HEAD COUNT
(director/writer: Ben Burghart/Jacob Burghart; screenwriter: Josh Doke; cinematographer: Christopher Commons; editor: Edward Schroer; music: Chase Horseman; cast: Aaron Jakubenko (Kat), Ryan Kwanten (Sawyer), Jeffrey Staab (Sheriff Bittel), Davis DeRock (Hunter), Mason Finley (Mason), Chris Bylsma (Cassidy), Michael Timlin (Vince), Melanie Zanetti (Jo), Kyle Dyck (Hayes), Polaris Banks (Flint); Runtime: 82; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Tristan Barr, Austin Wagoner; Shout! Studios/Shudder/Method Media; 2023)
“Stylish but confusing comedic thriller.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
In their debut, after doing a number of short films, including a short film in 2014 on this very subject, the brothers Ben and Jacob Burghart direct this stylish but confusing comedic thriller. They co-write it with Josh Doke.
Kat (Aaron Jakubenko, Aussie actor) thanks to an unseen pack of wild cougars attacking a chain gang, escapes from a rural Kansas chain gang. He steals the police cruiser belonging to Deputy Sawyer (Ryan Kwanten), and in town steals a pick-up truck, where he finds a revolver.
The fugitive visits his estranged brother Hayes (Kyle Dyck) to discuss his escape plans to possibly Alaska. He then meets his old flame Jo (Melanie Zanetti) in the bar where she’s the bartender, and meets her jealous new boyfriend. Though Jo still loves him, she couldn’t wait for him the 3 years he was in prison.
Kit then takes a bath in his relative’s house only to learn from talking on the phone with his brother the house has been sold. He ends up under the bed when the owner’s wife is having a quickie with her lover, but he is found when her irate tough guy husband returns and finds him under the bed and wants to kill him. Kat escapes, but the deputy Sawyer picks up his trail and nabs him, and he threatens to kill him unless he robs the stash of a gun-runner (Michael Timlin) who keeps the money hidden under a picture of Jesus. When Kat steals the money and gives it to Sawyer, he’s released. He then goes to a casino, where he’s caught counting cards.
The film opened with a prologue, showing Kat having his own revolver held to his head. He recalls all the times the gun was fired since he stole it to determine how many bullets are left in the chamber.
The story is told through a number of flashbacks, and relies on surprises to keep things going.
The suspense builds around him counting the shots fired from his gun, until the climatic Russian roulette scene brings things to an end and we find out who is the wannabe killer.
It’s a sketchily drawn out (too many unexplained scenes) character study that’s absurd but has some entertainment value. But it has us sticking around to the end to see who is holding the gun to the likable fugitive’s head.
REVIEWED ON 7/29/2024 GRADE: C+
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