PURIFICATION (2012)

Directed by Joe Ciminera
Written by Joe Ciminera
Starring Joe Ciminera, Natalie Swan, Danielle Ventura, Michael Edwards Jr., Anthony Rosas Jr., Daniella Ventura

Though pretty predictable, PURIFICATION does a decent job of telling AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE/CARNIVAL OF SOULS style tale about a selfish landlord who is nearly run down in traffic and then begins seeing dead people all over the place. Though if you’ve seen any of the films I compared this one to above I’ve probably given away the “twist” of the film, five minutes in I predicted this twist, so it’s not like it ruins the film or anything. Though it projected its ending from nearly the opening credits, PURIFICATION makes the ride to the revelation a fun ride nevertheless.

The acting is mid-tier in this one with actor/director/wirter Joe Ciminera doing a decent job in front of as well as behind the camera. Ciminera plays Bret, a bossy and uncaring landlord who happily serves eviction notices and basically does his best Scrooge impression as we get to know him in the opening scenes. After the near miss accident, Brett starts seeing things somewhat differently. Shades of JACOB’S LADDER come into play as a doctor offers him help and advice and seems to be the only person on his side in this twisted world Bret is walking around in. Soon, Bret becomes savvy to what’s going on as he relives the stories of the folks he touches on his walk through the New York streets.

Though some of these stories are cliché–the raped woman sees her persecutor on every street corner, the junkie OD’s and still talks with Bret, the cop beats a hobo–Ciminera tells each of these stories in a cohesive and logical manner. Decently performed and directed, yet I saw the twist from a mile away, PURIFICATION ain’t all bad.

Check out the trailer here!!