Most likely one of the first types of stories that was told for entertainment was the ghost story. As long as man has been around people would gather around the communal camp fire and swap tales of terror, especially for the amusement factor of scaring the young. There is not a single summer camp in the country does not include this as a time honored tradition. The popularity of the format is a two edge sword when it comes to translating a ghost story to the movies; so many of the classic themes have been used over and over again until it appears that there is no room for a new idea to creep in. Finally, a film maker has come around with vision and originality and has provided fans of horror flicks everywhere a few new twists on this classic format. Michael Linn’s ‘Imprint’ is one of the best of this genre that I have seen in many years. He has taken the standard elements and given them a setting that is rarely used, a Native American reservation. He also has strong, resourceful young woman, a pleasant change from the witless female victim that seems to be a requirement for modern ghost story flicks. This film will instantly grab your attention and has what it takes to hold it for the duration of the movie. There are novel twists and turns along that way that will keep you on the edge of your seat at all times. The movie was obviously made on the most meager of budgets and there is little doubt that the shooting scheduled was extremely tight.

This is an example of the reason for independent films; bringing a vision for a movie to life and sharing it with an audience. The film is not sensationalistic or as gory as most Indy horror flicks and therefore may be a disappointment to those out there that crave a mindless story of carnage. This film is not targeted at the torture movie crowd that have come to thing that ‘Saw’ and ‘Hostel’ are what a horror film should be like. While there is a place for all variations of the genre this is a return to the classic horror approach. It is psychologically driven and requires the audience to pay attention to the plot. There are jump moments that will life you off your seat but the frightening scenes are geared towards your mind instead of the purely visceral impact that has become common. The film has been around for a couple of years now with showings in a few film festivals and limited theatrical releases. Now it has the opportunity to reach the wider audience that it deserves with a DVD release through MTI. They are rapidly garnering a name for small films that should be seen but rarely get the attention they should. MTI has also released a number of thought provoking horror movies like this one.

Keith Davenport and Michael Linn wrote the script for this film and they did an amazing job. This is the first screenplay for Davenport but Linn has a few previous scripts under his belt. One of his prior works was ‘Escape Through Time’, a western science fiction. This is another case of taking familiar elements from known genres and blending them into something that is unusual. The Native American has not been seen on the screen much outside of the usual hackney portrayals. In the past they were always the bad guys in the cowboy flicks or else portrayed as the noble savage. The treatment of this group has ranged from insulting stereotypes to clichés that ignore their long and rich culture. This story is set in the Native American community and treats them as what they are; part of the tapestry of this nation. The script is more complex and textured that the garden variety ghost story. There are layers imbedded in the tale that will require far more in the way of active participation on the part of the viewers. There are a few missteps made in the screenplay. It is to be expected to lay out a few misleading clues in a story like this to keep the audience guessing. In this film they abound and have the effect of being distracting to the audience. A little streamlining would have gone a long way to keeping the story on track. The strength of the screenplay is in how the characters are presented. In most horror flicks the characters are frequently little more than cartoon self parodies. Linn and Davenport have taken great care to construct characters with depth and realistic foibles that we all can identify with readily. This permits the audience to not only understand the motivation of the protagonist but to empathize with her plight.

Michael Linn also took on the directorial chores necessary to bring this story to the screen. As with his script his style of direction is one that is innovative and fresh. He represents the spirit of the independent director. Linn had little to work with and made the most of it. You might think that directing a film is easy, that all you have to do is sit behind the camera and shout action and cut. There is so much more required in balancing the technical aspects of film making with the general responsibilities of a military tactician charged with a difficult campaign. Linn took on this challenge with a care eye for details and is certain to have a successful career in movies. It is the little touches that he adds to the film that make it work so well. These are things that you might not notice but whose presence adds to the realism of the project. This is what is necessary for a horror film. The audience has to be able to believe and Linn provides this feel with style. This is a family project as evident by no less than eight Linn’s in the credits. It shows that this is a dream that Michael shared with his family and together they took on the arduous task of creating a film that contains a quality that is lost on so many films of the genre.

Shayla Stonefeather (Tonantzin Carmelo) is a young Native American woman who works as an assistant prosecutor in Denver. She is prosecuting a teenager of Lakota decent in a notorious murder case. Shayla is called back to her family home on a reservation in North Dakota to visit her dying father. The teen is murdered under highly suspicious circumstances but that is not the end of Shayla’s involvement. Soon, she begins to hear voices and see apparitions. She had tried to leave the spiritual aspects of her culture behind when she moved to the big city but now those old beliefs have literally come back to haunt her.

Carmelo is an Native American and has been in several previous films. Here she gives a great performance that will entrance you. She has a command of her character that is thrilling to watch. This is typical of the film; the production may have been fast and cheap but you would never know it. Carmelo is an actress of considerable talent and it just adds to the commitment that the rest of the cast and crew display. MTI has done it again by uncovering an Indy gem that is well worth having in your collection.