With the current DVD technology availible, it's amazing what's possible. Even though extras for DVDs have become something for filmmakers to think of while making the film, the creators of Real Time wanted to take this one step further: they'd make a film that was created specificly for DVD, complete with multiple angles of every scene in the film. However, the main question you're probably asking is: does it work?
Real Time takes place in a small convience store where two junkies have come to rob the store. However, not being the brightest of all robbers, they're forced to take everyone in the store hostage. For 72 minutes, the viewer gets to see what these hostages go through, by using footage that's meant to appear from the security cameras. Watch as the hostages rise up over their captors in what appears to be a real life environment.
Okay, now that the obligatory plot synopsis is over, I'll answer the question: it does work. Though a few early scenes of the film do not allow multi-angle (well, it gives an angle of a slate reading the film's title), they really don't need it. In fact, Real Time is just as complete without using multi-angle, due to it's use of multiple screen boxes to add more in the frame. Making you feel like you're watching the real thing is what Real Time does best.
The acting, though somewhat amateur, is passible. Brinke Stevens(who signed my copy of the DVD at Horrorfind Weekend III), known for her Scream-Queen status, shines the most as a pregnant hostage who is actually a police officer. Some characters do not get any developement, due to the short 72 minute runtime. In fact, from watching Real Time, I bet they could've squeezed another 20 minutes out of the story.
On to the story, the writer/director is famed comic book author Max Allen Collins, whose graphic novel Road To Perdition was made into a very good Sam Mendes film, starring Tom Hanks (woah, "very good" and "Tom Hanks" in the same sentence on a Troma site?). He definately knows how to craft a story pretty well, but doesn't give enough focus to the film's smaller characters. His other film efforts, Mommy and Mommy 2: Mommy's Day look a little less appetizing than Real Time, however.
Real Time does a pretty good job of utilizing the expansiveness of the DVD format, but honestly, they were capable of much more. Real Time is definately worth checking out, due to the amount of extras (over 190 minutes worth!) and if you're intersted in seeing an interactive film. I've heard about other interactive films that allow you to choose the outcome of the film, but that's not the case with Real Time, so you may want to look elsewhere for a film like that, but the film does do a marvelous job of making you feel like you're actually viewing security footage from a robbery, due to it's lo-fi-ness. Though not in the usual Troma style, it's still recommended, but hopefully you know what you're in store for.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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