Static

Yesterday, Comet TV was airing the 1986 film Static, a film I haven't seen since the early 90's. And what a treat it was to be reintroduced to this quirky little gem.

The film stars and was cowritten by Keith Gordon. Gordon plays Ernie Blick, a misfit who works at a crucifix factory in a small town. In his free time, he has been working on an invention. He won't tell anyone what the invention does and keeps it locked away.

When Ernie's high school crush Julia, Amanda Plummer, comes back home from being away for years, he finishes it and decides to introduce it to Julia and his closest friend and family member. He claims that it is a tv that can see into heaven. When he turns it on, everybody else just see's static and think Ernie has lost his mind. This drives Ernie over the edge and he decides to take drastic measures to have the world see his device.

Gordon's misfit charm works well in this movie. And his screenplay with the director Mark Romanek is a bit bizarre, but very entertaining. Plummer is also good, as always, as the sympathetic Julia. And Bob Gunton, the warden from The Shawshank Redemption, is really funny as Ernie's religious, armageddon prepared, nutty cousin.

This was Romanek's first feature, which since it's release he has disowned. He's never really stated why, but I think it's a very impressive debut.

If you're in the mood for something a little different, you should check it out.

It's available on dvd.