SYNOPSIS: It was a summer like any other in this sleepy southern town, until a mysterious drifter named Eli Cottonmouth charms the townsfolk with a simple proposition for their upcoming anniversary celebration. But behind this picture-perfect community, two boys will now discover a secret world of mysteries, lies and tragedy that will change all their lives forever.

EDITORIAL REVIEW: Dog Days of Summer is one of those movies you may need to either watch a couple of times to understand, or donate your entire attention without straying your eyes from the movie.  The film is as mysterious as the lead himself.  Will Patton plays the adult male lead, Eli Cottonmouth, a drifter who roles into town one day and proudly proclaims, at the top of his lungs, "My name is Eli Cottonmouth...you folks have a beautiful little town here."  He then sets his briefcase down, opens it up, and shows all who have gathered around a teeny little model of a Flea Circus he's got stuffed inside.  The circus is complete with moving gadgets and even a Farris Wheel.  Charming the townsfolk into contracting him to build something similar for the town's upcoming anniversary, Eli takes "refuge" inside the Town Hall and apparently begins to build what he's been paid to construct - and absolutely no peeking allowed.  Best friends Philip (played by Devon Gearhart) and Jackson (Colin Ford) are drawn to Eli in about the same way they'd be drawn to peeking inside a locked closet they've been told to never go in.  Eli charges the boys with taking photos around town.  Eli instructs the curious friends to take as many photos as they can of everything and anything and gives them a camera to do their task.  From the moment Eli arrives, the town undergoes a strange transformation.  People start acting oddly, and Philip begins having nightmares.  Is this ancient camera given to Philip a clue into the life of Eli, the life of the town - or Philip's future?

"What is it that boys have in their hearts that lets them see things men can't?" The story is told by Philip as an adult as he returns home to a now abandoned town.  Through a series of flashbacks and voiceovers the complex story of Philip's childhood and his interactions with Eli begins to unfold.  Does Eli have a sinister purpose for his visit to this sleepy town, or something more angelic?

The only issue with Dog Days of Summer is that the director's inexperience is quite apparent.  Strange choices of music in scenes that call for a different theme, and some of the actors seem to be either held back or portraying roles that just aren't suited to them.  The story has so much potential, but just when it starts to develop, it's over.  Gearhart's and Ford's performances were nice, but these two insanely experienced actors (for a couple of children anyway) could have given so much more.  Director Mark Freiburger's first film got the added bonus of some great actors like Gearhart and Ford and Will Patton, which is probably why it made it this far - and that is from his mind to now in your home.  That being said, Freiburger isn't too much older than the two boys he cast, so there is still much to learn and one can only imagine that he will blossom as nicely as other young directors before him.

Think Stand By Me meets Needful Things (if Disney made it) and that's the idea behind Dog Days of Summer.
 

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* This DVD will play in North America only.  This DVD should play in most players outside of North America as well, but it's not guaranteed. This DVD will play in any computer DVD-Rom.  This is NOT a DVD-R.

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STARRING: Devon Gearhart, Colin Ford, Will Patton.
DIRECTOR: Mark Freiburger.
AVAILABILITY: In stock! Ships within one business day.
LENGTH: 88 minutes.
LANGUAGE: English, with OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES.
SPECIAL FEATURES: 2.35:1 (16:9 Widescreen); Dolby Digital Surround 5.1 audio; Making of Featurette; 1 disc; Uncut.
VIEWER DISCRETION: Coarse language, violence.
PICTURE QUALITY: Excellent picture quality. (what's this mean?)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA (2008).
ALSO KNOWN AS:
DATE ADDED TO OUR LIBRARY:  May 29, 2009.
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