18 Sept 2012

Behind Closed Doors ★★☆☆☆



Review of 'Behind Closed Doors' which can be found here on YouTube.

Length: 05:05
Written & directed by A Sa'real Vision
Genre: Music Video
Date: 2012
Rating: ★★☆☆

Logline: Two guys do very little with a soundtrack overlaid ontop.

If I could figure out how to shade in half a star, this would have gotten a two and a half rating. The half going towards the excellent music track on which the film is based. In this genre more than any other, the music is a key element but here the depth, layers and high quality production of the music isn't matched by the visuals in the slightest. The constant overlaying of the video sound (the drone of passing traffic) over the music is distracting and unnecessary plus give an amateur feel during the shots where no music track is playing due to the lack of proper microphone and the wind blowing into the one on the camera.

Camera work is shoddy on the external shots with poor shot composition and an over tendency not to use the focus. A tripod wouldn't have gone a miss either. Plot wise, the story follows two guys, Zushi and Syxx (who also make up the band), one a construction worker or something who stands about having a cigarette, the other is an angry drunk wandering around the streets. The two stories aren't equally divided and most of the screen time is taken up by Syxx staggering about but neither have a coherent storyline and they pretty much do bugger all which makes for poor viewing for the audience.

Intercut are the same two guys rapping the song while in a dull, lifeless and visually unstimulating blank flat. Rapping by the window, rapping on the stairs, you get the picture. Although the filming is better in these scenes, the overall combination makes for a non-sensical plot and uninteresting visuals.

I can see this as a reasonable attempt at a music video but where the video side of the production, along side the audio edit has let down the top music track. It's a shame because the music deserves a higher quality film to go with it so recommend these guys have another go.

Best Bit: Thumpin' music track by The Locksmiths.

Worst Bit: Terribly shot video.

Final thought: This has no point to it whatsoever.

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.

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