Evan Glodell's nihilist love story/vengeance tale Bellflower is a dangerous piece of must-see American indie filmmaking for Mad Max fans and, in a way, the same crowd who can't wait to see Quentin Dupieux's killer tire flick Rubber. After premiering at Sundance, where Oscilliscope snapped it up for a summer 2011 release, Bellflower blazed a diesel-fueled trail through SXSW treating attendees to a glimpse of the heavily modified Buick Skylark that Glodell transformed into the flame-throwing beast known as the Mother Medusa.
In Bellflower, the Medusa is a black metal monster of a car that plays a key role as Woodrow (Glodell) and Aiden (Tyler Dawson) build Mad Max-style gadgets and fantasize about forming their own apocalyptic gang.
Popular Mechanics editor Erin McCarthy filmed her tour of the Medusa with Glodell and Dawson as they pointed out the car's tech modifications: flame-thrower exhaust pipes with a 30,000 volt ignition system, a bleach drift-kit, a three-camera surveillance monitor, a roll cage, a smoke screen, and more. The best part: The gang ended the ride-along by hitting the drive-through at Wendy's.
Bellflower will be released by Oscilliscope Laboratories on July 22. Gearheads, have at it.
ยท Ride Along in Bellflower's Post-Apocalyptic Vehicle: SXSW 2011 [Popular Mechanics]