The Moleman of Belmont Avenue - A REVIEW

ORLAND FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERE

The Moleman of Belmont Avenue
a film by Mike Bradecich & John LaFlamboy 

Running Time: 96 minutes


Starring:
Mike Bradecich, John LaFlamboy, Robert Englund, Tim Kazurinsky,
David Pasquesi, T.J. Jagadowski, Susan Messing, Gregory Hollimon, Brian Boland

A pair of bumbling landlords reluctantly hunt the subterranean creature that is eating their tenants' pets. Featuring the original Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund, and a supporting cast rounded out by the talents of the famed Second City theater in Chicago.

Marion and Jarmon Mugg have never had to work very hard.  They’ve never had much responsibility, and no one has ever put any expectations on them to perform or achieve, well… anything.

But two years ago their mother passed away, leaving them the brownstone apartment building that has been in their family since its days as a speakeasy during Prohibition.  In that short time, Marion and Jarmon’s slacker ways have run the building literally into the ground.  The tenants are moving out,  no one but them and their friends drinks at the bar on the ground floor, and the building’s pets are beginning to mysteriously disappear.   If all that isn’t enough to make them sit up and take notice, there’s also a good chance that a monster is living in the basement.

“The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue” is a horror/ comedy that explores what happens when a terrible situation is dropped into the laps of the two people least equipped to deal with it.  The Brothers Mugg can either step up to the plate and finally grow up, or they can wait and clean up the mess as a mysterious creature eats every living thing in the building, one by one.

http://molemanmovie.com/index.shtml

The 411:

The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue has been nominated for Best Feature, The Cast has been nominated for Best Ensemble, and Robert Englund has been nominated for Best Supporting Role, there is a whole lot of nominations going on at the Orlando Film Festival this weekend

What I Can Tell You:

This is one of those movies that you start out thinking, "what the heck is this?" Then as it rolls along you realize the gems inside it. Like "my foot, your ass are getting married." or "oh yeah, do that!" 

This movie is about two grown brothers whose recently lost their mother. She was the owner of the apartment building for years and while one (Marion) was home trying to take care of it. The other (Jarmon) was off raising llamas and has returned to help get the building in order.  Without gas or electricity (well, they do have some electricity, they get it by splicing into the church next door).

Tenants are moving out (well the few that actually have somewhere to go) and all the pets are disappearing. While walking the hall one night they see a creature trying to grab a dog through a mail slot. The "moleman" literally is taking the pets right out from under the owners nose in their very own apartments. They must do what they can to not frighten their last remaining tenants while capturing the moleman.

This is complete satire and while it is cheesy, pathetic, and ridiculous at times I think that is exactly what these guys were going for. The movie budget was only 350,000 and looks more like 35,000 but whatever, it is funny. There are some really funny moments most involve the brothers and one of their tenants, a drug induced slacker, think older Bill and Ted type dude.

I think it will be even funnier the second time around!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary screener copy from Big Tree Productions