Natural Selection (2016)

I liked the message and it's relatable but kinda boring and slow. I liked Ryan Munzert character so much maybe if the other character had something more interesting like him it would've made a really good movie.

I don't watch that many 'New-kid in a small town' movies, so the common premise did not eschew me (although I suspect veterans of this may still find this one is different from the lot).Natural Selection is a movie shot with an attention to detail. From the start, every character's nuance and mannerism (e.g drawing attention to how one character empties his pockets - becomes important later on) quickly blossoms into character defining details which becomes relevant to the movie's plot. The cinematography is good. I won't overpraise it by saying I saw Mona Lisas in this, but I enjoyed it enough that the after-images of some frames is still there in my mind's eye.A worthwhile watch, in a kickback-on-a-rainy-Sunday kind of way.

I wasn't at all prepared for this home-grown, strangely moving indie from PA. I found it on DirecTV and these low-budget films are many times a real crap shoot. Two things made me give it a try: 1) An opportunity to see Anthony Michael Hall in more than a cursory walk- on role (a nicely nuanced performance) and 2) The obvious devotion that director Chad Scheifele has to this project. He made a short film of the same title 6 years ago, penned a book, and he's now made a full length feature. As a writer myself, I understand the attachment to something you've poured a lot of yourself into. Scheifele obviously thinks it's been worth the effort. It is.Let's clear the air about a few things first. This isn't a John Hughesy movie, despite Hall's ghostly presence as a security cop on a high school campus. It's not full of a lot of slick airbrushed teen models spouting witty catch phrases (no offense; I love JH). The script is thoughtful, spare, and not afraid to use silence, which I really liked a lot. It also doesn't appear to be (and I may be wrong) one of those Christian Coalition sponsored movies that attempts to push a Christian Message down your throat. Excepting the occasional mentions of God and Jesus, it never really takes that coarse of a path.Tyler (Mason Dye) is the new kid in town and from the start it's obvious that he's the one taking care of his mom (Amy Carlson), an alcoholic, pill-popper who couldn't find her car keys if they were glued to her face. Tyler's only other friend at school besides good- girl Paige (Katherine McNamara) is the enigmatic, hostile Indrid Wardin (nice anagram, BTW). Indrid takes Tyler under his wing in a move that at first seems altruistic, but eventually reveals more sinister undertones. It's obvious Indrid's a man on a mission and it's not one with any sort of happy ending.While this type of plot twist is nothing new, Scheifele doesn't really villainize Indrid the way you'd expect, nor does he wreath Tyler in a golden glow. These are both troubled boys and it doesn't take a PhD to figure out why they're screwed up. Natural Selection's themes are very basic and some might say even over-simplified, but the script and performances are so unadorned that it sells itself in it's genuineness.Ryan Munzert's Indrid is definitely the dark spark here, but Mason Dye's introverted Tyler is in a way just as intriguing, a boiling pot ready to silently explode at any moment. Scheifele's direction and his competent crew's work isn't showy and doesn't draw attention to itself, but it matches the muted mood perfectly.There's a lot to relate to here for most people with the patience to look for it. And it's a relief to know that a labor of love, about love --- love at it's purest, basest level --- can be made and made well.

This film wasn't that well thought out as far as the writing goes, but i do think one actor stands out in the whole cast and certainly should be at the top of all the actors lists. It certainly wasn't about the characters that filled in the gaps, it was about the pain one child held over losing his girl friend, years earlier, and how THAT pain became corrosive, over time, with no one to help him as he went down in his own sinking ship...NOT About the passive youth (supposed to be the protagonist, but lacked gusto?) And his mother (poor actress all around) who'd lost the father to suicide, years earlier. The actor by the name of Ryan Munzert deserves a lot more credit then he got on the list of actors, as his name is at the bottom, when he out acted anyone of the popular actors or what was supposed to be the main actors. He really does play an antagonist well, but I could see him being the protagonist and showing him as being passionate in that role, as well. He has the it, thing going on and is quite notable in his efforts. Watch for him. Though Kathrine Macnamera, stars in mortal instruments I.V. show, she didn't do this film much justice. Munzert was in whole different league. I suggest we watch out for this kid...IF He plays his cards right, he will work on all types of roles and wont get pigeon holed, like many good looking young men do early in their careers. Id give the over all theme a 5 and the acting about a 6.7 overall, with Munzert more than pulling his part, out, at a 7.8. I don't know why the whole "Jesus thing", was thrown in at the end, really ruined it for me...the reason for the title and the tract of the theme was not a religious argument, though some one wanted to make sure they made a point that did not fit, here? As usual someone for the religious path, has to ruin a story by making it about religion, when its just so simple; its about life. The pain left to rot inside a soul, turns sour, while pain that is dealt with and released, can be turned into something usable and can CREATE LIFE, to help others in pain, in some way. It always comes down to a choice and whether the adults in charge are willing to help the youth, around them, dump the old baggage and find purpose in their lives. Sadly it should have ended with the young man who wanted to save the boy, not leaving his side, as he fell to his death. If you want to throw religion in there, that is what love and god are about...LOVING In spite of someone doing the wrong things do to past pain.