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Joel Thomas Hynes, Mylène Savoie, Robert Joy, Hugh Dillon, Sherry White ... see more see more... , Jody Richardson , Mary Lewis , Phil Churchill , Paula Morgan , Steve Cochrane

Joel Thomas Hyne's acclaimed novel about a Newfoundland drug addict's attempts to make sense of his own warped existence serves as the foundation for this poetic yet visceral addiction drama that star... read more read more...s the author himself as the damaged protagonist. Keith Kavanagh (Hyne) is a collection of contradictions; he's a coward, a bully, and a clown all at once, and his life is a mess of complicated relationships. Though he longs to start life anew somewhere else, he lacks the motivation to put any genuine effort into doing so. The only thing that Keith knows is that he wants off of the Rock, and he loves his girlfriend Natasha (Mylène Savoie). The first time we see Keith he is lying motionless and bloodied, quite possibly dead. Though it appears to be the end, this is actually the starting point as the viewer travels back in time to see how Keith began his descent into a life of drug pushing, unfaithfulness, and torture. It's not always a pleasant ride, because despite the fact that Keith can at times be a sympathetic figure, a closer look reveals an impulsive, amoral degenerate who seems hell bent on self-destruction. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

15% want to see it

78 ratings

Critics

50% liked it

6 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Justin Simms

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JT Hynes
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Flixster Reviews (14)

  • alush1
    October 3, 2009
    alush1
    This film is a depressing coming-of-age story based upon Newfoundland author Joel Hynes' first novel. It's gritty and dirty in the depiction of the main character's plummet from small community- troubled teen to a drug and alcohol addicted young man bent on self destruction.The a... read moreuthor portrays the main character quite well and has some promise as an artist and author.

    I have'nt read the book but the film is OK...It's immature in development and chock full of cliches but this young man does a decent job of portraying his main character's angst and eventual enlightenment. A very good first project...

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Critic Reviews

Patricia Hluchy
December 5, 2008
Patricia Hluchy, Toronto Star

We know how his story will unfold. Full Review

Liam Lacey
December 5, 2008
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

By the time the movie finally gets round to the narrator enumerating the life lessons learned, viewers may already be sleeping it off. Full Review

James Adams
October 18, 2008
James Adams, Globe and Mail

The movie, directed by first-timer Simms, gets really interesting -- in a squalid, darkly humorous, Atlantic Canada Gothic kinda way. Full Review

Dennis Harvey
September 15, 2008
Dennis Harvey, Variety

Many viewers will find time spent with this hapless screw-up two hours too many, but the pic does at least partly capture the source material's rambunctious gallows humor. Full Review

Liz Braun
December 5, 2008
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies

Hynes is really effective as Keith, at ease with the rude, raw material that's drawn from his own past, and he manages to be charismatic even at his most down and dirty. Full Review

David Nusair
September 8, 2008
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...an uncommonly disagreeable effort that's destined to turn off most mentally-stable viewers. Full Review

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  • In the movie "Twister", Bill and Melissa are traveling down a dirt road in the opening shot in a red truck. If you pay close enough attention to the reflection on the side of the truck, you can see the filming crew's helicopter.  Answer »
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