CHASSEUR: Let’s Go Devil Huntin’
“A Cajun devil hunter goes to the crossroads and meets the devil’s attorney”. The compelling summary of Chasseur had me hooked before I even started watching, let alone the mesmerising central performance from the film’s writer and director, Christopher Soren Kelly.
An unconventional structure, perhaps, but a successful one. The titular Chasseur spends much of the time speaking directly to the camera – directly to the audience – telling the story of his meeting with the devil before it is revealed where he is. His rendezvous with the devil’s attorney, played by Joshua Bitton, is full of juicy dialogue and southern gothic twang, set against a fantastic backdrop of the Louisana Bayou back roads. The blood-flecked, half-mad Chasseur wallows in atmosphere and style, and the beautifully shot countryside hums and sings, a character in its own right.
This two-piece is by no means a masterpiece, but despite some rough-around-the-edges production has been deftly crafted into a compelling human drama. Kelly seems to have balanced his duties as director, writer and actor well, and has nailed the tone perfectly. Some might say subtitles would be a good idea – I say just use it as an excuse to watch it twice. The fifteen minutes zip by, and if you’re looking for a colourful story of Deep South Americana, look no further than Chasseur.
What do you think of Christopher Soren Kelly‘s short film? Let us know in the comments!
(top image source: Christopher Soren Kelly)
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