+1 - Invasion of the Inter-Dimensional Dopplegangers

+1
2013
Directed by Dennis Iliadis
Written by Bill Gullo & Dennis Iliadis

Starring Rhys Wakefield, Logan Miller & Ashley Hinshaw

Unrated - Approx.  95 Min.
Process Films
Process Media

Tag Lines:
 - Everyone Wants One

Alternate Titles:
Plus One (Worldwide alt. spelling)
Ενας ακομα (Another)  Greece






"Everybody listen!  We're all in danger!"
                                                                - Ted

I was genuinely surprised by +1.  I went into it not really expecting much and what I got in return was a tight little thriller that oozes an unsettling atmosphere.  Sure it's got it's flaws, but if you allow it to just unfold without over thinking it, then what you've got is a freaky little doppelganger flick to a social commentary on the "Us vs. Them" mentality.

Hhhmmmm....that doesn't look normal.

So is Brenda David or Teddy's +1?

The film starts with a young man, David, kissing another girl, only to be caught by his girlfriend, Jill.  David and his best friend, Teddy head to a party that Jill will be at so that he can try and win her back.  Things are not going to go exactly to plan though, because a meteorite crashes to Earth not far from David's house, releasing a strange electric charge that travels through the electric wires.

Playing tennis with a flaming ball indoors = SO FUCKING METAL!

"Well this is awkward......"

This electricity makes it's way towards the party as well.  When it reaches the transformer on the pole outside the house the party is being held at, it blows the transformer causing a blackout.  When the lights come back on, there are a new set of guests at the party.  Exactly like the guests that are already there, but about 15 minutes in the past.

OH hey!  The strippers are multiplying!!!

Is it suicide if you kill your.....erm.....self?

I wish that I could do a better job of describing exactly what the hell is going on, but that's really he best I can do.  Every time there is a blackout, a new set of doppelgangers appears, closer in time to the original people.  What will happen when the two timelines meet?  What is causing this anomaly?  How did Teddy manage to score with the incredibly hot Melanie?  Some questions just don't have answers.  The ending is a little frustrating, but at the same time it makes you think.  This is definitely one of those films that you have to pay attention to.  If you lose focus for a minute, you're likely to get extremely lost.

Midnight Cinephile Tally

Death Toll:  I'm gonna shoot straight with ya here.....I'm not real sure on how to answer this one.  There are multiple deaths, and yet there are none.  It makes my brain hurt.  Even if I wanted to put a number on the death toll, I couldn't.  The finale is a bit confusing and it was impossible to tell who was being killed and who wasn't.  Trust me.  It's better not to try and figure it out.

Nude O Meter:  Melanie gets full on naked.  And so does her doppelganger so that's fun.  There are a few assorted topless girls throughout the party and of course the strippers in the climax.  Heh heh....I said climax while talking about boobies.  I'm so immature.

Things That Go Bump In The Night:  Well, you've got the alien electricity.  That's something.  Sorta.  There's them.  There's us.  There's a whole lot of WTF in between!


Final Thoughts
Again.....this is certainly not the film to pop in when you're looking for some mindless entertainment.  At times you'll be scratching your head a bit and other times you'll feel like you're just a bit more clever than the movie.  Either way, it's a fun and at times though provoking piece of cinema with some beautiful cinematography and a disturbing ambiance.  The whole film feels like some sort of strange fever dream.


Final Rating
Four out of Five Pizza Rolls