Bellflower (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Raymond W

  
  Bellflower is not so much a continuous story as it is a blurred study of young adults sensitivity and rage set against the end of the world. Evan Glodell who is the writer/director/star of Bellflower is definitely someone to watch. Bellflower being his debut for which he built the… More
  Bellflower is not so much a continuous story as it is a blurred study of young adults sensitivity and rage set against the end of the world. Evan Glodell who is the writer/director/star of Bellflower is definitely someone to watch. Bellflower being his debut for which he built the Medussa (the wicked car in the film), the flamethrowers, and the cameras used to film it. There is a real over-saturation of colours (especially reds and yellows) that I found really cool. It makes the atmosphere look really hot like a desert which for me reflected the characters feelings. The acting was quite good, especially from Jessie Wiseman and Evan Glodell. Overall, Bellflower is not as much an exciting debut, and it is a really promising debut, but it's an interesting study of how young adults minds work, and their rage.

• Lewis C

  
  Bellflower is a difficult movie to review, as well as describe. It's all over the place as far as theme goes. Part love story, part...well, something else. I really enjoyed it at times, but found myself was completely puzzled by it as well. Especially in the latter half.… More
  Bellflower is a difficult movie to review, as well as describe. It's all over the place as far as theme goes. Part love story, part...well, something else. I really enjoyed it at times, but found myself was completely puzzled by it as well. Especially in the latter half. Bellflower gets points for originality, but I feel like it would have been better if it wasn't quite so...ambitious.

• Jonathan H

  
  Anyone familiar with Bellflower's origins will surely want to root for the film. I met writer/director/star Evan Glodell at TIFF and is gregarious personality made me want to champion this film even more. I just can't. He makes the same mistake that a lot of first time… More
  Anyone familiar with Bellflower's origins will surely want to root for the film. I met writer/director/star Evan Glodell at TIFF and is gregarious personality made me want to champion this film even more. I just can't. He makes the same mistake that a lot of first time filmmakers do: he doesn't trust his story to sustain itself. The pointless subplots involving the car and the flame thrower really betray the heart of this story, which is the aftermath of a breakup and its many emotional stages. Bellflower tries its best to honor the mumblecore moment, but I couldn't help but think it was a generally poor attempt to make art that is as futile as Dogme 95 but in its own downscaled manner. Couple that with an oddly violent, tonally underdeveloped third act that made me shake my head wondering "why?" as the wind was taken right out of its sails. Glodell may be a director worth keeping an eye on, but Bellflower ultimately implodes under its own self-awareness -- which is shame, because it really is a movie you want to like.

• Michael S

  
  After warming up to the unique style and gritty lo-fi visuals of director/star Evan Glodell's debut feature "Bellflower," I started really liking it's characters and believing in them and their relationships. With Glodell's giddy cinematic creativity and a… More
  After warming up to the unique style and gritty lo-fi visuals of director/star Evan Glodell's debut feature "Bellflower," I started really liking it's characters and believing in them and their relationships. With Glodell's giddy cinematic creativity and a handful of surprisingly strong performances I was sold... or at least I WAS for the initial half of the picture. After the arrival of a certain key plot development (out of the blue) that sends the film down a dark and increasingly frustrating spiral, the characters we have gotten to know have disappeared and start acting out in a manner foreign to their personalities! In the film's favor, there's a bleak tonal shift and intensity attributed to not knowing where the narrative will venture next, and it works... but even that dissipates as the film sort of stalls after an extended sequence that's rendered useless in it's conclusion. By the end of the picture I was at a crossroads. I liked so much of the film (it's initial half and performances specifically: the standout being Glodell himself)... but at it's full length it just didn't feel cohesive and certainly didn't do it's characters and bold filmmaking justice. Upon looking back at "Bellflower," the sudden and violent shift of it's later scenes became even harder to swallow.

• Everett J

  
  This is what Independent movies are suppose to be. This movie really, especially the ending, makes no sense at all. But, it's interesting, entertaining, and there's a real sense of danger throughout. You never know what is going to happen next, and when it's over,… More
  This is what Independent movies are suppose to be. This movie really, especially the ending, makes no sense at all. But, it's interesting, entertaining, and there's a real sense of danger throughout. You never know what is going to happen next, and when it's over, your left going "um wtf happened here?" I'll try to sum up the movie, but really, you gotta watch it for yourself cause it'll sound crazy in how I word it. It's about two friends(Woodrow and Aiden) who are obsessed with making a flame thrower and a post apocalyptic car. They loved "Mad Max" when they were little, and wanted to get ready in case the world went to shit. Well along they way Woodrow meets and falls in love with Milly, a free spirited girl. They have great chemistry until he catches her cheating on him, and then from there the movie gets weird, crazy, and violent. The movie is filled with unknown actors and was made for less than $500,000. Just goes to show you don't need millions of dollars to make original and entertaining movies. "Bellflower" isn't for everyone. It can be confusing, and has some pretty violent scenes. But, there's really no other movies out there like it. Give the typical Hollywood blockbusters a break and check this out. May make you expand your movie horizons on what you watch.

