462:"cannot be explained... It must be shown." It is difficult "to discuss any of the storyline's developments or the main plus points", because to do so would be "to ruin a sublime, surreal, cinematic joy." The film is "intelligent, often humorous", and "manages to both touch on themes that have been used effectively elsewhere and to provide something completely new to film fans."
471:
a lot less painful than it is in other low-budget independents, because Thomas has done a good job of working around his limitations.It would be nice if the very end of the movie worked a bit better. It's clever, but somewhat underwhelming considering the build-up to it. Still, Jeremy Thomas has managed to make something nifty out of not very much in the way of resources.
228:, seeing something that others could not. Rickman, now a charismatic schoolteacher, has since come to the conclusion that everything in life has been predetermined, including his own life, and can point to many signs which appear to suggest if not confirm it. He tries to explain himself to those close to him, who treat him as though he may be developing
440:
Praising the acting and the film's originality, Mike Phalin said it "is a prime example of how ingenuity prevails in the face of obvious budgetary restraints"; a "pleasant surprise" and "an inspiration ... to the low budget/do-it-yourself filmmaking community." The first half of the film has "charm",
470:
Thomas isn't bad at all. At times, he seems a little artificial, but at others he seems real in an "I'd probably be a bit awkward in this situation, too" manner. Ella May is much the same, and the two of them are fun to watch together. It's a bit of a step down to the supporting characters, but it's
435:
Thomas has created a notably insightful and thought provoking piece of work that is intricate and employs numerous twists and surprises serving up continuous adventure using equal parts horror, drama, thriller and mystery. This clever and refreshing film will have you utterly compelled right up to
465:
Jay Seaver finds the opening of the film "kind of clunky", but notes that it has "one of the rare mid-thriller twists that makes the movie funnier rather than more grim." Thomas cleverly lays out some of the ideas he's going to be playing with early, and seems to have fun elaborating on his plot
447:
For the first half hour or so you will be wondering why you're bothering to persist with the film, it's far from terrible but far from great either, but then it plays its trump card and from that moment on every scene is played out in such a way as to make it consistent, top-notch entertainment.
372:
from an entirely unexpected angle, Jeremy Thomas fashions an audacious debut feature shot through with bitter laughter, pulling the strings of myriad contradictory emotions with a blend of uncanny hallucinatory visions, gripping and tightly executed action scenes, and side-splitting moments of
31:
373:
absurdist comedy. ... Thomas leads us into a realm of the delirious where the standard rules of film narrative are shattered (and surprises us by handing the lead role to himself, a bravura turn both nuanced and highly theatrical, a magnificent reflection of his character's renegade psyche).
243:
and images of people being kidnapped and buried alive as strange little beings look on. A stranger in strange clothing has in fact been seen lurking the dark streets in town at about the times that people have been inexplicably disappearing. Confiding in his long-time friend,
252:. Tensions increase between them as they spend more time together, and as her feelings for Rickman grow, she is increasingly concerned about his mounting obsession as the case edges delicately towards a bizarre and shocking conclusion.
324:, Thomas was apparently apologetic about the film, offering what seemed like "excuses or explanations – they had less money than the short film that precedes it, but it is long for a zero-budget indie," among other details.
206:
written and directed by Jeremy Thomas, who also stars in the film. Thomas himself called his first feature a "lighthearted existential horror film", while four festival reviewers described it in
248:
Clara Wilkie (Ella B. May), the pair become convinced that what he has seen are visionary premonitions, and they work on the case together, which involves not only multiple kidnapping but
431:, a wolf in sheep's clothing that looks and feels like a modern noir, but ... which burns in flames any conventional relationship an audience has with fictional cinema."
640:
918:
210:
terms. Having won over critics, and an award from the Eugene
International Film Festival, Thomas was able to attract investors for his next project,
510:
232:, as his father did many years ago. An exception to this response is an adoring student, Katie (Katie Webber), who seems to share some of his
1069:
704:
1044:
1039:
1034:
236:. Even so, sometimes he, too, thinks he is losing his mind. As his mental state deteriorates, he has a growing sense of dread.
