Hell is a 2 Way Trip

Samuel North (Nathan Mobley) is a man who dies very shortly into The Other Side, and is transported to hell through the slimy depths of the earth (in a case of mistaken judgment, as we find out later in the film). He then escapes, and finds himself accused of killing his girlfriend, all while he is trying to find out who killed him, and why. Apparently if you actually are able to escape hell, some reapers come after you to bring you back; and they will blow away anything or anyone that tries to stop them. He teams up with some mysterious strangers, Mally (portrayed by a funny Corey Rouse) and Oz (Poncho Hodges) who know about the reapers, and they will become friends and saviors in the process. The reapers are constantly getting killed, but they can regenerate themselves; this will cause headaches for the three as they blast away their guns in showdown after showdown.

While checking info on IMDB for this review, I found out that writer/director Gregg Bishop financed The Other Side for $15,000 of his own money. This film is fun and fast paced, never stopping long enough to over contemplate the zigzag story line; or the fact that there wasn’t much of a budget. The story is essentially of redemption, hidden within a blood bath, ala Tarantino or Rodriguez (minus the intelligent dialogue). It has plenty of twists and turns, but not too many to where that is what the film is all about. With a healthy dose of humor from nerdy Mally, juxtaposed with the serious and towering Oz, they steal the show.

The visual effects are more impressive than movies 20 times the budget; with an artistic touch and clever editing, Bishop gets incredible results. The camera work is frequently choreographed and frantic during the action sequences, it may be the fingerprint of his style. If I have any problem with the film it was some poor acting and the ending. The dialogue from most of the characters is somewhat stiff (minus the comic relief), as are the actors; and the very end was a bit on the cheesy side.

The negatives are few, and I think this movie will pave the way for a promising career for Gregg Bishop. The film is original, violent and fun, and it has a little bit of something for everybody.