NEGATIVE

Film Review by FIORE

Monarch Home Entertainment follows its feel good country-western film STRINGS with NEGATIVE, an on the run spy thriller.  The film’s claim to fame is role-reversal.  Normally this genre features a femme fatale who is dragged into the adventures, or misadventures of an international spy caught in the middle of a major dilemma.  The Arnold made a career of these types of films including COMMANDO, TOTAL RECALL, and ERASER.

In NEGATIVE, the international spy is Natalie, played by Katia Winter.  She realizes her position with MI-5 is tenuous and she is about to be retired.  She manipulates a connection between the British government and a Columbian drug cartel to secure herself a safe, and comfortable haven, but things so terribly wrong.  Two members of the cartel are sanctioned to eliminate her.  They are played by Marem Hassler and Santiago Salucli.  During the pursuit, photographer Hollis, played by Simon Quarterman, becomes ensnarled in the chase and Natalie valiantly attempts to save him, as they scurry across Arizona.

Normally, the role-reversal concept could be disastrous.  Ninety pound women tossing around 300 pound men is the stuff of comedy, not action thrillers.  Seldom is it done realistically in film.  NEGATIVE does accomplish it nicely, however, thanks to the efforts of Fight Choreographer and Stunt Coordinator Daniel Locierro.  He cleverly shows only the aftermath of several encounters, and the one crucial conflict between Natalie and her contact and ex-husband Rodney, played by Sabastian Roche, is done with aplomb.

There are several hurdles to NEGATIVE.  Like most Independent films, many scenes are held too long.  Once the reaction shot is flashed, holding it for an additional thirty seconds does not make it more intense.  There are also a few scenes that serve no purpose, other than to slow the flow.  For example:  the car sickness scene is lame and repetitious.  Overall though, Editor Will Torbett does yeoman duty in pacing NEGATIVE.

Personally, it was great seeing the vistas of Phoenix and Sedona once again on screen.  I was able to pick out a few spots previously visited.  Coupled with the score of Bill Brown, it made for a satisfying trip down memory lane.

There are moments of dialogue where the cartel assassins hold conversations in Spanish, without subtitles.  This is a ploy by filmmakers to help force America into becoming a bi-lingual nation.  It is irritating.  We should be making the reverse happen; declaring and demanding one national language, English, and ensuring immigrants are conversant. 

In true Indie fashion, many of the stars also don caps behind the camera.  It helps give NEGATIVE a homey mien that permeates the story telling.  There is a major slow down in the second act, but once weathered, NEGATIVE is comfortable escapism.