The filmmakers behind GREEN EYED MONSTER sent me a screener for their indie chiller months ago, but one deadline after another prevented me from making time to watch it. I knew from watching the film's trailer that this "little engine that could" featured better cinematography than most indie efforts and more atmosphere. In fact, the trailer reminded me of Tobe Hooper's better work (i.e., anything he made before Hollywood came calling).

I'm happy to report that GREEN EYED MONSTER, something of a cross between THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and THE TREASURE OF SIERRA MADRE, is a damn fine film regardless of budgetary considerations. It succeeds largely by defying expectations and preconceptions. Any micro-budget horror film that doesn't feature a half dozen white adults portraying a half dozen high school/college students going camping gets off on the right foot with me.

GREEN EYED MONSTER begins with corrupt Mexican police raiding an isolated house where a man is known to bury his money on his property. Naturally, mayhem ensues: the man kills several of the cops before shooting himself. Years later, the man's niece and nephew (Estella Gomez, Nicholas Barton) are among six racially diverse adults who go to the house intending to dig up the missing money, rumored to be $10,000.

These people aren't exactly TV's FRIENDS in disposition or complexion; there is plenty of tension among them even before they locate the cash, which, unfortunately, comes with several voodoo totems. Things go from bad to worse when one of our unhappy campers disappears with the money, triggering suspicion and paranoia among the others. One by one, the treasure hunters proceed to meet with mysterious fates.

GREEN EYED MONSTER was written and directed Gabriel Barboza, who also edited and co-produced. The film is atmospheric, largely due to J. Lamar King's excellent and fluid cinematography; this is one of the best looking digitally filmed horror films I've seen, especially during its climax. Barboza's direction is strong, and acting ranges from competent to exceptional, without a single bad performance on hand. The film has a leisurely setup, and nothing suggesting the supernatural actually occurs until the halfway mark. I suppose a screenwriting guru would slap Barboza on the wrists for taking the time to develop his characters, set up their predicament, and establish a realistic tone, but I found this approach refreshing. I also liked that Barboza incorporated some Mexican mythology, and when the supernatural does take center stage in the film's second half, it's genuinely creepy.

Like BLAIR WITCH, GREEN EYED MONSTER does not utilize fantastic special effects which might deter from the realism the filmmakers worked so hard to achieve. It's a simple, almost elegant, production, not dissimilar from Larry Fessenden's work. The DVD (which features scant extras) is available from the filmmakers for $10.00--which includes shipping! If you ask me, the film is a much better use of your 10-spot than renting a couple of straight-to-DVD horror flicks at Blockbuster. I'm happy to recommend it!

And now for a mini-editorial: if you visit the filmmakers' website or pay attention to the film's trailer, you'll learn that the filmmakers are running a contest in which viewers can follow clues to discover the missing $10,000 from the film for themselves. I can't help but think that this is an attempt to approximate the marketing campaign for BLAIR WITCH, only substituting potential cash instead of a a creative campaign. To the filmmakers I say, I think you guys are too talented to waste your time on gimmicks like this. To Fear Zone's readers I say, hey, I'm not going to deprive you of a chance to make some serious green! So here's the press release:

Filmmakers Gabriel Barboza and Jose Sauceda have begun their cross-country trek in an unprecedented grassroots effort to spread the word about the new movie Green Eyed Monster and the $10,000 contest built into it. The pair financed the tour by auctioning off ad space on a large mobile billboard truck that will be driven from New York to Los Angeles.

The filmmakers completed a regional round through Texas - with a presence
at Texas Frightmare Weekend, Texas Fearfest, and the Austin, TX debut of the
movie at the Dobie Theater - and are headed eastward into New Jersey for the
Monster Mania convention. The film will also screen in Queens, NY at the Hell
Gate Social Club before they head westward toward California. The journey will
culminate in Los Angeles for Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors at the Los Angeles
convention center, and a screening of the film.

The film is a supernatural thriller based on Hispanic folklore. A group of
young friends are drawn to an abandoned ranch by rumors of hidden money. Their
hunger for the money grows as the grisly history of the land threatens to
consume them all.

The official website, www.greeneyedmonstermovie.com, follows the
pair through video-logs and blogs about their journey. The tour schedule and
locations can be found on the site as well.

Tour screenings include Queens, Atlanta, Tucson, and Los Angeles. To
personalize the experience they have extended an offer to the general public
for anyone who hosts a Watching Party by saying that they will make the
parties official stops along the tour. The filmmakers will also hit colleges,
horror conventions, and film festivals along the way.

"We want to tell the world about Green Eyed Monster," says Barboza, the
director of the film.

Green Eyed Monster features a highly unique aspect. The film contains a
number of clues throughout it that actually lead to real cash! Clues leading
to prizes totaling more than $10,000 can be found throughout the film. "We
wanted to create an exciting experience for the people who support Green Eyed
Monster," Barboza explains. By engaging in the treasure hunt, people can reap
great benefits from the film long after watching.

The film was shot on a modest budget with Barboza serving as Writer,
Director, Producer, and Editor. The movie itself was written around a simple
premise: If an audience is watching a movie about people digging for money why
not let them dig for their own?