRILOGY, a film based the events he and Mariah witnessed all those years ago. But fate brings them once again together with a cast of teenagers, including Seth, a relative of Deric's. Still, this time things are different but somethings have remained the same in a good way. And there are some surprises in store, that fans of this series will love. I for one did and things get a little more interesting. Overall, it was the best so far and I can't wait for the next chapter.
SUMMER BREEZE
Review By Derek Sharp (7/18/02)
Summer, the time for dreams and the time to relax. But for a group of teenagers, fate has an odd deck for them. As if dreaming were'nt enough for most teenagers, the main character who lusts over the girl of his dreams is watching as she is being cheated on. Instead of just standing back and watching he decides to go on a trip to Summer Glen with a group of friends, that may or may not be trustworthy. Still, to make matters worse a girl is secretly mourning over our lead and there's a killer on the loose. At first this story sounds like your average slasher film but that's the catch, this teen/drama/horror film has more twist than both BOOGEYMANs combined and the story is is great. I was laughing and cheering on the characters as I read it.Truly, a great script.
Review By Derek Sharp (1/2/05)
The slasher genre is usually known for three things: a body count, very attractive females who usually end up nude at some point and a archtype killer. SUMMER BREEZE holds many of this particular standards, but SUMMER is so much more than just a slasher film. The story, itself, echoes the romance of a Shakespearen tragedy, the heart of a John Hughes film, and a balance between SCREAM horror and true emotional horror. Most importantly, at the heart of the story is a romance that truly drives the story. At times it is ROMEO AND JUILET, yet, on others its something much deeper and that is what truly drives this film. Not the killings that we occasionally see, but rather the ongoing struggle Ben Williamson has with his dream girl, Chris. Yet, it amazing to see how the film balances all the elements, but since it has the heart of the romance -- that is what we're focused on. Leaving us with a truly emotional story arc.
FilmBUFFS
Review By Derek Sharp (5/1/05)
The first thought that struck my mind instantly before sitting down to read the final draft of FilmBUFFS was the idea of CLERKS, the first film by Kevin Smith. The thought was short lived as I continued to read I found myself being introduced to a cast of characters, who truly come of as human beings go through their daily attempts at maintaining relationships and all the suffering involved. The romance of Eddie and Lucy, two very strong and true to John Hughes' characters with a Kevin Williamson twist go through the all too familiar routine of relationships including the all too familiar ending that we've come to love at the end of every romance movie we've ever seen. To be honest, I've been a fan of Williamson's and Hughes' movies, but once more I think the heart of this screenplay comes from the tangible and very strong relationship of Eddie and Lucy and we as reader's feel every single step of the journey with a renewed vigor. I've attempted romance screenplays and I have only managed to get as far as page one, so I have to respect Eric for pulling this off, but where he shines is in the chemistry of the cast and romance. This script is a far cry from BOOGEYMAN but it carries remanents of the relationship of SUMMER BREEZE. The exception here of course is that the romance is the heart of the story and it fuels the fire. The film also seems to remind me of a compact Kevin Smith series in feel, but by no means does that take away from the voice of the story something truly Eric's own to tell. If I had to choose any script of Eric's to date, this is by far my favorite. It carries the same intensity of his prior scripts but pushes itself to the next level and in so doing I think as reader's we're introduced to an entirely new level of approach as well. I also feel as though there is room for a sequel or a spin-off of some kind. The supporting cast could very well handle their own film if need be. On another hand, there is enough closure to this story that I really truly believe we don't need any more than we're given.
LILITH
Review By Derek Sharp (5/3/05)
The American idea of Vampire movies fall into various brackets. You have the classic DRACULA influenced movies, the action films BLADE TRILOGY for instance, the obscure which I've come to love over the years and last but probably not least the Erotic Porn vampire flicks and let's not forget Anne Rice's world of vampires. To be honest, I've always been a BUFFY and ANGEL kind of guy. You have your romance, you have your action and you have your drama. It's enough to fulfill just about every audiences needs. I finished the screenplay in just under an hour and here's how it breaks down. We have ADAM, our typical all American comic book loving average joe character, who has just gone through a really bad break-up and that has set his life in a downward spiral. Until he meets LILTH, the mother of all vampires and first woman of God's creation. Lilth feels typical of all female vampires and carries the romantic essence that we all know and love, but that's not a downside. And of course, our friendly and overly pissed off vampire slayer KIRK LANGSTORM II. A vampire slayer remotely related to Batman's old nemesis the Man-Bat trying to redeem his family's past. Typical characters and story? Think again. Adam is a tortured character more akin to one of my favorite characters in LOST BOYS but in this case this character wants to be a vampire for romantic reasons, which actually adds a layer to the story instead of passing off the "I'm going to turn you and you have to find a cure for it" angle that Hollywood so loves to throw our ways. Lilth is also a far cry from the traditional in every sense of the word, but on another she is very much the traditional since she is the first vampire after all. Just the fact, that she is the mother of all vampires is pure enough for me to make this script stand out. Most writers objectively go for more the simple minded blood suckers of the world and their fun little trips of sucking off any human they can find. Lilth on the other hand finds herself turning a new leaf and reacts purely on emotions, much like Anne Rice's characters but she does it in so a way that it works. As for the relationship, it feels a little rushed at first but it builds itself in a way that makes sense. And hell, what guy hasn't gone to the next girl who wants to be with him without much trouble? And what of our vampire slayer? Kirk is a chip off of the old block in every sense of the word in his goals and he just wants the job done. Not much else to say about the character except that he is the foil of the relationship between Adam and Lilth and he allows for certain events to further, which really increases the intensity of the story. But where do I start with the references? Eric has made fewer, but he has also buried some within the subtext of the story in such a way only true vampire fans will get the details. But where do I stand on this script? To be honest, I came out of the first half a little shaken having seen so many vampire movies and seeing all the similarities but making it through the last two acts proved to me there was something more there. If anything Eric has a deft hand at romance, something that I severely lack and a very diverse taste in vampire mythology. The ending fell together like some...God help for me saying this...a fairy tale romance with vampires. Once again, I also see the potential for sequels. Adam and Lilth are strong stand out characters who undoubtly are going to have their share of problems with anyone who wants to be a vampire or has issues with vampires in the future, if people still believe in them. Any way, this one is defintely on my list of projects I want to see even if vampire romances aren't really to my taste. I see serious potential with these characters and hope we at least this couple in some form or another. I dig a cameo in one of the FilmBUFFs or even a horror film, which ever happens first. Just very glad to see a change in pace on that circuit of thought.