1074:
1059:
344:
321:
1054:
336:
153:
777:
401:
Simon
Laperrière calls the film a "stunning appearance on the landscape of DIY cinema", a "gobsmacking cross" between
1019:
347:, the Eugene International Film Festival (where it won an award), and the International Film Festival of England.
764:
391:
generally received "great" reviews at film festivals and led to Thomas attracting producers for his next film,
1064:
1029:
1024:
1014:
466:
twist, "finding new ways to push things just a bit further as the movie goes on." As for the acting:
240:
951:
340:
670:
409:, and "unquestionably the most original Canadian film of the year." Pam Kelly, writing for the
229:
289:
611:
579:
224:
Sixteen years ago, a teenage Joseph
Rickman (Jeremy Thomas) found a missing girl on sheer
8:
1009:
836:
406:
317:
890:
398:
Appreciative critics were "tying themselves in knots not to reveal its mid-plot twist."
645:
424:
393:
212:
239:
Feeling compelled to walk into the woods one night, he sees a robed, limping man in a
1049:
994:
923:
773:
233:
808:
739:
301:
245:
402:
292:, where he joined the campus station NUTV to use the equipment, just as director
861:
482:
979:
1003:
544:
293:
249:
200:
411:
641:"Ally Was Screaming a chilling end to Calgary International Film Festival"
420:
416:
285:
203:
197:
988:
919:"Ally Was Screaming review: Laughs and horror balance on a knife's edge"
577:
772:. Montreal, Quebec: Marketing & Communications. 2008. p. 66.
441:
and then "turns the screws on the viewers in a highly unexpected way."
270:
Darren MacDonald as The Figure • Lobotomized Man • Activator
Scientist
30:
584:(in French and English). Montréal: Fantasia Film Festival. p. 99
369:
343:, an official selection. The film was also screened at Fantasia, the
225:
207:
316:
was largely self-financed, though it did receive support from the
983:
481:
Best Horror/Sci-Fi
Feature, Eugene International Film Festival (
427:
ever had a "forbidden love child," it may "look something like
284:
Before shooting his first feature film, Jeremy Thomas had made
339:
on 24 September 2007. Its
American premiere was at the 2008
895:
705:"Ally Was Screaming, with writer/director, Jeremy Thomas"
358:
is available on DVD and for streaming from IndiePlaya.
1001:
578:Laperrière, Simon. "The End." (24 June 2008).
320:'s Filmmaker Assistance Program. At the 2008
605:
603:
601:
599:
573:
571:
569:
567:
565:
945:
943:
941:
539:
537:
535:
533:
531:
350:
698:
696:
694:
692:
29:
831:
829:
802:
800:
798:
796:
634:
632:
596:
562:
279:
949:
938:
733:
731:
729:
665:
663:
528:
689:
638:
505:
503:
501:
499:
1002:
916:
910:
826:
793:
629:
609:
726:
660:
581:Fantasia 2008 Film Festival Programme
854:
702:
677:. Eugene International Film Festival
496:
383:
345:Edmonton International Film Festival
322:Fantasia International Film Festival
1070:English-language black comedy films
436:its artfully unexpected conclusion.
337:Calgary International Film Festival
13:
806:
737:
639:Volmers, Eric (27 November 2014).
14:
1086:
973:
917:Knight, Chris (6 November 2015).
1045:2000s psychological drama films
1040:English-language Canadian films
950:Matthews, Kevin (10 May 2010).
883:
766:NFB/ONF annual report 2007-2008
671:"2008 Official Film Selections"
368:By coming at the tropes of the
261:Jeremy Thomas as Joseph Rickman
1035:Canadian horror thriller films
757:
1:
1075:English-language horror films
489:
415:, agreed, suggesting that if
274:
1060:2000s English-language films
361:
307:
7:
475:
264:Ella B. May as Clara Wilkie
219:
144:24 September 2007
10:
1091:
1055:Films about psychic powers
327:
64:Colin Sheldon (uncredited)
712:Why We See Movies Podcast
181:
173:
163:
135:
127:
111:
101:
91:
68:
56:
48:
40:
28:
23:
612:"Fantasia Film Festival"
351:Home media and streaming
335:had its premiere at the
1020:2007 black comedy films
341:Cinequest Film Festival
255:
473:
450:
438:
375:
280:Background and filming
230:paranoid schizophrenia
837:"Film and Television"
468:
458:Kevin Matthews avers
445:
433:
366:
290:University of Calgary
267:Katie Webber as Katie
131:Angerman Distribution
1065:2000s Canadian films
1030:Canadian drama films
841:christiaanventer.com
288:as a student at the
62:(executive producer)
1025:2007 thriller films
610:Waterfield, Keith.
