Errol Morris' 1981 brief documentary "Vernon, Florida" feels like the promotional film Disney never wanted the world to see. It offers an alternative look at the small nook and cranny towns that lurk between the few major cities that Florida houses. As with many of Morris' other work the main drive here is to tell the stories of the real life human characters. In this case, it's just under an hour's worth of backwoods stories told beneath a series of thick Southern accents ranging from the how-to guide on properly hunting turkeys to a lonely cop musing on the local criminal activity to a preacher's dissection of the dictionary. It's enduring and irritating, as well as eye-opening and mind-numbing. The film offers a unique glimpse into the human psyche that is possibly one of the most unlikely places to find comedy. This trip to Florida's panhandle is well worth the gas money.
Review of Vernon, Florida
