Denizen (film)
Encyclopedia
Denizen is a 2010 low budget sci-fi horror-action film
written and directed by J.A. Steel
(aka Jacquelyn A. Ruffner). The film stars Steel, Julie Corgill, Glen Jensen
, Ben Bayless, and Jody Mullins, and is Steel's third feature film.
) team, consisting of Dexter Maines (Ben Bayless) and Dallas Murphy (Jody Mullins), must help the locals led by Callie Calhoun (Julie Lisandro) in saving the town from the creature that is killing the residents. After several deaths, a special Army Unit, led by General Jernigan (Glen Jensen), is called in to contain the creature, and if necessary, destroy the town. It becomes a race against time to stop the creature and prevent the town from being destroyed.
and filming was completed in nine days, with principle filming taking place primarily in Muskogee
, the Cenotes of Playa del Carmen
, Mexico
, and in Salt Lake City
, Utah
. Steel brought back her tough motorcycle-riding character from The Third Society in the form of 'Sierra Deacon'.
In her personal life, Steel races motorcycles, skydives, handles swords, competes in Muay Thai
kickboxing, is a Master SCUBA Diver
, and holds 22 marksmanship awards with various weapons, so in several cave diving
scenes, Steel did her own stunts as well as some camera work.
The film includes a transgender
supporting character of General 'Zeke' Deacon, the father of Sierra Deacon, played by transwoman actress and activist Dominique Storni.
in 2009, and when the Denizen film premiered at the Bare Bones International Film Festival
in April 2010, it received a nomination for the 'Best Sci-Fi Feature'. Denizen also was the only film to screen at the LGBT
'Outlantacon Sci-Fi Convention'.
Director and producer Jessica M. Bair won the 2009 Nevada Film Festival's 'Silver Screen Award' in the Short Film Competition, for the behind the scenes documentary Denizen: Special Access J.A. Steel. The short film was shot during the post-production of the Denizen feature, with director J.A. Steel and sound editor Wayne Rawley providing a close-up view into the filmmaker who does her own stunts.
In June 2010, Denizen was awarded the Bronze Medal for Excellence Award for the 'Best Impact of Music in a Feature Film', at the Park City Music Film Festival
.
Mike Catalano of JoBlo wrote "We have ourselves another low-budget, fromage-fest of horror coming our way. (In case you didn’t know, fromage means “cheese” in French)", offering "at the very least, it could make for some check-your-brain-at-the-door fun", and summarized by writing "there is an abundance of hot ladies in the cast, including a special appearance by none other than horror’s #1 vixen, Tiffany Shepis
."
Nic Brown of B Movie Man wrote that [the film] "is a mix of action, horror and science fiction. It has plenty of gun play and a surprising array of stunts including deep water scuba shoots, sky diving, and some military fighter action," with "an array of interesting characters," and concluded that it was "a respectable independent action film with elements of sci-fi and horror thrown in."
Nic Baisley of Film Snobbery wrote "The fairly wide variety of locations used in the movie also add that sense of realism to the story that is generally left out in some films. The use of multiple locations adds a lot of free production value to an otherwise obviously low budget film. Other things in this film that should be given kudos are the action scenes, underwater filmed scenes, and even an unexpected aerial skydiving scene. J.A. Steel definitely knew how to take advantage of her limited budget on this shoot, and it certainly all ends up on the screen." and observed "All in all I can appreciate what Steel was trying to accomplish with 'Denizen'. I think that the overall broadness of a story like this is very hard to contain within a small-ish budget with an inexperienced cast and crew. With J.A.'s background as a martial artist you can definitely tell she shouldered a lot of the action scene burdens, as well as being in front of the camera for her role in the movie. When a director has to work in so many capacities, often the production suffers a little. At the end, 'Denizen' is a fun monster movie, despite any flaws that are inherent to production."
Scott Shoyer of Anything Horror praised the film's ambitious scope, campy dialogue and for not taking itself to seriously, but criticized the sound quality. Shoyer compared Denizen to films used by the television show Mystery Science Theater 3000
due to its low budget special effects and continuity errors. Shoyer concluded by saying that the film was not for everyone, but "if you're looking for some fun cinematic cheese done “indie-style” then you'll enjoy this one. This is perfect to watch with a group of people and a lot of beer."
