I finished watching and reviewing an Indie horror flick called Maniac on the Loose, and I'm still a little pissed off about it. I guess I shouldn't be mad, but I tend to get passionate about Independent horror, and in my mind the concept is always a good thing that I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt... then sometimes I wonder about this blanket statement.

I guess I have a question really, but I think I already know the answer. Why is it that so many micro-budget Indie flicks are written, directed, produced and starring the same person. Okay, there isn't much budget so hiring a bunch of folks is really not an option here - but sometimes there is another reason, and I play unwittingly into the mix. Sometimes it's because that one person's damn ego is so disgustingly huge that they see the whole thing as some kind of fun game intended to promote themselves and give them something to show at back-room parties filled with people wearing black and sipping Cosmos to prove how overwhelmingly cool they are. And how does this effect me? Well, these films sometimes end up in my hands to watch and review with that review serving as nothing more than another ego-enhancing peg in the hat of the self-serving film maker.

Now, this general rant does not apply to every single one of the "one man band" productions in existence - there are certainly many reasons to be the Chief Cool and Bottle Washer - money is certainly one as well as potentially the feeling that the creative vision of the filmmaker could be somehow compromised if this single person does not perform every single duty themselves. Well, that last one would be the definition of "egocentric" I guess, but it's possible I suppose. But... what if this one person completely and totally SUCKS at one or more of the jobs? If they suck at ALL of the jobs then I get that - they are no-talent slobs who have deluded themselves into thinking that they have some sort of rare and unique talent and by displaying that "talent" on film they will gain fame and fortune - or at least a few more invitations to cocktail parties and bragging rights among their intelligencia friends. Kind of like surrealist art.

What really pisses me off is when at least one of the jobs, writing for example, displays a bit of talent and creativity, but the others are a complete disaster. Is it possible that they don't know that they are a horrifying (not the good kind) cheese-fest as an actor and that they are loosing any semblance of effectiveness from the talent they hire by being a shit-box director? Or do they know? If they don't know then they are clearly stupid - but it takes a lot to get a film, even a micro-budget horror flick, off the ground, and I can't imagine this is a job for a moron. But then if they DO know then they are sabotaging the film and ensuring that they have created a complete waste of time and money. I guess they must not know... but the reason they don't know is because they have fooled themselves into thinking they actually ARE the best thing since sliced bread through the sheer power of ego.

Heck, I'm all for an ego boost, and when I produce my first horror flick you can bet your ass I'll have at least a small cameo - but then I'm not going to direct the thing so if the director says "that sucks, we have to cut that out" then that's his or her job... and good thing there is a system of checks and balances because the last thing I want to create is a sucky movie that inspires a testy rant by some horror website goofball.

So, I issue this open question to micro-budget horror movie creators everywhere - why? Why would you put yourself in every single major role of the film's creation and presention when doing so all but guarantees that there is going to be a substandard result? There MUST be something that I'm missing - please, enlighten me.

Rant complete. Over and out.