Hold on a second here. Did somebody say that The Dead Link only cost $10,000 dollars to make? I really need to know where all this money in Hollywood is going, because 90% of the time the dollars are NOT showing up on the screen, that's for sure. In the case of The Dead Link, I'd be willing to wager that every penny put in has been accounted for. This is a film that reaches far beyond the actual scope of what an indie film really is expected to deliver and at the same time, manages to never lose touch with its extremely important indie roots. There's indie filmmaking and then there's indie filmmaking. The Dead Link is definitely coming to us from an extremely talented force, true gold nuggets like these are few and far between folks, cherish it.

Ben Juhl is the one man creative force behind The Dead Link (sure he had help, but this guy's name is plastered all over the damn credits!) and he's one heck of a dynamo to boot. Not only did he write, produce, direct and score the flick, but an unfortunate turn of events would even lead him to take the starring role in the flick as well! You'd think that all of this would be a recipe for true cinematic disaster, but you'd also be dead wrong (pun intended, thank you very much). The Dead Link is an extremely powerful vision of independent filmmaking and isn't the type of flick you watch to just pass the time... it's the type of flick that you watch because you really want to watch it, and you want to watch it because it's really, really good.

Four friends embark on a quest for some hidden treasure in the middle of the Arizona desert. Meet brothers Ray (Juhl) and Bungy (Jose Rosete) along with female companions Shannon (Maya Salibi) and Liz (the adorably cute Sarah Seider). First stop is Ray and Bungy's grandma's (played exceptionally well by Connie Padilla) trailer for the sacred map and a little bit of advice (and maybe a few brews as well, it's hot in the desert after all). The four friends embark on a quest that is supposed to be laid back and fun, but turns out to be nothing of the sort. Along the way Bungy discovers a dead body, yet no one is quite sure what it actually is that died. It looks like an alien of some sort, but it couldn't be an alien now... could it? These kids went out on their quest with dollar signs in their eyes and when Ray lays his peepers on this dead alien all he sees is more of that delicious green. They load up the body on a makeshift gurney and head back to grandma's house.

Once they arrive back at the trailer, all hell breaks loose and the task of separating illusion from reality becomes a much tougher job than it actually should. Bungy is the first to loose it since he actually touched the being and now he has formed some kind of bizarre bond with it. He convulses and spits up blood, but still manages to convince everyone that he's just fine. Liz is next to experience the wraith of the being as it takes the form of Bungy and viciously rapes her in a secluded barn. This is where things get weird (you mean that they haven't already?) Friendship quickly turns into deceit and before you know it, each of our heroes is forced to fight for his/her life before they're taken over by this evil spirit as well.

The Dead Link works so well on just about every level it's almost scary, because you gotta figure, if Ben can do it... why can't everyone else? Let's start with the excellent casting choices and top-notch performances (something that seems to be missing from a lot of indie features these days). We accept these characters and their progression, it seems very real and they're extremely sympathetic. Each character has been properly cast, and best of all... these kids can act. Simple story? Yes. However, the script is smart and once the action kicks into high gear, it's like watching a new millennium version of The Evil Dead, yeah it's that good.

The Dead Link manages to escape the indie look (despite the fact that it was shot on DV) by remaining a solid and professional production all the way through. The gore or action is never excessive, it fits the story and never seems forced. Don't think you're gonna get off easy either as there's plenty to satisfy the gore hound including a vicious mauling by crowbar and a nifty slit throat. The film's score is subtle and effective as well. The Dead Link is far from a perfect flick, but in the world of indie filmmaking, this is definitely the cream of the crop.

Indie films can be a lot of fun because you never really know what you're gonna get. Sometimes they're just plain silly, other times they're loaded with those exploitation elements we all know and love (and little else). Then, every once in a while we get one of those indie flicks that could pass off for so much more. The Dead Link is anything but filler, it's a real flick that certainly demands your attention especially if you're a fan of horror (or the indie scene in general).

You can learn more about The Dead Link by visiting the fine folks at Twilight Show Entertainment here. Ben Juhl was also kind enough to send The Monsters an incredibly informative behind the scenes essay, and I urge you to go check it out right now by clicking here! (Plus there are lots of pretty pictures there, and I know how much you LOVE pretty pictures, precious!)