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Cast: Kelsey Hutton, Eve Kozikowski, Lincoln Mark, Chad Brummett

Director: Paul Myers

Genre: Drama | Sci-Fi

Year: 2013

Rating: NR

When their parents are brutally murdered by bandits, two young girls, Matti and Joslyn are left completely alone in a world destroyed by the financial meltdown. With the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, a shotgun in hand, and only 5 shells to protect them. Matti decides they must go find the only relative they know of, their grandmother, whom they have never actually met.

"5 Shells" is being advertised as a re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's classic, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" but it stands alone as well as a solid road movie. The story centers on two young girls, Matti and Joslyn, who are left all alone after their parents are killed by bandits in a world destroyed by a financial meltdown. You sense the rivalry between the two sisters but it ends up being Matti, the younger of the two who picks up a shotgun and decides to head out in search of their Grandmother, a person they have never met.

The road is not an easy one, everything seems to have been destroyed and there doesn't seem to many people around. Joslyn is always begging her sister to read her "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" which is a book her dad always read to her. The book begins to affect Matti as well as she dreams and even daydreams that the road the are traveling is indeed the yellow brick road.

Along the way the two girls meet up with Stanton and Frank who are traveling together. Frank the older man has a certain charm about that gets the attention of Joslyn and one day while Stanton and Matti are out collecting wood Frank decides to have his way with Joslyn. When Matti and Stanton chase him in the act the three decide to take Frank's vehicle and leave him behind but you sense they will meet up again at some point.

To talk anymore about the story would only ruin the adventure that awaits but I can tell you this, "5 Shells" is a lot of things and they are all good. As the film opens we are witness to the girls parents being murdered, you never really see anything but you don't have the frighten look on the girl's faces as they hide out from the bandits is frightful and suspense enough. The rest of the story is at times just as suspenseful but it is also a dramatic, tension filled drama that engages is audience right from the start and it never lets you go till the credits before to roll. The world is unforgiving, the way the Matti and Joslyn had to lose their innocence in this post apocalyptic world is sad indeed but the film as a whole is unforgettable.

Filmed on a micro budget Writer/Director, Paul Myers creates a world that is as beautiful as it is gritty. His writing and direction are bar none and the combination of both makes this one of the best films to come out in some time. Another reason the film is so good is its amazing cast, Chad Brummett is fantastic as the villain, Frank. Newcomer Kelsey Hutton as Matti and Eve Kozikowski as Joslyn are both brilliant, I haven't seen this kind of talent from two young actors in a very long time. Finally, Lincoln Mark is remarkable as well as young Stanton.

"5 Shells" is a film that immediately got my attention and it kept it all the way to the pulse pounding end and it left me thinking about it and its characters long after it is over. That to me is what cinema is all about. I cannot recommend this film enough, you can watch it now for free on the FREE MOVIE CHANNEL on your Roku HERE.

Released by BrinkVision

***** Out Of *****