The world is abound with stories of nasty beasts stalking the seas and the land. Flashes are caught in a picture or on CCTV somewhere out there. On the shores of Lake Michigan, that seems to be a real issue. Captain Seafield (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, who writes and directs) has seen it. Smelt it. Waded in it. It even killed his father. He enlists a crew of random people with specific skills in a bid to slay the sea beast.

This floats an interesting premise into the lake. Odd ball logic and film theory coalesce. Weapons expert Sean Shaughnessy (Erick West), sonar whiz Nedge Pepsi (Beulah Peters) and former N.A.V.Y. – Nautical Athletes and adVenture Yunit – officer Dick Flynn (Daniel Long) are bolted together. The group are an oddly mixed bunch and they are left bobbing up and down on the high shores.

There is a lot to like about the film. If you are a film know it all, then you will revel in its sublicious atmosphere. That is more low budget film making and Ryland Brickson Cole Tews uses his directing resources well. The film failings are that as it runs along, it pokes too much at self reflective cineastes and very knowing meta consumers. It drifts often into hipster pretence and ends up running aground onto the shore of more straight film fans.

DISC

HD is a nice thing and the disc benefits from being treated well. After all though, it looked good, it looked like it did on the big screen.

EXTRAS

I really liked Critics’ audio commentary with Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Emma Westwood. Though both veer into the hipster side of cinema a lot, they do pull out nuggets that enrich viewing, like good film critics should. The first season and pilot episode of L.I.P.S good fun to be had here and I strongly encourage a view of the pilot!

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

• High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
• Original lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo soundtracks
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Two cast and crew audio commentaries featuring writer/director/actor Ryland Tewls and actors Daniel Long, Beulah Peters, Erick West and editor Mike Cheslik – one sober, one drunk!
• Critics’ audio commentary with Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Emma Westwood
• Effects Breakdown comparison of the film’s underwater sequence, including storyboards and pre-composited footage
• Dear Old Captain Seafield – the Captain Seafield theme song, performed by the Seafield Monster Sextet
• Interview in a Cabin – interview with Ryland Tews and Daniel Long at the Fantasia International Film Festival
• Interview in a Bar – interviews with the cast and crew at the Beloit International Film Festival
• Interview by a Fire – interview with Mike Cheslik on Mark Borchardt’s Cinema Fireside radio show
• The first season and pilot episode of L.I.P.S., Ryland Tews and Mike Cheslik’s hybrid animation/live action sci-fi comedy web series
• Theatrical trailer
• Behind the scenes photos
• Reversible sleeve featuring original artwork by Jade Watring and newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Barry Forshaw