SATURNALIA is writer-producer-director-star Joshua Kennedy's wildest, most off-beat film yet....and that's saying something.
Because it's so wild and off-beat, and because it touches upon so many genres, it's almost impossible to describe. The main point is that the film is exceedingly fun to watch, due to the fact that it is filled with the mad exuberance that has come to define the Gooey Cinematic Universe.
SATURNALIA features Josh Kennedy as the nebbishy Melvin Kolbaba, a mediocre pizza delivery guy. The most important thing in Melvin's geeky life is the comic strip he has created about a character called Saturnalia, who is a shapely cavegirl from outer space. One night Melvin has to make a delivery to a top-secret research facility, and he stumbles upon a machine that can replicate matter. Melvin steals the device, and accidentally brings Saturnalia to life. While Melvin tries to figure out what to do with the now-real amorous Amazon, he goes on the run for stealing the replicator, and he becomes the main suspect in the murders of a number of fashion models.
SATURNALIA has a wacky energy that never lets up, along with enough plot for about three different movies. Longtime Joshua Kennedy fans will recognize several familiar faces from the Gooey Films Stock Company among the supporting cast, and they will also note the obligatory shower scene, along with several references to Medusa.
Dani Thompson gets a magnificent showcase as Saturnalia. She communicates through comic book-like dialogue balloons (a neatly realized effect), and she has more than enough screen presence to come off as a galactic superhero. Thompson also gets to play Saturnalia's evil twin sister Ilsa, who has been brought to life by Melvin as well. This allows Thompson to literally fight herself in an action sequence, and square off against Ilsa's aptly named henchman Igor, played by Julian Flores.
SATURNALIA also has a voice cameo from Josh's original muse, Martine Beswicke, and a vibrant score from Reber Clark that keeps up with the film's many wild transitions (no small feat). There's even a title song, performed by Laura Laureano, that perfectly matches the overall tone of the proceedings. As expected there's plenty of classic film references--the viewer will be reminded of such luminaries as Hitchcock, Mel Brooks, and Kubrick.
The film has more animated effects than is usual in a Gooey production, and it's one of the better looking--and better sounding--tales directed by Kennedy.
The best way to appreciate a film like SATURNALIA is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Don't worry about plot details, or whether anything makes any sense or not. Thankfully there's no presumed social significance injected here, or reminders of current real world events.
SATURNALIA is outrageous, ridiculous, and at times, hilarious. It also has more inventiveness to it than the usual recent prefabricated big-budget comic book blockbusters. Simply put, SATURNALIA is a hell of a good time.
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