• Kevin C

  
  Vapid, unoriginal, and extremely amateur, Bellflower occasionally reaches THE ROOM levels of ludicrous awfulness, sans the Wisseau charm.

• Justin Y

  
  Evan Glodell's <i>Bellflower</i> is a bit of misconception when it comes to the action. As far as the drama and romance go, <i>Bellflower</i> suits that better.<p>Conceptually, the two lead characters that start things off give the film something to… More
  Evan Glodell's <i>Bellflower</i> is a bit of misconception when it comes to the action. As far as the drama and romance go, <i>Bellflower</i> suits that better.<p>Conceptually, the two lead characters that start things off give the film something to look forward to; however, things tend to go south rather quickly. Nearly an hour goes by heavily built on drama and a lack of anything really eventful, even with the multiple time jumps used throughout the storytelling. With that said, it all builds up to a twisted 30 minute finale.</p><p>The violence is light. Not exactly in the realm of explosive action, despite a muscle car and a flamethrower, which are a big part of the lead character's plot. Everything is more along the lines of mildly thrilling.</p><p>Evan Glodell hangs in the background in the early going, as he is out shined by the likes of Tyler Dawson, whom is one of those that takes some getting used to. Jessie Wiseman and Rebekah Brandes are the females of the bunch that are thrown into the mix.</p><p><i>Bellflower</i> is a low budget movie that has a few things going for it. Just not enough for an entire 100 minutes.</p>

• Jacob E

  
  It's about time I actually go back and write a review for this film. I saw it in October and immediately gave it 5 stars without question. Because if Evan Glodell continues his career from here, we are looking at a top notch talent in the near future. Bellflower is beautifully… More
  It's about time I actually go back and write a review for this film. I saw it in October and immediately gave it 5 stars without question. Because if Evan Glodell continues his career from here, we are looking at a top notch talent in the near future. Bellflower is beautifully shot and features some great performances (and this isn't even considering that the it was shot on a budget that would make a 1950s Roger Corman movie look like it had received an "Avatar" sized budget). Word of warning though: The film gets very dark and depressing by the second half. It also goes down Insanity lane at the exact same time (which I loved, but might put others off). For me, this is the second best film I saw in theaters all year (number one goes to "The Muppets"). It's out on Blu-Ray and DVD now. SO PLEASE SUPPORT EVAN GLODELL, This guy has a LOT of potential.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"A love story with apocalyptic stakes."</i> Two friends spend all their free time building flame-throwers and weapons of mass destruction in hopes that a global apocalypse will occur and clear the runway for their imaginary gang "Mother Medusa".… More
  <i>"A love story with apocalyptic stakes."</i> Two friends spend all their free time building flame-throwers and weapons of mass destruction in hopes that a global apocalypse will occur and clear the runway for their imaginary gang "Mother Medusa". <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> When David Fincher was preparing to shoot Fight Club, he briefly considered dispensing with stars and a big budget to shoot the film guerrilla style on digital video. Had he gone that route, the results would have been something along the lines of Bellflower, an audacious, flame- spewing, spit in the face of everything stale and conventional about modern cinema. Shot on a nothing budget using a camera that director/writer/star Evan Glodell built from odds and ends, Bellflower is a stark critique of characters lost and struggling in the sun soaked wastelands of Southern California. To go into detail would certainly ruin the joy of discovery this brutal movie has to offer. Suffice to say it is a love story like no other, chock full of drunken brawls, flame- throwers, and a muscle car named Medusa (also built from scratch by Glodell). Personally, I think this is one of the most important movies that's come out in recent memory. With a raw, ugly beauty reminiscent of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the sparse immediacy of films like Two Lane Blacktop, and David Lynch's ability to make the banal nightmarish and horrifying, Bellflower incinerates the very notion of narrative filmmaking, redefining it on its own terms. If indie filmmaking is meant to push the envelope, this movie leaves that envelope charred and twisting in the wind.

