Leofwine_draca
CYXORK 7 is an occasionally enjoyable spoof of the whole B-movie film-making process, although it's not quite as funny as it thinks it is. The film has a desert setting and follows the misadventures of a film crew as they attempt to shoot a low-rent science fiction movie in an area plagued by earthquakes.What follows is rather episodic, lifted by an endearing and hilarious turn from underrated star Ray Wise, who you may remember appearing in ROBOCOP as one of the bad guys. His big-headed movie star is a real delight, so it's a pity that the rest of the cast can't match him, although Greg Proops has a fun cameo as a TV news presenter. I found the ending rather random and quite unsatisfying.
Brian Morton
Cyxork 7 is not so much a sci-fi movie, as much as it's a commentary on Hollywood and the film industry. The premise is simple, the Cyxork franchise is on the wane, but internet geeks have kept it alive, now a script generated by the web nerds is going to restart the franchise. But, due to the low budget, the filmmakers are forced to use an impending earthquake as their special effects.Funny, biting and at times even heartwarming, Cyzork 7 is the indie movie that most Indies wish they were! A nice mix of recognizable and up-and-comers, a fantastic script and, just a lot of fun. You can tell that the cast and crew probably had as much fun making the movie as the audience does watching it.If you have the chance to see Cyzork 7, don't miss it! You'll be missing out of a movie that's sure to be a cult favorite!
jasonbrown
It's a shame you can't say this more often, but every time I've seen this film I've had fun.I screened 'Cyxork 7' during the programming process for the 2006 Carolina Film & Video Festival and loved it. Too often films that are trying to say something over-think their audience and suck the life out of the genre. John Huff's crazy 'movie-crew on a fault-line' premise contains tons of great commentary on society and movies, but none of that gets in the way of the jokes and characters. I saw over 1,000 films last year (both shorts & features), and Cyxork was one of the top ten experiences I had.Picking the movie up again nearly a year later, it's still fun. Ray Wise's performance is fantastic and layered (as usual). And I can't say it enough - the movie looks great. Not just acceptable or tolerable or expected for a genre picture. John Huff and Michael Negrin do a great job of making this a visually entertaining movie.More people should see this film.
casadelsand
When I first saw this movie at FAIF (which it won), I didn't know what to expect. I knew it would be unique when I saw the hilarious, scathing news channel parody. From then on, it made me laugh with unexpected surprises and subversive riffs on the Hollywood theme.The varied characters and their plights were entertaining, fresh, and painfully recognizable. Ray Wise shone as the consummate capital-A actor. Sonya Smith, the lovely director, was notably sympathetic as she finally found the courage to take charge. Her relationship with the talented Joseph Culp elicited funny and wincing memories of one's own life choices, as the couple decides what to hold onto and what to let go. Beata Pozniak was hilarious and disturbingly real during her catfight to keep what she earned. Roberto Bacalski's performance as a smarmy producer was cringingly on target. His harshness began an exciting chain reaction, forcing foes to bond and skeptics to believe. Ruthless, incisive, and sympathetic, the dialogue was excellent.The desert scenery was beautifully rendered and appropriate to the story - what Hollywood would be if it dried up. The sets and costumes were outstanding, especially on a tight budget.The ending, which I won't spoil, was a hugely fun payoff as excess took root. Though hilarious, it also made you think about what you truly want and the price you'd be willing to pay for it.I highly recommend this funny, imaginative, and extremely original film.
AD
