Samuel Bleak (2013) User Reviews

Decent concept, bad writing, terrible score

[aeon_static · 3/10 · 17 July 2013]

The concept is decent enough and the twist at the end had some impact until the events immediately after the twist went full-retard.

The screenplay suffers from typical amateur writing perils, namely dialogue that feels under-developed and unnatural.

The lead actor (who is also the writer & director) doesn't fit the role - he looks too much like a model and creates distance from the viewer because of that. Someone with a less idealistic look (I'm not saying ugly) would've fit the role. Also his performance is extremely stiff and too visibly self-conscious.

That aside there were some decent efforts and some well-executed cinematography.

There is one part of this film I found inexcusable. The score. It's absolutely atrocious and falls well under any of the negative things I've said about other elements of the film. It's really, really, really bad, and it drags the whole film down immensely. I wouldn't be surprised if the score was micro-managed by the director - in which case, shame.

This seems put together by a rich kid with good intentions and decent ideas - but has a very long way to go in figuring out just where he belongs in the scheme of this whole "film industry" thing.

This film is best put on in the background while you fiddle with your laptop in bed and try to fall asleep. You might turn it off early when the music gets to those particularly bad themes.

Garbage in Excrement Out

[TanteWaileka · 3/10 · 8 December 2014]

I gave this a 'three' rating because I liked the three experienced male actors (I mean it was nice to see that they were still earning a living from acting, but sad to know that either they are like so many of the other movie /tv actors today -- just parrots, or they must have needed the money) but other than that this movie was a waste of my time. I have to make my review go a full ten lines, hmmm. Okay. The young male lead who was also the writer, okay he's cute, but who knows if he can act? You certainly don't get to see any acting ability in this 'rag'. The writing, well, he's young.... no! that's not really true. The guy is now 30 so he was in his late 20s when this movie was made. Of course, in today's society wherein many of the the Gen-Y(??) generation was raised by coddling, enabling parents....perhaps being under 35 means one is still a 'child'. One thing for sure. The writer can probably write a decent sentence, but he sure doesn't know enough to write a GOOD STORY. I hope that's ten lines because I really don't want to waste any more time on this awful movie.

Really good indie fare

[Alpha-19 · 8/10 · 25 August 2013]

A very interesting and well executed drama. This film is (like the title character himself) a very quiet, deliberate movie. Yet for all of its restraint, the movie packs a whallop emotionally - culminating in an climax that will stick with you for a while.

The cast is top notch. Veteren actors (James Russo, Keith David, and a particularly good Deborah Kara Unger) mesh well with newcomers (Christine Kelly, Carlucci Weyent) and are led by Dustin Dugas Schuetter as Samuel. Schustter delivers a hypnotic performance in the title role - creating a character that expresses more in his silence than most can speaking.

Well acted, well written, and very well directed, "Samuel Bleak" is a pleasant surprise. Well worth a spot in your Netflix cue.

Samuel Bleak wasn't

[waynesavage-909-12906 · 8/10 · 26 December 2014]

Wow, what an interesting movie!

The title role of 'Samuel Bleak' was played by Dustin Dugas Shuetter who not only starred in the movie but he also wrote and directed it, masterfully. Shuetter plays Samuel, a young man in his early twenties, who is discovered living in a makeshift hut in the woods with little more than an old typewriter given to him by his mother. Samuel was discovered living only a stones throw away from where he went missing as an eight year old boy. Samuel was found dirty, hungry, scared and seemingly mute, discovered by the local sheriff who seems to be a good guy along with his wife who works at a mental health facility. Samuel's father and mother work into the storyline and add intrigue and mystery into this provocative film.

Two other reviewers gave this movie poor ratings, one absolutely hated the score (soundtrack) which I found to be perfectly appropriate and one reviewer hated the Shuetter casting himself as Samuel saying he looked too much like a model; opinions vary and I am of the opinion that this is a very interesting, quite good film. I also think that Shuetter's acting was quite good, it's not easy to play a mute. Pretty darn good movie!

This is a forgotten Gem

[bryanjp-69085 · 10/10 · 27 December 2020]

As a longtime fan of Jaime Murray i can honestly say that after viewing this film only once, the film for me at least, starts off as a man trying to solve his mother's murder case with the help of local police officers as they pull the thread back on his mother's death the more clear it becomes about who did it and why, ( which for me makes sense tbh ) now having said that this storyline kept me hooked until the end. As you keep watching this movie you. Ultimately began to be more sympathetic. Towards the main character as he.learns truth about why he's mother was murdered

Great Drama with some humor and tears

[usamazafar-11164 · 9/10 · 18 July 2015]

Anger, love, consternation, hope, dreams, and a reflective look inside the creative tormented mind. Samuel Bleak is full of great acting and a thoughtful storyline, not only did the film hold my interest, I was thinking about it after the credits crawl. Auspicious, daring, bold, and inventive, while wearing three hats: writer, director, and star Dustin Dugas Schuetter brings an amazing effort to the screen, and enlists some experienced and ultra-talented actors in Unger, Russo, along with newcomer Christine Kelly as Kat, (whom Bleak befriends in the mental institution). Kelly brings an almost childlike innocence to her suicidal character, refreshing to watch and poignant.

This is the first film in awhile that caught me FLAT FOOTED when the TRUTH came out. The ending had to be what it was but I wanted to know what happened to the three lead characters. They each had their own story and I wanted to know if they found happiness. Watch it, buy it, or at least rent it. The tears and humor is short but the feelings are deep.

All In ALL Great film with sensitive story, performances and presentation. Looking forward to more from this talented young team in the future.