We're introduced to newcomer Lime Pictures with their first indie DVD release, Eating the Sun. And as they say, the trouble with first impressions is the fact that you only get one. Well for a shot on video feature, Eating the Sun manages to fall into just about every cinematic trap you can think of, we're definitely gonna need a 2-ply for this one.

As events begin to unfold, we discover that central to the story is some sort of cult living in a compund in the middle of the desert, consisting of their leader Abbot Boyd and a few hillbilly-esque members. We first see the crew as they get sick (nearly vomiting all over each other) from some tainted (I'm guessing here) drinking water. Cut to a young couple driving through the desert. They're on the way to pick up some free baby supplies (once again, I'm guessing here) from a drop-off point in the middle of nowhere. They stop at a gas station, are warned by the locals and eventually wind up at their destination. Of course their destination also happens to be the Abbot compound - surprise, surprise.

Once they arrive, the young woman (who also happens to be pregnant) is captured and locked up in a vomit-poop-covered room with several other pregnant women - we're to assume that her husband is killed. Turns out that the Boyd devotees are also keeping a young boy locked up in the compound as well, a young boy that they see as a demon. Now, we know they see this boy as a demon because of the glitter horns he's wearing, horns that look like they'd be an accessory for the Sexy Demoness® costume your girlfriend would've picked up at Halloween Adventure last year for the big party. Moving along, the women are being held so the newborns can be used to nurse this demon child back to health. There are a few revolts, including one led by the women prisoners and also one led by a local hick and his retarded son - who somehow manage to force their way into the picture as well. And that's about it, I'm still kinda confused as to how the film trailed off at the end there.

So...what exactly are we left with here then? Unfortunately, not much. The film itself is shoddily produced and filmed. It's not just that it's cheap, usually with the independents there's a curve to work with and I'm more than willing to let things fly. Here it's really inexcusable though, I'm talking incomplete edits, repeated scenes and lines, the works. Then we have the performances, and once again, there's usually a certain level of leeway you have to give to the performers in an indie film, but here they are just far beyond awful. Actors are constantly flubbing their lines, missing their cues or stepping all over someone else's dialogue...then we move onto the story.

The basic idea of the story itself is extremely intriguing and undeniably sleazy, unfortunately it's just not carried out to its full potential. Presented here, the dialogue is predictable and not written like "real dialogue." People don't talk like this, the dialogue is written from an inexperienced screenwriter's point of view, it's all film talk and it's extremely unconvincing. Especially when you've got pearls of wisdom like "Your husband is dead, OK? Just get used to it!" Unfortunately, it's not just the dialogue that comes across as too scripted either, all of the characters' motivations are anything but natural and the whole affair seems far too staged. I didn't buy any of it and the mild attempts at gross out humor certainly didn't help the situation either.

I'm sorry to say that the clichés don't stop there either, we've still got plenty of ground to cover. The pregnant women being held captive are all model stereotypes. The tough chick, the crazy chick, the scared chick and the motherly chick - like some bizarro world women in prison flick. Let's talk about the scene in which one of the cult members wants to induce labor on one of the captives. Boyd is against this so the members tie him up and go to work on the prisoner with a wire hanger (?) Anyway, the scene is intercut between Boyd, tied up and helpless as the young woman screams her lungs out while she's poked with the hanger. What's the purpose of Boyd's disapproval and subsequent moment of bondage? It almost appears as if the filmmakers want Boyd to come across as sympathetic, this of course makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Boyd is the bad guy after all! Apart from not wanting to induce labor on the young woman, he still wants to do ungodly things to her and her unborn child, so who cares about him! And don't even get me started on the pregnant women who are obviously sporting pillows under their gowns - yessh!

The thing is though, those looking for a good ol' gross out time will most likely find some merits here. While it wasn't particularly my cup of tea in this setting, there are some key moments of gore present. The room that the women are held in is absolutely sick, with vomit and poop stains all around, filthy bathroom "buckets" you name it! I could smell the nastiness right through my TV. Oh and for you really freaky creeps, there's a scene in which one of the rednecks does a "seductive" dance in his underwear while singing ABBA's Dancing Queen! While he's getting his "groove" on, a few others look on in extreme approval, even going so far as to put their hand down their pants, getting themselves off - sick!

Lime Pictures independently produced DVD gets the job done, I suppose. The film is presented full frame with mono audio. There are a few odd technical glitches, but aside from that, picture and audio quality is quite acceptable for what it's worth. There are no extras, just chapter stops, thank god.

For more info visit www.limepictures.com