Hello Herman (2012)
Starring: Norman Reedus, Garrett Backstrom, Martha Higareda
Writer: John Buffalo Mailer
Director: Michelle Danner
Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Herman Howards makes a
fateful decision. He enters his suburban school and commits a
terrible act of violence. Seconds before his arrest he emails his
idol, infamous journalist Lax Morales, telling him, “I want to tell
my story on your show.” Haunted by his own past, Morales is forced
to confront the troubled teenager, now an inmate with an uncertain
future in this Michelle Danner-directed film that explores how and
why tragedies like this can happen in our society.
Review:
I regret to inform that I did not care
for this movie. If I'm being honest, a lot of it got me downright
heated. Normally, 'Back Online. Back On Duty.' is dedicated to
Horror, Action, And Sci-Fi. It's rare for me to touch on a film like
Hello Herman. Well, that's because I wasn't really expecting it to be
what it is. I feel like at times it has the right idea. The pursuit
of why things like this happen. Why does a kid go into a school and
kill other kids? The movie explores several avenues as to why these
things happen, but I can't help but feel like there's a hidden agenda
here.
Why do I say that? Look at it like
this- Take a bowl and fill it up with small pieces of paper, each consisting of written explanations of why things like this might happen. Now stick your hand in there and
start digging. You pull out the first one- Gun control. Get in there
again- Video Games. Go again- Rated R Movies. Again- Video Games.
Another- Bullying. Again-Video Games. One more- Internet. Last time-
Video Games.
Seriously? I'm appalled, because this
is pretty much how Hello Herman goes. It's a movie that stubbornly
points its finger at violent entertainment more than ANYTHING ELSE,
yet, masks itself as an avenger on the pursuit of reason. The blame on video games is
the highest offender here. It just keeps going back to it and back to
it and back to it. It's wild, ya know? I've played video games since
I was about 5- I'm 36 now. Games like Metal Gear, Contra, Splatterhouse, and
Commando. I've forever been a huge fan of slasher films and overblown
action movies that contain severe amounts of carnage. And yes, in
about 2nd through 4th grade I was bullied.
Guess what? I've never wanted to go out and fucking kill ANYONE, and
I know there are plenty of other people out there just like me who
have never wanted to kill anyone. So please, let's stop with this
nonsense. We may be suffering from harsh times now, but if violent
media such as video games and rated R movies were a strong element
such as Hello Herman seems to suggest, I can't help but feel like
we'd be a helluva lot worse off than we are.
As far as acting goes, Norman Reedus
and Garrett Backstrom as Lax Morales and Herman Howards are very
tight in their roles. I can't dispute that, despite not liking the
film. Together, the two are pretty unstoppable. But when they aren't
on screen together it's a whole different story. The acting seems
much more forced in those instances. Director
Michelle Danner plays Herman's mother in the film. I can't really say
how I would react in the situations of her character, but even having
said that, she comes off incredibly over-the-top. Basically everyone
does, aside from Reedus and Backstrom.
Final Word:
I'm not sure what, exactly, but I wanted Hello
Herman to be something else. I blindly came across it on Amazon, saw
Norman Reedus on the cover, read the synopsis, and it sounded
interesting. I wasn't prepared for the 'anti-things-I-enjoy' angle, at all.
However, I took a chance on it, and that's what you have to do to
find a diamond in the rough. And like I always say, you may find
something in this movie that I did not. You may get a point that I
missed. This is just purely my opinion, and not a warning to steer
clear. If the story catches you, by all means, check it out. Hello
Herman is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Instant Video, from Passion River Films.
Blu-ray:
Hello Herman is presented in High-Definition 1080p (1.78:1). Audio is English 5.1 DTS. Special Features included are a Behind-The-Scenes Featurette, Interviews, Photo Gallery Slideshow, and a Director's Commentary.
- Eric (Brobocop)
