Matt's Movie Reviews logo
HOME REVIEWS PODCAST FEATURES TOP TEN VIDEO TOP MOVIES MMR AWARDS ABOUT
Facebook logo Twitter logo Instagram logo YouTube logo RSS logo
Custom Search

EVERLASTING (2018)

Everlasting poster

CAST
ADAM DAVID
VALENTINA DE ANGELIS
PAT HEALY
RICHARD LASARDO
BAI LING
MICHAEL MASSEE
COURTNEY PALM
ELISABETH ROHM

WRITTEN BY
ANTHONY STABLEY

PRODUCED BY
SHANNON MAKHANIAN
ANTHONY STABLEY

DIRECTED BY
ANTHONY STABLEY

GENRE
CRIME
MYSTERY
ROMANCE

RATED
AUS:NA
UK:NA
USA:NA

RUNNING TIME
85 MIN

 

 

Everlasting image

A haunting love story is the beating heart of Endless, a murder mystery/teen romance hybrid that delves into the dark belly of Hollywood.

The past year has shown that the sleaze and grime of Hollywood is still very much present and thriving. Women and men alike who have a dream to “make it” are confronted with this reality, as those with power seduce and abuse with promises of fame and riches. If the monsters within the industry don’t get them first, the wolves lurking on the outside will. This is evident in the Black Dahlia murder of 1947 and many more that followed.

This is the premise on which Everlasting in based upon. Written and directed by Anthony Stabley, Everlasting follows the story of high school student and aspiring filmmaker Matt (Adam David), as he chronicles his romance with striving model Jessie (Valentino de Angelis) and the investigation of her murder. Travelling from Colorado to Los Angeles, Matt presents Jessie as a complicated albeit ambitious young lady who flew to close to the sun in her search for fame.

Everlasting presents is story via a mix of mockumentary style “home” footage and traditional filmmaking. The latter proves to be the more effective of the two. The mockumentary method can be tricky to pull off, and while it’s understandable that this style of filmmaking suits the career ambitions of its lead character, young Adam David comes across as unconvincing during moments of taped confessionals. Where he does succeed is in the chemistry with Valentina de Angelis, her spunky, confident yet fragile portrayal meshing well with David’s brooding intensity. Supporting turns from veteran talent such as Elisabeth Rohm, Richard LaSardo and the late Michael Massee compliment the young leads.

Stabley has most definitely made a movie from the heart, with his early forays into Hollywood some 20 years ago inspiring many an onscreen moment. One scene where Jessie is first introduced to the players of her newly chosen profession at a hedonistic Hollywood party is akin to a deer entering a viper’s nest, and has more than a whiff of the realistic to it.

While the films serial killer narrative does not hold much in the way of suspense nor satisfies with its conclusion, the portrayal of its young lovers torn apart by murder so cruel has a certain power that intrigues and engrosses. It will be very interesting to see where Stabley and his lead players will venture next.

 

***

RELATED CONTENT
First Girl I Loved image The Black Dahlia image

APPROVED CRITIC AT
Rotten Tomatoes Logo
APPROVED CRITIC AT

Created and Edited by Matthew Pejkovic / Contact: mattsm@mattsmoviereviews.net
Logo created by Colony Graphic Design / Copyright © Matthew Pejkovic