Among Brothers

This is a must-see for all those who believe that a good movie can’t be made for under $50,000 – and especially for all those who hope it can!

Matt Mercer, Corey Cicci, Daniel J.Watts, Lauren Schneider

What a stunning Feature debut for writer/Director/producer John Schwert. ”Among Brothers” is a story based on actual events surrounding the mysterious death of college student Jennifer Matthews at Bergan State University. This movie explores Jennifer’s brother Tom’s theory of what may have happened as the actual case remains officially unsolved.

Ethan (Matt Mercer)is a frat boy at Bergan State who has developed a crush on Jennifer Matthews (Lauren Schneider). When passion turns to jealousy, Ethan flies into a sorely regrettable rage that ends Jennifer’s life. His frat brothers, played by Corey Cicci and Daniel J Watts, vow to help him cover up the deed by burning all the evidence. Ethan’s near inability to cope with his guilt is the near undoing of them all. Though a relatively inexperienced cast, they deliver a powerful visceral collective performance.

“Among Brothers” shows a strong stylistic voice from writer/director Schwert. His unique story telling elements and editing bring a fresh quality to this murder mystery – as told from the perpetrator’s point of view. Fred Story’s tense score really delivers the extreme emotional thrill ride that makes Among Brothers work so well. At times, the color pallet and cinematography deliver truly cinematic visuals – a remarkable feat considering the insanely miniscule budget this was made for. Schwert has created a picture with the production value equal to movies with easily 100 times the budget, and a sense of storytelling that surpasses many other projects of more seasoned veterans of the business. This is a must-see for all those who believe that a good movie can’t be made for under $50,000 – and especially for all those who hope it can!

Rating :
Reviewer : J. Anthony Lucas