Movie: The Selling
My Rating: 3 stars
Well, this movie is a delight. I found out about this one because it stars a lot of my favorite podcasters and comedians—Janet Varney, Cole Stratton, Diani & Devine, Simon Helberg, and a bunch of others. So, I went looking for it. This movie was actually a little bit hard to get my hands on. I ended up having to rent it on Amazon, which is usually one of the last places I look. But, I had heard it mentioned so many times on podcasts that I had to seek it out for myself. And, the movie turned out to be a pretty cute, horror-comedy about a chronically nice and honest house flipper (Gabriel Diani). He’s trying to unload a haunted house that he was tricked into buying by a ruthless competitor. (It’s a little hard to move a house when the walls start bleeding during your open house). Let the comedy of errors begin!
This is a goofy film at heart. Lots of the comedy is physical. And, there are some classic slapsticky gags. But, there is a strain of darkness in the story line, too. The story features serial killers, demon possession, loved ones dying of cancer, financial woes, and even an eating disorder. So, the finished product is a very interesting mix of themes. But of course, this being a comedy, the overall tone is light, so it won’t leave you feeling uneasy. So maybe I wouldn’t classify this as “horror-comedy.” Maybe it’s more of a “haunting-comedy.” The difference may seem subtle, but I think it’s valid.
I have a soft spot for indie films. I love it when filmmakers can make it on their own, outside of the traditional studio system. So, I was already inclined to like this movie. And, the fact that it features so many of my own favorite entertainers only helped. But, I think this is the kind of thing that anyone would like (if you’re into this genre). It’s fun and simple, and goes down easy. The problem is that I don’t think too many people are just stumbling across this film by chance. I had to actively go out looking for it on several different platforms. So, I’d like to get the word out about this fun, little gem.