Michael Scott
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| On October 14, the dark comedy Candy Apple arrives on Blu-ray. Written, directed, and starring Dean Dempsey (Deadman’s Barstool), the film follows a father and son duo – played by real-life father and son – hustling the streets of Manhattan in search of rent money and their elusive dreams. Texas Trash (singer Terry “Texas” Trash) has put his country music career on hold and moved to New York to support the filmmaking ambitions of his son Bobby (Dean Dempsey), which actually happened during the making of this film. A double-amputee with a tattooed face, prosthetic limbs, and endless wild stories, Texas fits right in among the downtown dive-bar regulars. Meanwhile, Bobby obsessively films oddball moments around the neighborhood, from his dad tossing pizza off fire escapes, to advertising characters passed out on sidewalks, hoping one will finally go viral. Both father and son find themselves submerging into the underbelly of the city to make ends meet. Bobby resorts to turning tricks, including playing a “milkman” for a client, while Texas delivers drugs by using a unique hiding spot for the stash. Together, they spiral further into Manhattan’s shadows. Can they reclaim their creative spark, or will the unforgiving Big Apple consume them whole? Candy Apple captures the vibe of classic New York City underground cinema in the tradition of Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey’s work from the ’60s and ’70s. Its edgy characters embody the raw, unvarnished side of city life, far removed from trust fund safety nets. The film also carries a personal edge, as Dean Dempsey co-stars with his real-life father, Terry “Texas” Trash, frontman of the rockabilly band Texas Trash and the Trainwrecks, who Dempsey met for the first time as an adult and then cast in his movie. The soundtrack features music from Texas Trash and the Trainwrecks, and the eclectic cast includes Neon Music, Corey “Whorse” Kimbrow-Dana, Sophia Lamar, Philly Abe, and the legendary cult band The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black. Also on October 14, the comedic murder mystery Deadman’s Barstool arrives on Blu-ray. Screenwriter, director, and star Dean Dempsey (Candy Apple) crafts a tale of a lecherous minister who doesn’t have a prayer. Mary (Leticia Castillo, Last Call) learns that her philandering televangelist husband, John “The Preacher” (Brad Calcaterra, Poker Face), is divorcing her with a pathetic settlement. She conspires with John’s mistress Ginny (Jasmine Poulton) to rob the massive amount of collection plate cash hidden in his apartment. But before their plan can be fully executed, the preacher is found executed in his bed. The two women immediately suspect each other, though the neighborhood bar is filled with colorful characters who could just as easily be involved. While the coroner declares the death a suicide, Det. Jim Macallan (Dean Dempsey) keeps poking around, making both women increasingly nervous. Can they uncover the real killer before the bumbling detective stumbles across their real crime? Deadman’s Barstool is a tight, darkly hilarious Manhattan murder mystery filled with a rogues’ gallery of local lowlifes. Among them are two fortune-telling scammers who use unconventional Tarot cards, and maybe more sinister tricks. But are any of these comical grifters truly capable of murder? The film also stars Sara Friedman (Standing Up, Falling Down), Victoria Beltran (The Dictator), Nancy Evans (Tripped Up), and Justin Sams (King Of Knives). |
