Back during this year’s SXSW, I saw a number of excellent films, stuff that I walked out of the festival absolutely raving about: Joe Cornish’s Attack The Block, James Wan’s Insidious, and James Gunn’s Super, just to name a few. But the most challenging, disturbing, and—yeah, I’m gonna say it– haunting film that I saw at SXSW this year was made by a total newcomer, a dude I hadn’t heard of prior to this year’s festivities: Evan Glodell, whose Bellflower continues to rock my lame ass every time I see it. The film recently arrived on Blu-ray, and so I was given yet another opportunity to ponder Glodell’s bizarre vision. Did it hold up upon a fourth viewing? Does the crystal-clear Blu-ray format ruin the flick’s down-and-dirty aesthetic? Is Bellflower still one of the best films I’ve seen this year? Find out after the jump, folks.

Bellflower director Evan Glodell has style to spare and he could stand to spare some if he doesn’t know how to use it meaningfully.  What starts off as a lifeless love story with a manic pixie dream girl eventually devolves into a narcissistic wasteland where a guy who gets royally screwed over begins to drown in dark nightmares of revenge, self-pity, and overwrought violence.  Any stabs at honest emotions are undermined by the heavy-handed direction coupled with Glodell’s ill-advised decision to cast himself in the lead role.  Brief moments of humor and humanity leak through the veneer, mainly from co-star Tyler Dawson, but everything is overshadowed by overgrown children calling each other “dude” and taking time off from the jobs they clearly don’t have.

I’ve tried to steer clear on knowing much about Bellflower.  The reactions I’ve heard about it are positive, but the reactions also tend to be dumb-struck, awe-struck, and hovering around “What the fuck was that?”  That’s a potent combination and so I’m staying in the dark so I can possibly share in that reaction.  That’s why I haven’t watched the new trailer for the film, but you can check it out after the jump.  Bellflower opens August 5th.

Based on the buzz out of Sundance and SXSW, Bellflower is situated at the top of my most anticipated list.  Thankfully, Oscilloscope picked up the film for a planned summer release, so I won’t have to wait too long.  Bellflower comes from the mind of Evan Glodell, credited as star, writer, director, producer, and editor on the DIY production.  The story centers on two friends (Glodell and Tyler Dawson) who spend their free time “building flame-throwers and weapons of mass destruction in hopes that a global apocalypse will occur and clear the runway for their imaginary gang ‘Mother Medusa.’”

I’ve read just enough to know that the film is surprising enough to warrant a fresh first viewing.  Thankfully, the first teaser trailer abides, seducing the viewer with critical praise and a hypercool tone rather than story details.  Watch the trailer after the break.