Last night, I screened a DVD version of the hard-to-classify comedy, “Freezer Burn,” that is receiving its local premiere tomorrow night at 8 at the Community Theatre in Fairfield.
The movie is the work of former Southport resident Charles Hood who has been living and working in Los Angeles since he graduated from USC three years ago.
Hood shot the film here in the fall of 2005 and spent the subsequent two years editing and scoring it.
While it is an impressive piece of work, it is easy to see why Hood has had a hard time finding a distributor after screening the film at 11 festivals. “Freezer Burn” spans several different genres — science-fiction, romantic comedy and domestic drama among them — and it doesn’t have any stars.
It’s unfortunate that so many indie films with B-list actors or has-beens have an easier time finding a theatrical life than a finely acted ensemble piece with promising young unknowns.
Hood has melded elements of the Woody Allen comedy “Sleeper” with a few scenes reminiscent of “Re-Animator” to come up with an entertaining tale of a scientist experimenting on freezing human organs who decides to freeze himself for more than a decade so that his unrequited love for an underage girl will become possible (and appropriate).
Robert Harriell (above, left) plays the slightly mad scentist Virgil Stamp and his partner in crime is Michael Consigilio (above, right) in the role of the wheelchair-bound wise guy, Rex Turner.
The screenplay is smart — how many other movies have you seen where two people talk about their love of the Michael Connelly character Harry Bosch? — and while the story could move a bit faster, Hood keeps the twists and surprises coming after Stamp spends 11 years on ice.
“Freezer Burn” has an unusual melancholy tinge to its comic take on time displacement — Virgil finds himself alone and disoriented when he comes out of the freezer.
Hood will be on hand to answer questions after tomorrow night’s screening, which is free.
(The Community Theatre is at 1424 Post Road in Fairfield Center.)
