The premise for A Hot Summer Chill sounds a bit like the belated sequel to The Sixth Sense: a young man uses his crippling alcoholism to cope with his ability to commune with the dead. It’s not altogether implausible to picture Daniel Harris’ long-haired medium Raven James as a matured, kindred spirit of Haley Joel Osment. The film, which premieres this Saturday at the Badger Bowl, sticks Raven James in the middle of a haunted pool party as he chugs cocktails to drown his demons — both real and imaginary.
Straddling the present and past, A Hot Summer Chill (named for a cocktail Raven guzzles down) blends haunted house elements, paranormal psychology, and Raven’s troubled biography for a slice of homemade pulp. Spirits appear in both Raven’s reality and subconscious, alternating between tension and chilly reflection and lending a double meaning to the film’s title.
Director Ben Wydeven’s use of expressive blues and reds certainly help with the mood, too. Wydeven, whose time travel film Quantum of Vengeance premiered last year at the High Noon Saloon, takes a step forward in his genre storytelling and visual flare; look no further than an impressive title sequence’s crimson smoke effects and the Argento-styled flashes in cinematography.
Shot entirely in Madison, the film features performances from local actors including Katrina King, Nathan Lowe (who plays Raven’s sardonic friend), and the never-not-wonderful Tim Towne, here mixing his booming deadpan with moments of tension as a party host. When compared with Wydeven’s The Medium (2007) — a smaller effort featuring the same main character — A Hot Summer Chill feels like a robust facelift and its conclusion hints at more stories to come. Judging from Wydeven’s backlog of short stories, it’s a safe bet.
- The film’s release party is Saturday, May 3 at the Badger Bowl and will feature several live bands including Stereo Side Effect, whose song “The Devil’s Luck” appears in the film. DVDs will also be available for sale. Admission is $10 at the door. For full details, check the Facebook event page