Film Geek

Director: James Westby

Starring: Melik Malkasian, Tyler Gannon, Matt Morris

From James Westby comes the tale of Scotty Pelk, socially inept and film-obsessed, who works in a video rental shop. Away from work he splits his time between his own film review website, obsessively watching films and masturbating. He is also unfortunately a sucker for überbitches Kaitlin and Cindy who can’t stand him, and he pathetically lusts after. Life hits an all-time low when Scotty loses his job, essentially for being so damn annoying (he likes to create his own shelf of favourites, chastise the customers for renting the ‘wrong’ film, and doesn’t listen to his boss), but also proves a turning point when he meets Niko on a bus; she is the obligotary cool girl and he is attracted to her because of her love for David Cronenberg, and the fact she loves films almost as much as he does. The only person to give him the time of day and enchanted by her hip ways, Scotty cannot believe his luck and it is no wonder he falls long and hard for her. The course of love never did run smoothly though, especially when Niko has a boyfriend who’s not about to let the film geek steal his girl, plus the fact she keeps rejecting him with cringingly increasing humiliation. There is a chance of happiness though, arriving in the shape of his website finally getting some hits…

It’s kind of hard to like Scotty he’s so cringe-worthy; but his life is so pathetic it’s the kind thing to do to root him on in his quest for love and recognition for his encyclopaedic film knowledge. How much of the character is autobiographical on the part of Westby is up for debate, he too is a buff with video store work in his history and the film is shot in his own town; I hope not too much for his sake! Malkasian is a triumph in the lead role, sometimes inciting a desire to punch rather than hug him, and has great comedic timing. The film is also buoyed by a fantastic and rousing rock soundtrack and intertitles of Scotty's top-five film favourites in various categories.

Ben Sniff