Sudden Death! (2010) User Reviews

Sudden Death! is worth watching

[Beth-817-798887 · 9/10 · 13 August 2010]

Sudden Death! is a witty, fast-paced musical short film with a strong ensemble and bold leads.

Director Adam Hall clearly understands the formula for making a successful movie musical. He takes the best qualities from the musical theater genre (jazz hands and all) and effortlessly translates a script and score that is worthy of a full blown stage production to the silver screen. Viewers will be able to appreciate his grasp of the film medium as he channels his confident vision making no apologies for all the quirky eccentricity in his piece.

Matt Lutz and Autumn Hurlbert lead the cast with their stunning vocals as star-crossed scientists racing against time to find a cure for the deadly "Sudden Death Syndrome." Meanwhile, funny man Doug Jones serves up his fair share of laughs as the quirky head scientist leading the research team. Kahle Mccann steals the show as Todd, a scientist who, despite the fast pace of the piece in general, manages to dispense brilliant one-liners that viewers won't see coming.

I highly recommend this short film. It is a refreshingly original and strongly executed production.

My kind of musical/apocalypse!!

[ruckers · 9/10 · 7 September 2010]

As a married man who has been to his fair share of musicals on and off-stage, this was one from which I wish all others would take pointers!! Funny lines in the songs that actually developed the plot were a great way to keep the pace in such a short flick. And, I always wondered why no one seems to notice in most musicals when others around them break into song; this movie does an outstanding job tearing down that wall, with Doug Jones and the two great leads delivering some of the funniest, awkward moments of the film.

My only complaint is with how quickly Mr. Larroquette's character appears, explains the situation and exits (though in a great way). I'm sure though that time constraints played heavily into this decision.

Finally, keep your eyes on Wes Hall! After that outstanding performance as Billy the Coast Guard guy, he's destined for fame!!

Excellent short that ended too soon

[jeffrey_d_wright · 10/10 · 13 August 2010]

This was a fantastic short from beginning to end. The characters played well off of one another and had many great one-liners. I don't think you could have put together a better group of actors for this film. The comedic aspect was not over-the-top and some of the funniest moments came from the subtleties. The music was great and kept the film moving along and the scene setup and cinematography were top notch. My biggest problem with this film was that it seemed like the pacing was a little fast but I think this was due to the time restraints and the entertaining nature of the film. It definitely left me wanting more and I am hoping there is a Sudden Death! feature on the horizon.

Should be a feature!

[johannamain · 10/10 · 30 July 2010]

I just saw the screening of Adam Hall's brilliant USC thesis film at the Majestic Crest Theater on Monday. I have to say it is the best short musical comedy about a deadly virus I have *ever* seen. And I've seen my share. The casting is amazing (Doug Jones- genius... the man can act with his *back*), the songs are Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-worthy, and the plot will have you on the edge of your overstuffed theater seat!

Seriously, though, I couldn't hear half of the jokes this film packs in due to the hysterical laughter coming from every single person in the theater. I am not exempt. I can't wait to get my copy and watch it over and over and over and over again!

Muah!

I clicked spoiler just in case because I don't want to be blacklisted. I did try to not give anything away.

[cortbear80 · 10/10 · 30 August 2010]

I received my copy of this movie today(30 August 2010) in the mail and watched it as soon as I got home. The direction, Production and the actors were all Awesome! I love the main characters and the story line was consistent. Autumn Hurlbert has the best facial expressions. She just draws you into the movie. I was impressed to see so many well-known actors in this short film. The choreography was great, and I loved the small gestures made throughout the movie that some may have missed. Too funny..The songs were original and funny. If you are looking for a funny short film, this is a great view. I can not wait to see what else Adam and Melanie come up with. And thank you for adding the outtakes to the DVD, they were really funny too.

Laughing gas in movie form

[Gunnar777 · 13 August 2010]

Beautifully shot, fast-paced and exciting script, expertly acted/sung, with amazingly witty lyrics and catchy music; this movie really has it all. Not just for the musical theater junkie, Sudden Death! is so funny that I literally missed half the jokes because I (and the rest of the audience, at a screening in Westwood) was laughing so loudly.

The story follows two young scientists as they search for a cure for a terrible disease that is quickly spreading throughout LA. The only symptom of the disease is randomly breaking into song and dance before keeling over. Hilarity ensues, people fall in love, some get shot, and then everyone dies... all in 20 minutes!! It has to be seen to be believed!

Hurlbert is a standout, and McCann steals the scene as a receptionist.

Definitely check this film out if you get the chance!

Inoffensive And That's The Problem

[Theo Robertson · 6/10 · 23 March 2014]

A great idea for a short film - a musical featuring the apocalypse . It's camp , crazy and cheerful . The problem is it's a bit too cheerful , not crazy enough and not sure if it's too camp or not camp enough . The one musical I do adore is Alan Parker's interpretation of PINK FLOYD THE WALL which makes a direct connection between stadium rock and Nazi rallies . Bad taste for sure but one that does have a ring of truth and that film does have the power to polarise an audience in to two distinct camps of love and hate both towards the music being played and the shocking imagery . Here however with SUDDEN DEATH I found myself being rather bored with the on screen events . I'm not missing the point Adam Hall is making here but having a story with a virus that is " The gayest disease ever " that turns its victims in to dancing , prancing , singing , fleet footed fools there seems to be a totally inoffensive nature to everything . The potential scope to really put the boot in to those dreadful , limp wristed , mincing singers and dancers from musical theatre just doesn't seem to be there and the inoffensive nature of SUDDEN DEATH is a handicap . It's also a bit too long for its own good and when you've got sappy songs featuring romance some cynics might say the fact it exists means it's 19 minutes too long

Wonderfully funny short that mocks and delivers the musical genre at once

[bob the moo · 20 March 2014]

Although it has been contained to part of LA County, Sudden Death Syndrome (formerly known as Musical Theatre Disease or The Gayest Disease Ever) is killing all in its path – causing song and dance to break out shortly before sudden death. Racing against time, two scientists come together to try and develop a cure, but while the world pirouettes and then dies, the only thing developing is perhaps the early stages of love.

I'm not really a fan of musicals and indeed if asked I would say my favorite one is the South Park film, because it is. However with Sudden Death! we have a short film that manages to deliver a typically big and cheerful Broadway musical (all teeth and high-kicks) while also making fun of those very same things while delivering a plot that is as far from Broadway as possible – so I think you can understand why I mention South Park and why I enjoyed this film so much. The humor throughout is bang on, with a great tone but also frequent specific laughs and silliness.

The music is also really well done although it perhaps relies a bit too much on one song in particular, but it is catchy and even watched "straight" (which is hard to do) it satisfies as an odd musical. The cast really go with the spirit and I enjoyed the appropriately named Lutz and the talented Hurlbert while Doug Jones was an odd find for someone more known for his creatures work. It is all filmed really well with great camera work and direction and importantly very good sound work. Hard to fault for a short film – it is very clever, funny, catchy and charming from start to finish.