• Ken S

  
  Emotional, hallucinatory, hand-made and awesome. Can't wait to see what Glodell does next.

• Cory T

  
  It is almost inscrutable to describe the surreal, existential turn 'Bellflowers' negotiates in the last 20 minutes but it is never less than awe-inspiring and innovative. Filmed on his own makeshift digital cameras, Glodell has notarized quite the debut for himself which… More
  It is almost inscrutable to describe the surreal, existential turn 'Bellflowers' negotiates in the last 20 minutes but it is never less than awe-inspiring and innovative. Filmed on his own makeshift digital cameras, Glodell has notarized quite the debut for himself which correlates a heart-shriveling breakup to the impending apocalypse. Like Chuck Palahniuk, Glodell dissects the male id and recognizes that men are attracted to tomboyish women with an adventurous streak and can appreciate their virile pet projects like a portable flamethrower. To call the protagonists abrasive and off-putting is a disservice to the ultrarealistic vibe of the dialogue and the plausible Peter Pan syndrome of these slackers. 'Bellflower' is equal parts perplexing and gripping, but it is the best mumblecore feature of the year.

• Greg S

  
  Two jobless, hard-drinking college-age kids struggle with relationships while they spend their free time building flamethrowers and post-apocalyptic cars out of their favorite film, MAD MAX. They should be delusional nerds, but in fact they're awesome ladykillers. Seriously,… More
  Two jobless, hard-drinking college-age kids struggle with relationships while they spend their free time building flamethrowers and post-apocalyptic cars out of their favorite film, MAD MAX. They should be delusional nerds, but in fact they're awesome ladykillers. Seriously, dude? Don't let the MAD MAX connection fool you in; this is mumblecore at its most relentless.

• William D

  
  "Bellflower" is a tense indie drama about a group of aimless twentysomethings filmed in a thrillingly original and heartfelt way. First-time writer/ director Evan Glodell (who also plays the lead character) has overnight catapulted himself to the big leagues. This… More
  "Bellflower" is a tense indie drama about a group of aimless twentysomethings filmed in a thrillingly original and heartfelt way. First-time writer/ director Evan Glodell (who also plays the lead character) has overnight catapulted himself to the big leagues. This doesn't mean the film is perfect. It does have some substantial weaknesses. After a while, the tension in the story starts to seem fabricated. Rather than organically emerging out of the characters' lives, it seems at times to be phony, more of a plot device than anything else. But Glodell gets very close to a major artistic achievement here. For one's first film to be this good, that's a sign that one is immensely talented. I am thrilled at the idea of watching Glodell grow as a filmmaker in the decade ahead. I'm equally excited about the future of cinematographer Joel Hodge. Over and over, the photography in "Bellflower" took my breath away. Hodge is a genius with the camera. A big thank you to the distributor Oscilloscope for giving this unique gem a chance to be seen by audiences. What would we do without companies like Oscilloscope?

• Aaron N

  
  Woodrow: Alright here we go...wait, what if it blows up or something? Aiden: Then we're gonna be on fire. Woodrow: Ok. It is interesting to take in an indie film such as this. On the one hand, it is a dream for lovelorn mechanical engineers, as the film is a love story or… More
  Woodrow: Alright here we go...wait, what if it blows up or something? Aiden: Then we're gonna be on fire. Woodrow: Ok. It is interesting to take in an indie film such as this. On the one hand, it is a dream for lovelorn mechanical engineers, as the film is a love story or sorts and was literally made with homemade cameras and revolves around a car customized and built for this film. On the other hand, it takes a lot of the goodwill setup very well in the first half and descends into bleakness that may put off a lot of people. It is admirable to see all of the work from first time filmmaker Evan Glodell that went into this picture, but the massive tonal shifts and experimental filmmaking are sure to alienate some viewers. Regardless, one thing is for sure - the car they built for this film is pretty freaking awesome. read the whole review at thecodeiszeek.com

