This DVD caught me by surprise while I was browsing the selection of new and “nearly” new releases at my local Family Video store. I had heard nothing about it, but apparently this film got some pretty big attention at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival. The Other Side, written and directed by Gregg Bishop, tells the story of Sam North (Nathan Mobley), a recently graduated college student returning home to his fiance Hanna (Jaimie Alexander) after surviving a long-distance relationship. When Sam arrives at their “special” place to meet up with Hanna, he finds himself stood up after waiting for hours. After dark, while sitting in his vehicle wondering why Hanna never showed up, a mysterious white van blind sides him off the edge of a nearby cliff. When Sam comes to, he finds himself experiencing the torments of Hell, only to quickly be hurried off by others in Hell through a secret portal back to life on Earth.

A group of fellow escapees from Hell reluctantly take him under their wings as they flee from a posse of three demon bounty hunters called Reapers, sent from Hell to retrieve the fugitives. Sam is now on the run from both the Reapers and the local authorities as they suspect he killed his own fiance. Sam must fight for survival while attempting to track down Hanna’s real killer.

Surprisingly, The Other Side is a really cool little indie film that can be described best as a supernatural action thriller, but it does have a fair share of gory horror violence. The film is shot entirely in a handheld, grainy cinema verite style that actually lends really well to the story. At times it seems like you’re watching some reality TV program, which is weird because Sam and his fellow fugitives are being chased by three demon Reapers who have supernatural strength and can switch over to fresh dead bodies once their old ones sustain too much damage. Bishop clearly wanted to have some fun with the Reapers, as they’re given individual characters traits that make them more interesting. The group of fugitives is led by a man named Oz (Poncho Hodges), who seems to have some secret he’s hiding from Sam. His “sidekick” Mally (Cory Rouse) serves as frequent comic relief.

The scenes in Hell, while scarce, are actually ingeniously effective for the limited budget of the film. In most scenes, the action and fighting choreography are well-executed, but there are a few scenes where the level of experience in this are of production becomes apparent. No fault given, the film has plenty of action and offers a unique story. One other element of the film that really stood out for me is the soundtrack score, which is very effective and adds immensely to the movie. On a final note, be sure to appreciate the self-financed production budget of $15,000 that Bishop had to work with on making The Other Side. It makes the whole experience that much more rewarding.

Tags | gregg bishop, jaimie alexander, slamdance, the other side