The Darkside Reviewed

Thursday, October 4th, 2012

It’s funny to think that Videograss are no longer the new kids on the block as a production company. Having now made a handful of movies and set themselves up as having some of the best riders in the game, The Darkside features their jib oriented guys. Having gone to a premiere and seen this movie I knew it was one of those flicks that watching it a second or third time would be the best way to let it sink in.

Now if you’ve ever seen their inaugural flick Videograss then you will be stoked on this movie. In my opinion this is the sequel to that movie. Not saying their other works like Shoot The Moon aren’t noteworthy but this one just builds on what that first movie captured.

Featuring the talents of Ben Bilocq, Chris Grenier, Danimals, Darrell Mathes, Gus Engle, Harrison Gordon, Jake O.E., Joe Sexton, Johnny Miller, Jon Kooley, Jonas Michilot, Jordan Mendenhall, Laurent-Nicolas Paquin, and Nick Dirks.

Jake O.E. gets the opener and as usual his Midwest jib-skatestyle showcases his unique approach to features. He shares his part with Jonas Michilot who has a few tricks but Jake is the one that shines.

While it’s admirable that Kooley and Mendenhall are still filming video parts you can’t help but notice they are the old guys in the crew. Kooley performs possibly the gnarliest board clap of the year second only to Danimals.

Now speaking of Danimals this is one of the kids to watch his part just stands out due to his hunger to get the shot. Harrison Gordon would be a close second, in my opinion he really stepped it up and just captured his riding better.

On the creativity side there’s Gus Engle who manages to slide into and out everything as if he were riding a skateboard. Nick Dirks goes big as usual and has that weird gnome like style he’s known for. LNP doesn’t have a double part like his first premiere with VG but it’s still memorable. Chris Grenier does his thing and shows his humor by sniffing asses and dancing like a robot.

In terms of bonuses you get a few things and some left overs that didn’t make it into the full movie. It gives a sense of humanity to what this crew had to go through in a shitty winter to get the shots.

Long and short of it yes I would buy this movie. Why? Because it isn’t full of crap filler and solid riding. Movie of the year? Jury’s still out, but it’s pretty fucking solid if I do say so myself.