With the increase in technology, and decrease in price, independent films have come a long way from the low budget, B-movie, camp status. Access to the appropriate recording and productions devices, along with actor friends and/or connections, has made making a credible short film or documentary in reach of many creative minds.

The release of Monolith marks IndieCan Entertainment‘s 100th title release since the company’s beginning in August, 2011. IndieCan Entertainment focuses on independent, low-budget films, and as a distributor, Avi Federgreen follows the same principle that earned him his reputation as a filmmaker bringing Canadians films they want to watch. 

In Monolith, a mother and her son plan a surprise visit to Los Angeles to see her husband/his father. Halfway there they get into a terrible accident in the middle of nowhere and now must fight to survive.  After inadvertently discovering that her husband might be cheating on her, Sandra (Katrina Bowden) locks her toddler son David (Nixon and Krew Hodges) into the back of their new top of the range Monolith 4×4 – the all-terrain vehicle to end all all-terrain vehicles – and heads cross-country to California to confront him. Accidentally hitting a wild deer on a lonely stretch of desert highway, Sandra gets out of her vehicle to try and help the dying animal. Suddenly, and without warning, David accidentally triggers the Monolith’s safety settings, putting the vehicle in complete lockdown with him inside and his mother outside. With the desert temperature rising and unable to explain to David how to open the Monolith, Sandra begins to loose her sanity as she finds herself at the mercy of an increasingly hostile environment.

Monolith falls within the horror / suspense movie genre, which means there’s a lot of tension, and a lot of asking “why?”. Bowden carries the movie with the most on screen time, and her performance is quite well done, while often acted in that campy horror-flick way. There’s much to be believable about the direction society is headed, especially in the way of vehicles, with most everything computer generated and driver-free cars in the not to distant future. Overall, this is a movie with content, character, creativity, and a great music soundtrack as well! Check it out at IndieCan Entertainment.

Aside from the traditional distribution route, IndieCan leans heavily on digital delivery. IndieCan helps films find more opportunities with audiences through TV, Netflix, iTunes, websites, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. IndieCan’s vision is to not only support indie production but to encourage the viewing of quality indie films by North American audiences.

 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors, and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats. Reach out - bryen@thebuzzmag.ca