The horror film website Fatally Yours gave the film a negative review. While praising J.A. Steele's performance as the only pleasurable part of the movie it states that is is "atrocious" and "nigh unwatchable" due to poor acting and editing.
video on demand
. On June 7, 2010, Denizen was released on Amazon.com
, in both DVD and video on demand.
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
written and directed by J.A. Steel
J.A. Steel
J.A. Steel is an American writer, director, producer, editor, stunt person and actress best known for her role as C. Alexandra Jones in The Third Society....
(aka Jacquelyn A. Ruffner). The film stars Steel, Julie Corgill, Glen Jensen
Glen Jensen
Glen Jensen is an American actor and stand-up comedian.Glen started out performing at various comedy clubs in Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York. In 2001, Jensen became a finalist in the Boston Comedy and Film Festival, and in 2003 he went on to win the Philly's Funniest Comedy Competition...
, Ben Bayless, and Jody Mullins, and is Steel's third feature film.
Plot
A group of scientists must stop a mysterious creature from attacking a small town. Sierra Deacon's (J.A. SteelJ.A. Steel
J.A. Steel is an American writer, director, producer, editor, stunt person and actress best known for her role as C. Alexandra Jones in The Third Society....
) team, consisting of Dexter Maines (Ben Bayless) and Dallas Murphy (Jody Mullins), must help the locals led by Callie Calhoun (Julie Lisandro) in saving the town from the creature that is killing the residents. After several deaths, a special Army Unit, led by General Jernigan (Glen Jensen), is called in to contain the creature, and if necessary, destroy the town. It becomes a race against time to stop the creature and prevent the town from being destroyed.
Cast
- J.A. SteelJ.A. SteelJ.A. Steel is an American writer, director, producer, editor, stunt person and actress best known for her role as C. Alexandra Jones in The Third Society....
as Sierra Deacon - Julie Corgill Lisciandro as Callie (as Julie Lisandro)
- Ben Bayless as Dexter Maines
- Glen JensenGlen JensenGlen Jensen is an American actor and stand-up comedian.Glen started out performing at various comedy clubs in Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York. In 2001, Jensen became a finalist in the Boston Comedy and Film Festival, and in 2003 he went on to win the Philly's Funniest Comedy Competition...
as General Jernigan - Jody Mullins as Dallas Murphy
- Dianne Sullivan as PFC Noyce
- Janet Mayson as Mayor Greenwell
- Dominique Storni as General Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Deacon
- Jessica M. Bair as Young Deacon's Mother
- Christina Mahan as Sheriff Hannigan (as Christina Castro)
- Scott Carnahan as Jackson ‘Jake’ Deacon
- Hilary Delgado as Maggie Deacon
- Jennifer Lea Turner as Lilly Maines
Production
Production began in April 2008, in Muskogee, OklahomaMuskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
and filming was completed in nine days, with principle filming taking place primarily in Muskogee
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, the Cenotes of Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a balneario resort city just south of Cancún on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, in the northeast of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The city is the seat of the Solidaridad municipality. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 149,923 people and it is rapidly growing...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. Steel brought back her tough motorcycle-riding character from The Third Society in the form of 'Sierra Deacon'.
In her personal life, Steel races motorcycles, skydives, handles swords, competes in Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
kickboxing, is a Master SCUBA Diver
Master SCUBA Diver
Master Scuba Diver is a scuba diving certification level provided by several North American diver training agencies, such as National Association of Underwater Instructors , Professional Association of Diving Instructors , Scuba Diving International , and Scuba Schools International .Although the...
, and holds 22 marksmanship awards with various weapons, so in several cave diving
Cave diving
Cave diving is a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the exploration of caves which are at least partially filled with water. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of the more common sport of caving, and in the United States an extension of the more common...
scenes, Steel did her own stunts as well as some camera work.
The film includes a transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
supporting character of General 'Zeke' Deacon, the father of Sierra Deacon, played by transwoman actress and activist Dominique Storni.
