Morning Person

 

Live, die, repeat is as good a premise for a horror movie as any. 

Sadly the underlying film doesn't always live up to that.

Quick Plot: Bobby is a sloppy musician trying to make good with his higher class girlfriend Jules. Having made quite a few mistakes in their relationship, Bobby has high hopes that a seaside vacation to a quaint New England island bed & breakfast is just what Jules needs to finally forgive him.

The inn is far from five-star hospitality and the town's best assets are its arcade and empty souvenir shops, but it's all just enough to urge Bobby on to a romantic surprise proposal in the middle of town square. Jules' acceptance is interrupted when a hooded figure slashes her throat, breaks Bobby's neck, and sends them to the next morning at the titular 6:45.

Bobby awakens with full memory of the previous day's events, but to Jules, it's simply part two of their vacation. For any audience who's seen Groundhog Day or the dozens of cheaper films it inspired (all usually Hallmark Christmas-related or horror), we know the drill. This cycle will continue.

In Bobby's case, it seems to happen hundreds of times. He attempts to adjust his and Jules' activities, but nothing works. 

Also, he doesn't seem to try very hard.

6:45 is clearly a low budget affair, and I'd give it a certain measure of leeway if it was a first or second film. But writer/director Craig Singer has been working for over 20 years. He's responsible for the low energy Dark Ride and the fairly interesting, lower profile Perkins' 14. 6:45 shows a steep downward slide.

The leads do what they can to make the characters' relationship click, but Bobby is simply the worst, and that's before we get to a final act that would be infuriating if the film was worth raising any kind of blood pressure. I was on board for the slow opening because it felt like the film was going somewhere. Unfortunately, once it cycled through its repeated day a few times, even the filmmaker seemed to lose interest. Montages fill in a good chunk of running time, only for the story to take an abrupt, nasty turn complete with, for no reason other than for the crew to show off some skill, a man putting his grubby hands into an open bloody scalp.

High Points

This is not a great showcase for any performer, but as Jules, Augie Duke manages to emerge as a very natural onscreen presence

Low Points

It's just a pity she's in this slog of a mean-spirited film

Lessons Learned

Cuffs happen when you punch locals

Always keep the talons tamed

When checking into any questionable hotel, remember to first check the soap

Rent/Bury/Buy

You might be surprised to hear me say that I don't recommend 6:45. It's both mean and dull, which is just about the very worst adjectives any movie can claim.