Most of the time when you deal with a lot independent film you can usually tell when a particular group of filmmakers actually has their stuff together, or when the project is simply a weekend thing for them to do whilst drinking down some beer. The guys over at 531 definitely belong in the former group, as from the day of arrival I knew that these guys actually cared and bled for their film and likely aspire to be around for a good long while. From a great compiled package, to awesome menus and features on the DVD - Melvin definitely has the gloss of a more mainstream effort than I'm used to. However, the film itself is really anything but some kind of mainstream effort. A mixture of various styles and influences, the overall impression that Melvin makes is of a fun and completely non-conforming zombie-comedy. The horror-comedy has really been done to death in recent years, especially on the independent film scene - but with the departures it makes from your basic genre conventions (you know, the usual 'zombies raised from the dead by a meteorite or unexplained phenomena in order to terrorize the world' motif) Melvin actually makes the whole process a lot less painful. Although not blazingly original, it is so very entertaining that I think horror fans are going to find a hidden gem within this one.

Melvin was a total loser, picked on by the Cheerleading squad, his big sister Wendy's boyfriend and of course the local punkrockers. Things just weren't going his way in life and it was tragically ended in a horrible accidental murder at the hands of the punkrockers. Three years later, we skip from high school to college and we are introduced to Norton Pincus, a nerdy character much like Melvin who is also picked on by the same punkrocker bullies. Norton also holds a crush for Melvin's sister Wendy, who is still stuck with her jerk boyfriend who has it out for Norton. After a bad night out, Norton takes a shortcut through the cemetery where he stumbles upon Melvin - who is crawling out of his grave! Melvin has risen from the grave in order to seek vengeance upon those who tormented him in his life. However, Norton armed only with a shovel is able to decapitate the zombified Melvin - but not before he can take a bite out of Norton's leg. Now Norton, who's life is already falling apart, must deal with visions of Melvin who torments him now and who is taking over Norton's body on a nightly basis in order to bring upon carnage and devastation. Will Norton get the girl? Will Melvin rest in peace? Will there be a lot of fun gore? I'll answer that last one and say ABSOLUTELY!

As I mentioned, Melvin seems to have a lot of influences behind it. The obvious one to list would be The Toxic Avenger and the works from Troma - but in saying that a lot of things immediately fly into your mind. Ever since Kaufman went behind the lens and created his particularly over the top form of horror filmmaking with the first Toxie flick, there have been dozens of imitators trying to take on this pastiche. I don't want people to think that Melvin is just another in the long line of Kaufman rip offs because it's not at all. Sure, it's low budget and sometimes campy/sometimes cheesy - but the main difference between this film and your average Troma ripoff is that the filmmakers actually do their best to make a good film. The actors actually do their very best with their roles and aren't so over the top that they defy criticism based solely on the merit of "we weren't actually trying". Nor is it poorly shot or a technical mess, which is often the case with these sorts of flicks. It's obvious that the filmmakers are indeed fans of course, from the use of Lloyd Kaufman himself in a small cameo as well as one character actually wearing a Toxie t-shirt. Then there's the gory damage caused by a mop, that I'll leave for audiences to discover. The fact that all audio was apparently added in post production also somewhat reminds me of something Troma-esque, but maybe only because of Toxie's voice always being dubbed over.

There's just no getting past it, Melvin is a fun ride. It's gory, it's trippy, it harkens back to the eighties but is still serious enough that it keeps the audience drawn in to the plot. A very nice start for filmmaker Henry Weintraub who introduces himself to the world as a name to look out for. Although the performances aren't quite up to academy standards, the cast gives their all and do provide their own unique additions to the film. With Patrick O'Driscoll as Norton and Lilly Maher as Wendy being the standouts in their leading roles. O'Driscoll is charming in his performance and believable as the quiet nerd who wishes for something better but is ultimately shut down by life. Lilly Maher is also great in her role that walks the line of seductress and yet sincere girl next door type. She also has an astonishing beauty that sets her apart from just about any group, with her wild eyes that add to her stark and wondrous look. It would certainly be a different film without either one of these performers. The last technical aspect I should probably cover is the overall look of the film which was a real surprise for me, as it never gives away its digital roots and is so stylized that the film never looks all too cheap. It rarely features a boring shot, as the filmmakers generally create some very interesting and unique compositions. Credits go to Leif Fuller, who not only plays the titular character of Melvin but also worked as cinematographer in the production.

I can probably think of a few other things to stretch out over a countless number of paragraphs, but I'll just slow down here and end saying that Melvin is one of the more impressive independent pieces of horror I have been sent in a long while. Partly a comic book come to life in much the same vein as Dance of the Dead, and partly a dark and comedic love story. There are a lot of different ways you can take the film, but I recommend checking it out for yourself and drawing your own conclusions. It's a professional enough project that I could see it making it's way to DVD shelves near you, and I sincerely hope for the best for these filmmakers. You can read more about Melvin and all the great people behind it over at 513 Productions.com. Check them out!