• Kevin M

  
  Here's a debut from a director sparking with talent. The movie is written, directed and stars all the same guy, Evan Glodell. It's a movie about a guy named Woodrow who builds a flamethrower with his friend. He soon meets a girl named Milly and things get pretty good for… More
  Here's a debut from a director sparking with talent. The movie is written, directed and stars all the same guy, Evan Glodell. It's a movie about a guy named Woodrow who builds a flamethrower with his friend. He soon meets a girl named Milly and things get pretty good for him. Eventually, something really bad happens. Then only a few seconds later, something even worse happens. The tone of the movie changes from happy and adventurous to depressing and daring. Everything about Bellflower seems so natural. The acting is natural. The dialogue couldn't be any less tacked on if it tried. Characters are often changing tones without realizing it and cursing when the time is right. In fact, some of the dialogue is so realistic it's laugh-out-loud funny. Glodell uses a seemingly cheap but effective camera in which he puts a filter on it making it appear dirty and old. These elements of realism and cinematography make Bellflower an original and revolutionary movie. Calling this film an "end of the world" movie is a harshly intriguing notion, as the world does not literally end, but it ends for the character, in a manner of speaking. The setting is familiar but new. It takes place in Los Angeles. But this is a side of Los Angeles we rarely see in movies, the poorer side of town. The message that the film seems to convey at the end is great. It shows how far your imagination can go when you're in a state of desperation. While this was great, the movie seemed to be leading to an epic finale that quite literally didn't happen. Woodrow imagines himself doing all this crazy stuff and then it reveals he never did it. I don't think Glodell intended it to be anti-climatic, but unfortunately, it was. If it weren't for this Bellflower would earn a very easy and well deserved 5/5.

• Alec B

  
  I have to admit, I really like the idea of a childhood fantasy morphing into a dangerous and violent adulthood delusion. That said, the actual execution of the story isn't all that interesting until the final few scenes. It just takes way too long to reach an inevitable… More
  I have to admit, I really like the idea of a childhood fantasy morphing into a dangerous and violent adulthood delusion. That said, the actual execution of the story isn't all that interesting until the final few scenes. It just takes way too long to reach an inevitable conclusion. A film about someone who was driven to insanity and then consequently embraces a "Mad Max" version of reality is far more interesting that a film about how he got to that point.

• Christopher H

  
  Bellflower is an Indie film that never quite feels Indie. A romance and L.A. coming-of-age film that never really comes off romantic, locational, or enlightening. I am not sure the characters ever even discover anything about themselves, however, this stylish and gritty little number… More
  Bellflower is an Indie film that never quite feels Indie. A romance and L.A. coming-of-age film that never really comes off romantic, locational, or enlightening. I am not sure the characters ever even discover anything about themselves, however, this stylish and gritty little number is just crazy enough to work. How Evan Glodell found the ambition to write, direct, and star lead, I truly may never know. But his passion and artistic vision show through like the brush strokes of a painter. To produce a film as genre-breaking and well-crafted as Bellflower on his first crack as writer/director, definitely invests me to see what he can fire out next.

• Brad S

  
  Maybe the coolest movie I've seen all year outside of 'Drive'; and one of the most raw and authentic feeling since 'Blue Valentine', this dark, exciting, emotional, super-stylish, and completely original film is so filled with tension that I almost felt like I… More
  Maybe the coolest movie I've seen all year outside of 'Drive'; and one of the most raw and authentic feeling since 'Blue Valentine', this dark, exciting, emotional, super-stylish, and completely original film is so filled with tension that I almost felt like I was watching 'The Hurt Locker' again. 'Bellflower' is a breath of fresh air pulsating with energy, and you'll never see a single beat coming from a mile away. Far from a perfect movie, heavy on the melodrama at times, and lacking quality acting, Writer/Director/Star Evan Glodell's first film will nevertheless have you totally gripped from start to finish and you won't be able to pry your eyes from the screen. ~ B+

• Francisco G

  
  Hipster hit of 2011 promises and promises and promises and it's just completly shallow and uninteresting in the end. Sure, visually the self built camera and saturated colors are nice at first, some situations are decent and interesting but there's absolutly nothing, no… More
  Hipster hit of 2011 promises and promises and promises and it's just completly shallow and uninteresting in the end. Sure, visually the self built camera and saturated colors are nice at first, some situations are decent and interesting but there's absolutly nothing, no content going on. One thing is blending different genres and sensitivities, creating something unique but consistent, other is this shooting in all directions, pretending to be deep and pretentious to the fullest offering nothing in return. Maybe that's the point, like the main characters who are draggers and lowlifes this is supposed to make us feel like it. Guess what, not fucking interested.

• Quinto W

  
  I was ready to fall in love with this movie at first, enjoying its characters' caution-be-damned attitude and sense of fun, but then something happens that changes the course of the story and the poblem is that why that happened is never developed or explained; the movie just… More
  I was ready to fall in love with this movie at first, enjoying its characters' caution-be-damned attitude and sense of fun, but then something happens that changes the course of the story and the poblem is that why that happened is never developed or explained; the movie just throws it at us, and everyone starts behaving out of character (and the solution to all of this only made me madder).

Read all 20 featured audience ratings