Very dark & compelling thriller. Definitely has a teen angst component. I enjoyed the interesting characters that filled the darker side of this world. Solid performances all around.

I usually don't go for these type of movies...i.e. thriller/horror, but I found this non-linear approach captivating. This film felt disjointed at first, and about 20 minutes in, I couldn't stop watching. The performances and rhythm of this film are pretty good, as well as the story, but I think the story could have been fleshed out a bit more. The boy actor looking for the killer of his girlfriend does a good job portraying the anxiety and tenacity of his character...however, I would have liked to have felt a great intensity. The aesthetics and overall production value of this movie is solid. All in all...worth the watch!

I was able to catch a screening of Everlasting at the Nevermore Film Festival, where it won Jury Award for Best US Feature. In my opinion, it has a little something for nearly everyone. It's at its core a love story, a tale of two misfit star crossed teen lovers. But it's also a mystery and a thriller, with a broad reach - stretching from your average high school classroom to the seedy underbelly of LA's fetish scene, from beautiful, bright fields, to the dimly lit living room of a murderer.First and foremost, the film is beautifully shot and well written, weaving the story from a mix of video clips (from a school project), memories, and real time episodes. The non-linear and multi-mode fashion could have turned out clunky and awkward, but it moves us quite smoothly to the climax. The intermittent scenes that capture the young couple in nature, as they make their trip from Denver to LA, are some of the most haunting as they seem to capture the true essence of teen love and that feeling of immortality and bravado that accompanies youth, even in the face of undeniable change.The lead actors are believable in their roles. Valentina de Angelis portrays Jessie as both adventurous and vulnerable, as she is drawn to the dark side of humanity that ultimately leads to her downfall. Adam David as Matt, her estranged boyfriend desperate for closure and driven by a need to preserve Jessie's true nature. A strong cadre of supporting actors round out the story as well.Possibly the most jarring aspect of the film is its plausibility. This is the type of story we hear on the news. Another lost girl trying to find her way taken too soon. And though some may not find the ending sensational enough, it felt real. These crimes do happen. The victims are blamed and the perpetrators become renowned and celebrated. Everlasting tries to take that victory away from the criminal by focusing on Matt and Jessie, and their story. Watching this film left me sad, but touched, because it is truly successful in making you care about the characters.

Everlasting isn't really what I'd call a "horror" movie in the traditional sense, though there are certainly horrific images and themes in it. Director Anthony Stabley describes it as a "dark mystery thriller" and that absolutely nails it.Plot wise it's pretty straight forward. We know where we're going from the very beginning and it's just a matter of how we're going to get there. The film utilizes flashbacks and voice-over in a very effective way to tell the story. I'm not a huge fan of the found footage genre and while there's a ton of hand-held stuff here, Matt (Adam David) is a film student, its not overdone and doesn't get annoying. The time line jumps around quite a bit but it's not nearly as bad as say Lost and not nearly as difficult to follow as something like Memento.The scenery here is breathtaking. Jesse & Matt are making their way from Denver to LA and they go through one of the most beautiful parts of the country and the film spares no expense showing us. They clearly did their homework here when it came to scouting locations. Not only do the places look great but the cast (especially the ladies – more on that later) look amazing. This is due not only to the fact that it's full of pretty people but their attire fits the film to a "T". Special shout out to Costume Designer Alycia Belle, Production Designer Candi Guterres and Makeup Artist Kristina Ellery – top notch.The cast here is superb. Everyone delivers their lines in a manner that doesn't seem forced or out of place (one of my biggest pet peeves with the films I've been watching recently). Nearly everyone in the film from Jesse's mother (Elisabeth Röhm) to Bai Ling's Christine fit their roles like a glove. Robert LaSardo as Rocky is a face that you'll recognize even if you don't know the name and he brings a gravitas to a small role that was very welcome. Pat Healy as Henrique gives a performance that is flawless. He's creepy as hell and truly shows the underbelly of the world that Jesse has walked into.But the stars of the film are clearly Matt (Adam David) and Jesse (Valentina de Angelis). Matt is hurting for the majority of the film as he's telling the story of his dead girlfriend. His motivations are clear and you can see the pain and pleasure on his face. He does give off a very strong 'Ricky Fits' vibe more than once (the camera guy from American Beauty) but that's to be expected as he's… holding a camera for most of the movie. I'm not quite sure I would have acted the same way he did in certain situations but I can't say any of his choices were "wrong".And I've saved the best for last… Valentina. To say I'm smitten would be an understatement. Let's get something out of the way. She's hot. Like crazy hot. But that's not what I'm talking about. She gives an amazing performance here. When they went scouting for the role of Jesse they hit the jackpot. The journey that this character goes through from beginning to end is heartbreaking and de Angelis shows every emotion with a flare and experience of an actor much older than her years. She plays sexy, seductive, naive and scared. The most touching moments in the film are between her and Adam. At the heart of this entire film really is a love between two teenagers. And they manage to pull it off in such a way that isn't campy or eye rollingly bad. It's damn near perfect.I would have appreciated a little bit tighter of an ending to the film as I wasn't sure of some character motivations and it just sort of wrapped up. Another scene or two tying the school project was what I was expecting but what the hell do I know. That said, by the time the credits rolled I'd completely enjoyed the ride that Everlasting took me on even though it wasn't a typical horror / slasher. Strong recommend.