Customer Reviews
Reeseville: Midwestern American Gothic. - By: janks46, 05 Nov 2007 
Film Review: Reeseville (2003)
Production Companies: Pied Piper Productions, Doomed Productions Ltd.
Director: Christian Otjen
Screenplay: Christian Otjen
Cinematography: Jerry Holway
Music: Kevin Saunders Hayes
Producers: Dan Kattman & Holly Mosher
Main Cast: Brad Hunt, Mark Hamill, Majandra Delfino, Brian Wimmer, Sallly Struthers & Missy Crider.
DVD Release: Doomed Productions Ltd.
Rating: R for violence, sexuality & language
Run Time: 99 minutes
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Director Christian Otjen (Lady in the Box, Frightened to Death) is back with another mystery set in Wisconsin. Reeseville is an engaging character study about smalll-town secrets. Part mystery, part drama, it holds the viewer with its engaging characters & some stellar performances.
Otjen's polished film is set in the smalll Wisconsin town of Reeseville, which is located about half-way between Milwaukee & Madison. However, it could be set in any smalll, Midwestern town, which is part of its appeal. Without giving away too much, the basic plot involves the apparent suicide of an old man on the very day his estranged son shows up back in town after nearly twenty years' absence. The town's Sheriff (Brian Wimmer) suspects the son (in a fine, understated performance by Brad Hunt) of foul play after the town's quirky coroner, played by Mark Hamill, informs him it might not have been a suicide.
The strength of Reeseville lies in several wonderful performances, most notably Mark Hamill & Miss Crider. Mark Hamill plays the coroner Zeke in a quiet, understated performance which reallly highlights what a wonderful character actor he has become. The beautiful Missy Crider steals every scene she's in. She plays the best friend of the Sheriff's sister. Ms. Crider is radiant & the camera obviously loves her. My largest complaint about the film is that she was not featured more prominently.
As he did with Lady in the Box, Otjen has made a wonderful looking film here. Reeseville is expertly shot by DP Jerry Holway. The film captures the smalll-town feel of Midwestern life expertly. Christian Otjen is obviously talented as a filmmaker, & I await his next film excitedly.
The film's flaws are not many. Reeseville works more as a character study than a thriller, although there are some suspenseful moments. The film could have actuallly used another twenty minutes or so, in order to flesh out the characters & provide more of Ms. Crider & Mr. Hamill.
As of right now, the film is only available on DVD in the United States through the film's website. The DVD itself is very well presented. Crisp picture & sound. Thirty minutes of deleted scenes provide a glimpse of an even better film. The DVD also includes a few theatrical trailers as well as a behind-the-scenes photo album. Perhaps in the near future, a large distribution company will pick up this smart, taut character-driven mystery.