Recognition
A Denizen trailer screened at the Park City Music Film FestivalPark City International Music Festival
The Park City International Music Festival is Utah's oldest classical music festival. Founded as the Deer Valley Music Festival in 1983, the Festival is centered around bringing renowned classical solo artists together to perform chamber music...
in 2009, and when the Denizen film premiered at the Bare Bones International Film Festival
Bare Bones International Film Festival
The Bare Bones International Film Festival was founded in 1999 by the Darkwood Film Arts Institute in the city of Muskogee, Oklahoma to showcase low-budget independent movies...
in April 2010, it received a nomination for the 'Best Sci-Fi Feature'. Denizen also was the only film to screen at the LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
'Outlantacon Sci-Fi Convention'.
Director and producer Jessica M. Bair won the 2009 Nevada Film Festival's 'Silver Screen Award' in the Short Film Competition, for the behind the scenes documentary Denizen: Special Access J.A. Steel. The short film was shot during the post-production of the Denizen feature, with director J.A. Steel and sound editor Wayne Rawley providing a close-up view into the filmmaker who does her own stunts.
In June 2010, Denizen was awarded the Bronze Medal for Excellence Award for the 'Best Impact of Music in a Feature Film', at the Park City Music Film Festival
Park City International Music Festival
The Park City International Music Festival is Utah's oldest classical music festival. Founded as the Deer Valley Music Festival in 1983, the Festival is centered around bringing renowned classical solo artists together to perform chamber music...
.
Critical response
The film has received attention for genre reviwers. From the movie trailer in 2008, Cinema Fantastique (Belgium) noted that the cast is typical for a low-budget production, and that the effects for the creature may well make the viewer laugh.Mike Catalano of JoBlo wrote "We have ourselves another low-budget, fromage-fest of horror coming our way. (In case you didn’t know, fromage means “cheese” in French)", offering "at the very least, it could make for some check-your-brain-at-the-door fun", and summarized by writing "there is an abundance of hot ladies in the cast, including a special appearance by none other than horror’s #1 vixen, Tiffany Shepis
Tiffany Shepis
- External links :...
."
Nic Brown of B Movie Man wrote that [the film] "is a mix of action, horror and science fiction. It has plenty of gun play and a surprising array of stunts including deep water scuba shoots, sky diving, and some military fighter action," with "an array of interesting characters," and concluded that it was "a respectable independent action film with elements of sci-fi and horror thrown in."
Nic Baisley of Film Snobbery wrote "The fairly wide variety of locations used in the movie also add that sense of realism to the story that is generally left out in some films. The use of multiple locations adds a lot of free production value to an otherwise obviously low budget film. Other things in this film that should be given kudos are the action scenes, underwater filmed scenes, and even an unexpected aerial skydiving scene. J.A. Steel definitely knew how to take advantage of her limited budget on this shoot, and it certainly all ends up on the screen." and observed "All in all I can appreciate what Steel was trying to accomplish with 'Denizen'. I think that the overall broadness of a story like this is very hard to contain within a small-ish budget with an inexperienced cast and crew. With J.A.'s background as a martial artist you can definitely tell she shouldered a lot of the action scene burdens, as well as being in front of the camera for her role in the movie. When a director has to work in so many capacities, often the production suffers a little. At the end, 'Denizen' is a fun monster movie, despite any flaws that are inherent to production."
Scott Shoyer of Anything Horror praised the film's ambitious scope, campy dialogue and for not taking itself to seriously, but criticized the sound quality. Shoyer compared Denizen to films used by the television show Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
due to its low budget special effects and continuity errors. Shoyer concluded by saying that the film was not for everyone, but "if you're looking for some fun cinematic cheese done “indie-style” then you'll enjoy this one. This is perfect to watch with a group of people and a lot of beer."
The horror film website Fatally Yours gave the film a negative review. While praising J.A. Steele's performance as the only pleasurable part of the movie it states that is is "atrocious" and "nigh unwatchable" due to poor acting and editing.
DVD release
The Denizen film DVD was officially released via IndieFlix on April 6, 2010. It was simultaneously released as streamingStreaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
video on demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
. On June 7, 2010, Denizen was released on Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, in both DVD and video on demand.