Back In Action with Lt. Oliver

So I'm a Dillahunt fan to begin with but the Oliver Sherman trailer has a dark beauty that recalls the Coen Bros. and a Winter's Bone type character isolation. Based on a short story by Rachel Ingalls and Directed by first timer Ryan Redford (Interview Here).

Oliver Sherman Official Trailer from Oliver Sherman on Vimeo.

The movie seems like it's missing that one something and so does the trailer. They try and introduce the element of danger but spend to much time on the monologues and drama. The music suffers the same problem. It tries at the end to introduce this ticking clock with on-time smash cuts but the effect is just that an effect. I didn't feel the pressure rising. I didn't get a real feeling for the stakes that amped up my excitement without giving to much away...

Now I know thats the devils dance, and I complain just as much as the next person about trailers that give you to much, but how well you can toe that line is how well you've devised your trailer. There were things that worked in the beginning (topic and cinematography) and things that worked at the end (the ticking clock) but the over all effect fell just short of Must-See-In-Theaters and right into On-Demandable.