407:William Shakespeare
318:National Film Board
312:A low-budget film,
196:is a 2007 Canadian
862:"NUTV Alumni News"
675:eugenefilmfest.org
646:The Calgary Herald
425:M. Night Shyamalan
394:Ally Was Screaming
213:Ally Was Screaming
18:2007 Canadian film
1015:2007 horror films
924:The National Post
871:: 3. October 2007
809:"End, The (2007)"
740:"End, The (2008)"
384:Critical response
234:psychic abilities
189:
188:
120:Gravemarker Films
105:Christiaan Venter
1082:
967:
966:
964:
962:
952:"The End (2007)"
947:
936:
935:
933:
931:
914:
908:
907:
905:
903:
891:"The End (2007)"
887:
881:
880:
878:
876:
866:
858:
852:
851:
849:
847:
833:
824:
823:
821:
819:
804:
791:
790:
788:
786:
771:
761:
755:
754:
752:
750:
735:
724:
723:
721:
719:
709:
700:
687:
686:
684:
682:
667:
658:
657:
655:
653:
636:
627:
626:
624:
622:
607:
594:
593:
591:
589:
575:
560:
559:
557:
555:
541:
526:
525:
523:
521:
507:
454:
379:
378:Simon Laperrière
151:
149:
122:Perfect Pictures
84:Darren MacDonald
33:
21:
20:
1090:
1089:
1085:
1084:
1083:
1081:
1080:
1079:
1000:
999:
976:
971:
970:
960:
958:
948:
939:
929:
927:
915:
911:
901:
899:
889:
888:
884:
874:
872:
869:NUTV Newsletter
864:
860:
859:
855:
845:
843:
835:
834:
827:
817:
815:
813:eFilmCritic.com
805:
794:
784:
782:
780:
769:
763:
762:
758:
748:
746:
736:
727:
717:
715:
707:
703:Houghton, Ron.
701:
690:
680:
678:
669:
668:
661:
651:
649:
637:
630:
620:
618:
608:
597:
587:
585:
576:
563:
553:
551:
543:
542:
529:
519:
517:
509:
508:
497:
492:
478:
456:
452:
442:
403:Charlie Kaufman
386:
381:
377:
364:
353:
330:
310:
282:
277:
258:
222:
166:
159:
147:
145:
138:
123:
121:
116:
114:
106:
96:
87:
63:
61:
36:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1088:
1078:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1042:
1037:
1032:
1027:
1022:
1017:
1012:
998:
997:
986:
975:
974:External links
972:
969:
968:
937:
909:
882:
853:
825:
792:
779:978-0772212542
778:
756:
738:Phalin, Mike.
725:
688:
659:
628:
616:Alt Film Guide
595:
561:
527:
494:
493:
491:
488:
487:
486:
483:Eugene, Oregon
477:
474:
453:Kevin Matthews
444:
385:
382:
365:
363:
360:
352:
349:
329:
326:
309:
306:
281:
278:
276:
273:
272:
271:
268:
265:
262:
257:
254:
221:
218:
187:
186:
183:
179:
178:
175:
171:
170:
167:
164:
161:
160:
158:
157:
141:
139:
136:
133:
132:
129:
128:Distributed by
125:
124:
119:
117:
112:
109:
108:
103:
99:
98:
93:
92:Cinematography
89:
88:
86:
85:
82:
79:
76:
72:
70:
66:
65:
58:
54:
53:
50:
46:
45:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1087:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1068:
1066:
1063:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1023:
1021:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1007:
1005:
996:
992:
991:
987:
985:
981:
978:
977:
957:
953:
946:
944:
942:
926:
925:
920:
913:
898:
897:
892:
886:
870:
863:
857:
842:
838:
832:
830:
814:
810:
807:Seaver, Jay.
