First Rites 2024 (Wild Dogs Productions) Review
Wild Dogs Productions returns to end the year with their lasted film, Frist Rites. Their 58th Feature length and 3rd film for 2024. This film sees them going full on guerilla filmmaking in the state of New York and New Jersey. This change of location does help add to an exotic vibe and tone and is fun to see. Fredianelli shoots some of the scenes in Central Park, Times Square and Grand Central Terminal. The backdrops help add to the grand scale of the film and is a nice change of pace from Bay Area locations Wild Dogs topically use.
Unfortunately this isn’t a scene in the movie, but it does make for a cool poster.
The actor’s also come from New York and bring their New York accents with them. Jaren Anderson and Matthias Cassar both deliver fine performances and have strong chemistry. They play two brothers who live in a mafia family, with their father played by Flavio Romeo, who also delivers a performance that is fun to watch. Vinny (Jaren Anderson) is the main character of the film and we follow him as he tries to find his place in the harsh mafia world. His brother Gio (Matthias Cassar) has no problem throwing down and getting his hands dirty. This causes Vhinny to feel inferior and lost, not quite knowing his place or where he stands. To become a member of this family means to accept blood on your hands, complicated rules and tangled webs of loyalty. Throughout the film, we see his character arc change as he goes from a timed and shy person into a ruthless and to the point killer.
The supporting cast of the film is also very solid and filled with lots of New York accents. Hannah Beck and Melina Frodella are both strong actresses, and seeing them sport that New York attitude is fun to watch unfold. Michael Fredianelli even sports a New York accent and gets to let loose with some yelling and rage as a deadbeat husband. You can tell he is having a lot of fun with the role here. Overall, the over all cast brings it and shows that New York has a strong acting scene.
Life in New York be crowded.
Frist Rites see’s Wild Dog’s working with a new composer to, with music by Anthony Gullicksen. His techno beat and drama driven score help to elevate the action on screen. Speaking of action, this films a bit more dialogue driven then most WDP pictures, but there is a still some chases and guns blazing to be found. There is a moment where a bomb goes off inside a house and the production team had to simulate a fire happening inside the house. It works pretty well, although I wonder who had the job of blowing the smoke out of the front door when it opened. Props must also be given the make up artist, Maralynn Adams. There is part where on the characters gets pretty beaten up, and the bruises and medical bandages look legit.
The story for the most part works, although I feel there might be a tad too much to keep track of. The film focuses most on the tension between a pair of dirty cops and the main mafia family. It’s when the film tries to add in the other mafia families where things get a bit confusing. The film is working with a small cast and budget, so it’s tough to get a sense of the whole picture of what each family does or owns control of. So when the final showdown takes place, there isn’t as much tension there could be. Still, the bond and journey of Vinny and Gio are what work here, and what the film mostly focuses on.
Take it easy buddy.
Overall, First Rites finds Wild Dog’s doing what they do best at. The guerilla filmmaking finds Michael Fredianelli going back to his roots with some shaky cam here and there, but small technical issues aside, the film finds itself on solid ground. Just be carfare where you stand, because extortion is to be expected when dealing in mafia turf.
