DVD Review: All American Bully

All American Bully is a suspenseful drama about a teenager that is bullied by a neighbor that used to be his best friend. It stars Alexander Fraser, Daren Ackerman, Alicia Rose, Darren Hicks, Bob Olin and Adrienne King. The film opens with a series of pretty nature shots – fields of flowers, a flock of birds, and light coming through the branches of a tree – but after that last shot, the camera then pans over to the trunk, causing much of the screen to go black. And it is that image, half light and half dark, that leads to a shot of the neighborhood and Devon Manning (Alexander Fraser) and his friends. It’s subtle, but effective, for it is that sense of half-darkness that we take into their lives. Also, the forest will play a big role in the story, both in the film’s present and in two characters’ pasts.

Devon, Becky (Alicia Rose) and Garret (Darren Hicks) are close friends who are into video games and role-playing games. Becky is clearly attracted to Devon, but is nervous about crossing that line and perhaps being rejected. As the three are walking to school, John Brooks (Daren Ackerman) stops his truck to torment them, stealing a rare roleplaying book that Devon had just bought. Devon and his friends feel powerless, but after school, Devon goes to get his book back, only to find John and his buddies are using the pages for target practice. They then beat Devon senseless, while John’s coked-up girlfriend videotapes it.

Devon’s father (played by Bob Olin) has a bit of an awkward, distant relationship with Devon. Early on he urges Devon to go out for football. “I just want you to be normal, that’s all,” he tells Devon. “I am normal, Dad,” Devon says. And after Devon is beaten, his father doesn’t know how to handle the situation. Clearly he loves his son and cares deeply about him, but they just have trouble connecting. Their scenes together are intense and touching in their awkwardness.

The only other adults that we see playing a part in Devon’s life are his English teacher and the school principal. The principal is played by Adrienne King, whom horror movie fans will recall from the first two Friday The 13th films. And she has her own issues to deal with, hinted at early when she tells the teacher that she’s “just checking to make sure my students were okay.” The film takes place in a small town, where homophobia clearly runs rampant.

After the bullies post the video of Devon’s beating online, Becky urges Devon to fight back, not physically, but by exposing John’s secret online. I do have to wonder why they don’t simply go to the police. After all, by posting the video online, the morons have effectively handed the authorities the evidence against themselves.

The film gets a little melodramatic in places toward the end, but then also gets more intense and brutal and very, very real. I’m not sure that everything works, but this film certainly goes for it and takes chances, and what does work works really well. I also like that the adults have troubled pasts that are hinted at but not completely explained. For example, we are never told outright why Devon’s father is in a wheelchair. By the way, the film was originally titled The Innocent.

Special Features

The DVD contains seventy-two minutes of interviews with cast members, including thirteen minutes with Adrienne King. But holy moly, the first question the girl asks her is, “Is this your first feature film?” Ouch. Way to do your research. Adrienne looks surprised for a moment, but answers graciously, and talks about a bit about Friday The 13th and the trouble she had with a stalker at that time, which led to her not wanting to appear on camera for a long time. Adrienne is really well-spoken, and sweet even when the girl asks the same question more than once. During Bob Olin’s interview, there is a joke where he pretends a phone call is from Martin Scorsese, and the girl interviewing him doesn’t get that it’s a joke. Wow. She’s not very bright. Alexander Fraser talks about how the script changed several times since he first read it, and that he originally auditioned for the role of John Brooks. Alicia Rose talks about how a lot of the cast and crew lived together on the set.

The DVD also includes the film’s trailer.            

All American Bully was written and directed by Jason Hawkins, and was released on DVD on June 23, 2015 through Wild Eye Releasing.