803:
801:
799:
797:
781:
775:
768:
767:
760:
745:
744:Dread Central
741:
734:
732:
730:
714:. (Player FM)
713:
706:
699:
697:
695:
693:
676:
672:
666:
664:
648:
647:
642:
635:
633:
617:
613:
606:
604:
602:
600:
583:
582:
574:
572:
570:
568:
566:
550:
546:
540:
538:
536:
534:
532:
516:
512:
506:
504:
502:
500:
495:
484:
480:
479:
472:
467:
463:
461:
455:
449:
443:
437:
432:
430:
426:
422:
418:
414:
413:
408:
404:
399:
397:
395:
390:
380:
374:
371:
359:
357:
348:
346:
342:
338:
334:
325:
323:
319:
315:
305:
303:
302:shot on video
299:
296:was leaving.
295:
294:Michael Dowse
291:
287:
269:
266:
263:
260:
259:
253:
251:
250:serial murder
247:
242:
237:
235:
231:
227:
217:
215:
214:
209:
205:
202:
199:
195:
194:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
162:
155:
143:
142:
140:
134:
130:
126:
118:
110:
104:
100:
97:Colin Sheldon
95:Dan Dumouchel
94:
90:
83:
80:
77:
75:Jeremy Thomas
74:
73:
71:
67:
59:
55:
52:Jeremy Thomas
51:
47:
44:Jeremy Thomas
43:
39:
32:
27:
22:
16:
989:
959:. Retrieved
955:
928:. Retrieved
922:
912:
900:. Retrieved
894:
885:
873:. Retrieved
868:
856:
844:. Retrieved
840:
816:. Retrieved
812:
783:. Retrieved
765:
759:
747:. Retrieved
743:
716:. Retrieved
711:
679:. Retrieved
674:
650:. Retrieved
644:
619:. Retrieved
615:
586:. Retrieved
580:
552:. Retrieved
548:
518:. Retrieved
514:
469:
464:
459:
457:
451:
446:
439:
434:
428:
412:Edmonton Sun
410:
400:
392:
388:
387:
376:
367:
355:
354:
332:
331:
313:
311:
297:
283:
241:tragedy mask
238:
223:
211:
192:
191:
190:
165:Running time
137:Release date
81:Katie Webber
60:Charlie Ross
15:
421:David Lynch
417:Woody Allen
286:short films
204:horror film
198:dark comedy
169:108 minutes
78:Ella B. May
57:Produced by
41:Directed by
35:Film poster
1010:2007 films
1004:Categories
956:Flickfeast
930:30 January
718:31 January
652:29 January
515:IndiePlaya
490:References
275:Production
148:2007-09-24
113:Production
49:Written by
708:(podcast)
549:CineQuest
545:"The End"
511:"The End"
370:film noir
362:Reception
308:Financing
246:Detective
226:intuition
115:companies
1050:Neo-noir
785:10 April
749:10 April
520:10 April
476:Accolade
220:Synopsis
208:neo-noir
201:thriller
182:Language
107:Nova Pon
102:Music by
69:Starring
990:The End
984:YouTube
980:Trailer
961:9 April
902:9 April
875:9 April
846:9 April
818:9 April
681:9 April
621:9 April
588:9 April
554:9 April
485:, 2018)
460:The End
429:The End
389:The End
356:The End
333:The End
328:Release
314:The End
298:The End
193:The End
185:English
174:Country
154:Calgary
146: (
24:The End
776:
177:Canada
152: (
865:(PDF)
770:(PDF)
995:IMDb
963:2019
932:2019
904:2019
896:IMDb
877:2019
848:2019
820:2019
787:2019
774:ISBN
751:2019
720:2019
683:2019
654:2019
623:2019
590:2019
556:2019
522:2019
423:and
405:and
300:was
256:Cast
993:at
982:on
1006::
954:.
940:^
921:.
893:.
867:.
839:.
828:^
811:.
795:^
742:.
728:^
710:.
691:^
673:.
662:^
643:.
631:^
614:.
598:^
564:^
547:.
530:^
513:.
498:^
419:,
304:.
216:.
965:.
934:.
906:.
879:.
850:.
822:.
789:.
753:.
722:.
685:.
656:.
625:.
592:.
558:.
524:.
396:.
156:)
150:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.