Red Dirt (2000)
Film:
DVD:

Written & Directed by Tag Purvis
Starring Dan Montgomery, Karen Black, Aleksa Palladino, Walton Goggins, Glenn Shadix

Features:

• Trailer
  
• Filmographies
  
• "Peas N Corn," a short film by Purvis
  

Anamorphic: No.

My Advice: Avoid It.

Griffith (Montgomery) is a young man with a dilemna. Well, more than one, really. First, he's in Mississippi. Or Louisiana. No one's really sure (More on that in a moment). Second, he might or might not be in love with his cousin (Palladino). Regardless, he's sleeping with her--or rather, rutting among the trees with her. Thirdly, his Aunt Selma (who's listed in the credits as "Summer," though with the bad accents involved it sounds like "Selma") is utterly whacked in the head. To compound the issue--and to provide a modicum of what passes for conflict--a strange drifter (Goggins) arrives on the scene to rent a cottage Griffith and his aunt own. And the drifter starts up a friendship with Griffith that will cause him to question everything he's ever known.

I won't go into the details of why the film is fetid. That's already been covered over in the movie review. But suffice to say, it's pretty wretched. As far as the DVD itself goes, there are two notable things that add injury to injury, so to speak.

First, the trailer of the film, which is included on the disc, is even more melodramatic and overblown than the film itself--which is a feat in itself, let me tell you. Second, it gives away what little surprises there are to be had--every single last one. Thirdly, the trailer doesn't even know where the film is set. According to the trailer it's southern Louisiana, according to the film it's Mississippi. This is probably the best part of the disc, the slight humor this confusion brings.

Finally, a short film of director Purvis' is included. "Peas N Corn." And well...it's unwatchable. It's black and white footage from the "Deep South," that starts off oddly like the old Tales From the Darkside series, but mostly consists of old women getting their hair done in a beauty parlor. This is accompanied by a rendition of a bit from "The Magic Flute" that will make your ears bleed in protest. Oh, and every so often a woman talks about how she really likes...you guessed it...peas 'n' corn. After five minutes of this garbage, I couldn't take it any longer and turned it off.

Not even worthy of anthropological curiosity, stay away if you know what's good for you.