All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Jonathan Levine

Writer:

Jacob Forman (written by)

Release Date:

15 February 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

There's something about Mandy all the boys love.

Plot:

A group of high schoolers invite Mandy Lane (Amber Heard), a good girl who became quite hot over the summer, to a weekend party on a secluded ranch. While the festivities rage on, the number of revelers begins to drop quite mysteriously.

Plot Keywords:

Party | Drugs | Duo | Female Killer | Knife

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Amber Heard	...	Mandy Lane
Anson Mount	...	Garth
Whitney Able	...	Chloe
Michael Welch	...	Emmet
Edwin Hodge	...	Bird
Aaron Himelstein	...	Red
Luke Grimes	...	Jake
Melissa Price	...	Marlin
Adam Powell	...	Dylan
Peyton Hayslip	...	Aunt Jo
Brooke Bloom	...	Cousin Jen
Robert Earl Keen	...	Keg Trucker

MPAA:

Rated R for strong disturbing violence, pervasive drug and alcohol use, sexuality/nudity and language - all involving teens.

Runtime:

USA:90 min | Canada:88 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:18 | USA:R | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:18 | Germany:18 | Sweden:15 | Finland:K-18 | Australia:MA | Portugal:M/18 | New Zealand:R18

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Occupant Films

Trivia:

A little girl died in the upstairs bedroom in the ranch house after asphyxiating. Locals claim she still haunts the house. It is claimed a little girl in a white dress was seen several times in the ranch house during night shoots, even though there were never any children on set.

Goofs:

Continuity: Chloe's hair style changes several times during her topless scene.

Quotes:

Bird: You know we are all trying to get you right?
Mandy Lane: Get me?
Bird: Get with you. Here's the deal, I'm not like the other guys.

Movie Connections:

References "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002)

Soundtrack:

You Take the Fall

Cream of the chop

I attended the world premiere of "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane" at the Toronto Film Festival. From that night on, I couldn't stop talking about it. This film is a gem in so many ways. Young first time director Jonathan Levine has crafted a brilliant twist on the "old school" teen slasher flick. With a script by Jacob Forman, who clearly has a passion for the genre, Levine assembled a frighteningly talented cast of young actors who made these characters so real that it seemed improvised. As it turned out, much of it was, as pointed out in the Q&A which followed the screening. When they partied, they partied. And it results in a natural, carefree ensemble performance that makes this film what it is – pure fun. The production values belie the film's meager budget (500K?). For example, the effective use of neutral film stock, under-processed at times, gives segments of the film a home movie look a la "Blair Witch." The selective use of slow-mo and freeze-frame add to the "big movie" feel of this little indie. As with all good horror films, Levine infuses the film with an appropriately foreboding score. And as an added bonus, the soundtrack features 80's classics which enhance the "old school" feel, especially if you're "old" enough to have been "in school" then. There's plenty of blood and gore here, of course, but tongue is also firmly planted in cheek.

File these names under "people to watch": Michael Welch, Aaron Himelstein, Luke Grimes, Edwin Hodge, and Whitney Able. Amber Heard is Mandy Lane (she also shines in "Alpha Dog"). Anson Mount rounds out the cast and is a familiar face to many. Many of the cast were present at the screening, also seeing it for the first time along with the audience. Those I chatted up afterward were humble and gracious, and worthy of all the attention this film deserves. I don't consider myself a horror fan, but of the 30 plus films I saw, this is among the cream of the crop. Or should I say cream of the chop. Put "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane" at the top of your list.