Plain Dirty (2003)

Nice effects though.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

I love this movie!! The first time I caught it on late night TV, and it really stuck with me for some reason so I went out and picked up the DVD..it's been one of my favs ever since, and it's the kind of movie you can watch over and over. The cast is great, acting convincing, the story is raw, and I love the imagery of the chains, blindness, dirtiness, etc. the costuming and sets are genius in that you cannot tell what time period it is..it could be the 50s, or the 80s, or modern. It's one of the most romantic movies I've seen in awhile, especially if you are sick of the whole sickly-sweet formulaic romantic comedies these days. I have no idea why this isn't better known or rated because it's very haunting and gritty and the music is also fantastic. If you love southern Gothic Indy masterpieces you will LOVE this!

Dear Mrs. Swain: I thought you would want to know that your daughter Dominique has been hanging out with those Tonic Films people in North Carolina. After they made a sequel to "Redneck Zombies" called "Cabin Fever", they talked her into starring in another one of their student productions. Although her attempt at a southern accent is absolutely hilarious, the humor is wasted because this movie, "Plain Dirty" aka "Briar Patch", is not a comedy despite some great pirate jokes after she begins wearing an eye patch.Fortunately she keeps slipping in and out of both accent and character throughout the performance, between this and the movie's audio problems viewers will not even notice her accent. To Dominique's credit, all the other performances seriously stretch the limits of credibility so she may have simply been trying to give the movie a sense of unity.Dominique has certainly puffed up since she left Malibu high school, she reminds me of Amanda Bynes on steroids and most likely could beat up all three effeminate actors in her movie.Now that she is back in California maybe her acting coach can figure out a way to curb her tendency to chew the scenery, although as you know this is hardly the first time. With a patch on one eye and the other mysteriously swollen shut, she spins around and flaps her arms like Patty Duke playing Helen Keller. It would be best to keep her away from those Star Trek reruns because her style increasingly resembles William Shatner's.I am confident Dominique has finally bottomed out with this movie, if only because the production itself is rock bottom. Which is particularly unfortunate because the original story idea was quite good, the problem was in the execution.

You can't argue with the crisp, moody cinematography, the "Dead Man Walking" soundtrack or the weirdly perfect obsessed performance of "Flowers" by Irish actor Arie Verveen. The wardrobe department made sure that fans of Miss Swain won't be disappointed. The film swings back and forth to contrast the class differences of the South. Intense swampy desire loosely outlined by a Shakespearean theme? What's not to like here people? I don't think the Lolita comments in other reviews apply to the plot in this film. Other than Dominique Swain's role in that film, this is not a similar story what-so-ever.

Arie Verveen seems so filthy and stupid when the film begins and the sets and settings of the movie show such filth and unpleasant sights that the viewers begin to be disgusted. Watching the movie, I felt as if I was afraid to touch any surface and I felt that I needed a scrub-brush or a hose. These feelings, however, shouldn't allow the viewer to see that the movie is a fantastic psychological thriller under the surface. Arie Verveen, evoking the ghost of Brando, delves deeply into the character of his part to show how you never know what's what or who someone truly is until you get beyond the skin. Strong performances by Dominique Swain as the childlike bride, Henry Thomas as the brutal husband Edgar and Karen Allen as the modern-day witchwoman down the lane add depth to an already deep pond. An interesting viewing, I'm looking forward to more from Deborah Pryor, who provided a very well-made story.