Love God (1997 film)
| Love God | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Frank Grow |
| Written by | Frank Grow |
| Produced by | Frank Grow |
| Starring | Will Keenan Shannon Burkett Kymberli Ghee Kerri Kenney Michael Laurence Dale Soules Yukio Yamamoto Vin Knight Christine Holt |
| Cinematography | Terry Stacey |
| Edited by | Davey Frankel |
Running time | 82 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Love God is a 1997 American surreal comedy-drama film directed by Frank Grow. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is known for its experimental visual style and unconventional narrative. The film stars a schizophrenic protagonist with a compulsive reading disorder, navigating life after his release from a mental institution, only to be haunted by Hindu gods.[1]
Plot
[edit]The story follows the protagonist's attempts to reintegrate into society after a stint in a mental institution. However, his efforts are complicated by hallucinations of Hindu deities and the onset of a bizarre series of events involving mutated worms and their effect on human biology.
Cast
[edit]- Will Keenan as Larue
- Shannon Burkett as Helen
- Kymberli Ghee as Kathleen / Kali
- Kerri Kenney as Darla
- Michael Laurence as Victor
- Dale Soules as Connie
- Yukio Yamamoto as Dr. Noguchi
- Vin Knight as Christian
- Christine Holt as Red Haired Hooker
Production
[edit]Frank Grow wrote and directed Love God, which utilized a blend of live-action and special effects to achieve its distinctive surreal aesthetic.[2] The film was independently produced and gained attention for its experimental approach.[3]
Release and reception
[edit]Festivals
[edit]Love God was selected to screen at the following film festivals:
- 1997 Sundance Film Festival
- 1997 Toronto International Film Festival
- 1997 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
- 1997 Helsinki International Film Festival
- 1997 International Film Festival Rotterdam
Critical response
[edit]Critical response to Love God was mixed. Fred Camper of The Chicago Reader described the film as a "wildly inventive" piece of work, while Anita Gates of The New York Times noted its eccentric humor and unusual use of special effects.[3][2] Godfrey Cheshire of Variety acknowledged its visual ambition, although the narrative received criticism for its abstract nature.[4] Steven Puchalski of Shock Cinema highlighted the film's niche appeal.[5]
While not a commercial success, Love God has gained a cult following for its unique storytelling and visual style.[6] It remains a notable entry in the canon of 1990s independent cinema and recognized as an early live-action film shot entirely on digital and transferred to film.[1][7][8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Totaro, Donato (July 1997). "Love God". Offscreen. Vol. 1, no. 4. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Gates, Anita (December 3, 1999). "`Love God': The Worm Turns, Turning People Into Odd Blobs". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Camper, Fred (October 26, 1997). "Love God". The Chicago Reader. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ Cheshire, Godfrey (February 15, 1997). "Love God". Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ Puchalski, Steven (1997). "Love God (1997)". Shock Cinema. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ "Love God". The Bedlam Files. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ Williams, David Alexander. "Love God". Spectacle. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ Smith, Gavin (July–August 1997). "Straight to Film". Film Comment. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Love God at IMDb
- Love God at Letterboxd