Kuyashii Gonzo: Blood Visions and Chaos Magic

A feature-length documentary written and directed by Jeff Frumess and starring himself and Jeannine Frumess, Nick Bohun, Renee Mandel and Dave Street.

This feature was a result of Jeff Frumess's habit of keeping video diaries and this film consists of footage that was shot over a period of approximately twenty years by Jeff and it includes podcasts, title cards, footage of some of his films and a great deal of himself talking to the camera, addressing the viewer, talking about his experiences and thoughts. The main concept is Jeff's efforts in order to make a low-budget feature-length independent horror film Gouge Away, a sort of sequel to his debut feature Wash Away, which was never completed and through his video diaries, Jeff takes the audience on a journey, documenting his experiences, the highs and lows of his efforts to bring his latest project to life, dealing with constant setbacks, going through the COVID-19 pandemic and experiencing loss. Generally, the viewing is light-hearted, with plenty of humorous moments and it also has its moving moments.

It centainly is intriguing getting to know Jeff, a friendly, realistic, self-aware and enthusiastic guy with a passion for filmmaking and becoming familiar with his past work and how he views life as a filmmaker. His good-natured personality, sense of humour and caring and respect for those around him make him a person people would hope will achieve his goals. Apart from him, viewers will also get to know his family and the cast and crew that he works with, including his grandmother and Dave Street. Watching Jeff interact and work with these individuals in order to make a film is interesting and enlightening.

This documentary is an intriguing viewing, however, its duration might be an issue. With a running time of one hour and forty-five minutes, the film feels overlong, with some footage that maybe was unnecessary. Perhaps a duration of approximately twenty minutes less would had been enough.

This feature provides an insight into the world of fillmmaking, particularly independent filmmaking, revealing the challenges that must be faced in order to make a film on a low budget and the rewards of being a filmmaker. Just to point out: ''Kuyashii'' is a Japanese word that involves emotions of frustration, disappointment and annoyance, which is pretty much what Jeff is going through as he is determined to make his latest feature, although he seems to be handling things well. This film can also be acknowledged as a story about self-reflection and never giving up.

People who watch this documentary will become familiar with a cool guy and his long journey to make his dream a reality and overcome obstacles. It is an informative and thoughtful viewing that will hopefully serve as an inspiration to aspiring filmmakers.