cop_poc My name is Paris Campbell. I am the lead actor in D.O.A. I just wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful things that have been said about the film and about my performance in particular. (negative comments aside.) As was said by Josh Crook earlier, this was done on a shoestring budget but all the performers (and the crew) did their thing. This is significant because our art form is dying right before our eyes. Independent film gives new film makers a chance to show the world their vision through their eyes! This makes it possible for our society to receive art in it's purest form. Thank you and Merry Christmas! Peace

chris_john_lynch Well written small budget flick. No name actors put on a good show. Definitely adult orientated with some great gore and raunchy scenes.What is interesting is how this film tends to blend both the Crime and Slasher genres together. Not that genre is ever completely static, some films fitting into multiple genres, but rather that The Level combines elements of both the Crime and Slasher rather effectively. Aside from the story being about criminals there are some other more interesting connections. The plot is reminiscent of not only Reservoir Dogs but a whole slew of other Crime movies: Layer Cake, The Usual Suspects and even Double Indemnity. The quest for the truth is a compelling device that moves these stories forward. The Level uses this device not only for the plot but also as its introduction of Horror. Most of the gruesome violence is even executed via torture, further suturing 'truth-seeking' and horrific violence. What lends this film to Slasher is the extensive mutilation, gore, raunchiness and torture that almost overwhelms some parts of the narrative. Consider Junior's revival only to be re-killed via decapitation. Low budget Horror movies are often criticized for their weak plot. I mean, for the most part, the plot is just an excuse for the violence; especially in a good Slasher. That is what is interesting about The Level because the Crime genre is the driving force behind the horror.Overall, pretty decent, especially for its budget.

piverba This is not a film to be forever written in the annals of cinematography but it is poignant tale of violence without glorification of the mob. If there is one distinctive character of this film it's it honesty. Yes, it's about cruelty, murder, vise of all kinds. It is suspenseful and unpredictable. All characters are killed, the assumptive protagonist is turned out to be a liar, similar to others, no better than the others, as it should and must be. He tells the story portraying him a reasonable person, even compassionate. Momentarily we may forget that he's an active participant of the mob, our minds are not ready to deal with complete negativity; we require a redeemer, someone positive, a counterweight to establish the equilibrium. Who triumphs? – yes, you guessed it – the boss - the most ruthless and unpretentious of them all. He's the arch-thug and does not make a secret of it. He can never be accused of being nice, he never thinks nice, nor acts nice, he does not need nor want anybody to think nice of him. He's honest. He rips out protagonist's tong because he would not tolerate lies and deceptions in his domain. This is fitting conclusion of a story of a mobster, who pretended to play the role of a 'good guy'.Often we are shown films, such as with Steven Seagal, where the protagonist, who demonstrates ruthlessness exceeding that of his opponents, somehow portraits as a positive character, avenging society. The reality is that this protagonist prevails because he was more ruthless than the 'bad guys'. We feel relieved that someone did this dirty job for us, or we feel, vicariously, to be this hero ourselves. Both feelings are deceptive – we are being manipulated to obtain inauthentic relief, like a junkie, offered a fix. Violence, if shown at all, need not to be cathartic, nor feel like pleasure, neither remembered as an agreeable experience. It should feels badly, for it is stupid and self-destructive activity, not to be indulged in.A better way to dispense with the story like this one is to pluck out the tong of the symbolic story tellers by not patronizing their films. In a way Jeff and Josh Crook did just that with regard to all this Mel Gibson's Hollywood trash. Their violence does not feel good – it feels ugly, pointless and dead; it has no future.

Jaarus MAY CONTAINS SPOILERSI suspect 'The Level' will get compared a lot to 'Reservoir Dogs' in reviews for three main reasons - I couldn't help making comparisons either... First reason is around the style of story telling. We join the story around three quarters of the way through and it uses character testimony to inform us, the viewer, how things got to that point. Eventually the story passes where we joined it, tying up all the loose ends as it does so. Second reason is its all about criminals not knowing who they can actually trust (they are all criminals after all) and backstabbing each other when put on the line.. no-one knows who to trust and you as the viewer aren't at all sure which story is the truth.And finally.... its violent. We aren't talking a non-stop gory bloodfest here... we are instead talking about realistic violence. Which is far more gut wrenching if you ask me (if anyone has watched a little known film called 'Savage Dad', starring Patrick Stewart...just think about the 'wrist' scene) This is definitely NOT one for the kids!! Final scene is a real 'muscles tightening as you watch it' scene.I wont go into the plot as the plot IS the film... but if you like Mob style thrillers then you will enjoy it - even if it is a bit slow at times.7 out of 10.