INTRO:

Welcome to Low-Budget Movie Reviews. I’m Hank, filmmaker, YouTuber, and longtime podcaster. This is my review of the low-budget movie called Gifted Pain. This is a spoiler-filled review of the movie so you’ve been warned. However, there is one key spoiler that I won’t mention in this review in case you want to go watch it. It’s honestly really well done and if someone knew it prior to watching it would diminish the film greatly.

OVERVIEW:

A loner struggles with childhood tragedy. Seeking refuge, he immerses himself in martial art films. A life changing moment releases unknown abilities, taking him closer to solving the mystery of his past. But the truth will come at a cost.

BUDGET:

Gifted Pain has an estimated budget of roughly $40 thousand dollars as it was shot in the U.K. so there’s a conversion of course.

SETTINGS:

The world of Gifted Pain feels pretty big when you consider the micro-budget. They hit the right spots that you would expect in a movie about this subject matter.

CHARACTERS:

1. Tobias Jon: Christopher
2. Sarah Jane Duncan: Beth
3. Dylan Baldwin: Steve
4. Michael Maloney: Spoiler
5. Karl Collins: University lecturer

HITS:

1. There’s an excellent reveal that I should have seen coming but didn’t for whatever reason.
2. The concept is excellent!
3. They even use science to explain the premise.
4. Some of the fighting is good.
5. There are some good actors in this film.
6. The commitment to the project is commendable! (5 years)

MISSES:

1. The movie is too long.
2. Indie films simply don’t get the benefit of the doubt with viewers.
3. The edit is terrible.
4. I could cut this film in half easily.
5. Shots hang on actors too long during every scene.
6. The shot selection is questionable in some scenes.
7. Example: the Beth character is telling a really deep and sensitive story but we have a two-shot on the screen.
8. There is far too much music.
9. Music should add context or build anticipation.
10. Music cannot overtake the film or a given scene.
11. Unless I’m mistaken, there’s a store scene in which he doesn’t pay for the items he gets.

MOVIE SCORE: 4.5/10

PRODUCTION SCORES:

DIRECTION: C Tobias Jon

WRITING: C Tobias Jon

CINEMATOGRAPHY: D

POST PRODUCTION (score/sfx/edit/color grade): E

REWATCHABILITY: E