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Review by Film Threat

“Intoxicated Demons” is an odd short film that plays like something from David Lynch’s mind, though it’s a bit more coherent. It will irritate many viewers (especially when they reach the film’s conclusion, which is as open-ended as they come), but it still somehow manages to draw you in with a story where the outcome is never quite clear.

Luke Pennington plays Johnny, a guy whose girlfriend just dumped him. Like far too many other guys in this situation, he drowns his sorrows in alcohol at a fairly deserted strip club. While there he meets a strange man (John Gilbert) who offers plenty of advice about women and their wicked ways. When Johnny accepts a ride with the man, he finds himself blacking out and regaining consciousness at a place that looks like Lover’s Lane. It is here that the stranger, who used to be a preacher, drops some more knowledge on our hapless hero. “I sell life jackets,” he explains. Yeah, that’s not exactly an accurate description of his line of work.

Some of the best films never give you too many clues about their destination. They take you for a ride and hope you enjoy it enough to stay on... I thought about the film’s ending for days, trying to figure out Johnny’s future. Not a single scenario I came up with was a good. That shows how powerful the film’s presence is; fourteen minutes that got me a-ponderin’ for days.

If your idea of a good film involves anything called Klingons or Cuba Gooding, Jr., steer very clear of this film. If, on the other hand, you like to think of films as ticking time bombs left in your mailbox and packed either with nails or candy, then you owe it to yourself to seek this one out. Just don’t blame me if the ending nags at you for close to a week. Full review_

Review by ToxicUniverse.com

Throwing more money into a production doesn't always guarantee a superior film; often directors are forced to stretch their creative muscles when challenged to get a shot on a limited budget. But in this section, money did make a significant difference. At $15,000 the most elaborate short in this section was Donlee Brussel's Intoxicated Demons, and he invested his money well - the acting talent, the production design, and cinematography all stand out, and Brussel's considerable collaborative skills are clearly evidenced in this short. First conceived in 2002, it was shot over three days in January 2005 before going to post-production.

Forgoing a typical sequential structure, Brussel begins with a series of rhythmic visuals choreographed to a lively soundtrack that center on Johnny (Luke Pennington), who hits a liquor store and a strip club, gets drunk, and may (or may not) take a ride with a mysterious stranger (John Gilbert). The former girlfriend is sketched in during inebriated flashbacks, one strikingly photographed like Dario Argento's best work, as Cami (Kellydawn Malloy) is bathed in soft blue while the rest of the darkened set contains deep red tones. And that is only one of many striking night scenes. Another remarkably steady shot takes place inside a moving vehicle cruising down Santa Monica Blvd -- a staple of Abbas Kiarostami but not the kind of shot you'd expect in a short.

Most memorable, however, is the relative complexity of Intoxicated Demons and how it leaves plenty of room for ambiguity, especially with its open ended final scene. One lady asked the director for an interpretation immediately after its debut screening, and I'm sure that Brussel will be approached by a number of people who have seen his first film and say something along the lines of "Hey, I saw your film. What was it about?"

Whether this film wins any awards or not, it does offer promise. Brussel is well versed in cinematic language without the usual pretentiousness of many film school students, and he's demonstrated in this first project that he can put together a professional team of filmmakers to produce a well made and provocative film. Full review_