The Dirties

The Dirties is a 2013 independent drama film crafted by Matt Johnson while he was a student at the Toronto Film School, and supported by Canadian film studio XYZ Films. It features Matt Johnson, Owen Williams, and Padraig Singal in lead roles, among other talented cast members. The movie expertly delivers a constantly building narrative that will engage viewers from the first moment until the last.

The Dirties begins in the seemingly harmless environment of a high school, the customary setting of yore for teenage romances, identity crises, simple dreams, and youthful ambitions. This movie follows the lives of two film-loving high schoolers, Matt (Matt Johnson) and Owen (Owen Williams). Like any high school, it's filled with cliques, the common enemies of teenage life, but our protagonists' main concern revolves around a group of bullies, dubbed 'The Dirties'.

Matt and Owen stand out for their love for filmmaking. Their shared pastime sees them working on a class project, a film about two vigilante cops who aim to bring 'The Dirties' down. Matt and Owen's film project is a veiled expression of their wishful thinking, a fantastical escape into a reality where they aren't at the mercy of the bullies. They lose themselves in the world of scriptwriting, rehearsing, and shooting scenes, creating an alternate world of simulated power and control.

The presentation might seem light, humorous, or charming in the early stages, but the movie gradually reveals its true colors, delving into the darker side of escapism and the cyclical torment of relentless bullying. The film subtly explores the mental gymnastics someone may undertake when they decide to take justice into their own hands.

Matt Johnson masterfully delivers a compelling character as Matt. Matt oscillates between the dual roles of a goofy, cinephile teenager and a man on a self-elected mission against his oppressors, a transformation that's subtly unsettling as it unfolds within the mundane high school environment. His monologues and dialogues, heavily influenced by popular films and cinematic language, resonate with his character's increasing detachment from reality. His oftentimes erratic yet charismatic presence intoxicates not just the viewers, but also his best friend, Owen.

Owen Williams, the more reserved and cautious of the two, brilliantly portrays the role of Owen. He progressively becomes a passive spectator of Matt’s growing obsession, torn between loyalty, fear, and reason. His feeble attempts to bring Matt back from the precipice of potential catastrophe highlight the grim reality of being an unwilling spectator in someone else's precarious journey. This dynamic makes their friendship complex and intriguing.

Padraig Singal appears in a supporting role and adds depth to the story, embodying part of the social clique. His role is critical in triggering the main characters' responses in many ways, making his character integral to the unfolding narrative and the underlying themes of the story.

Despite its low-budget production, The Dirties experiments with the 'meta' aspect of filmmaking. Simultaneously being the actors, directors, and characters in their film, Matt and Owen bring a refreshing perspective into the narrative. The non-traditional and seemingly improvisational style of the movie, peppered with movie references and an integral sense of its own identity as a film, makes it an intriguing watch. The movie has a raw, guerilla-style aesthetic that enhances the visceral, intimate portrait of its protagonists and their world.

One of the main highlights of The Dirties is its knack for underlining profound issues under the guise of light-hearted humor and gawky adolescents. It raises questions on the psychological cost of bullying, the consequences of absorbed cinematic violence, the effects of unchecked obsession, and the distortion of one's sense of reality and justice.

As an indie production, The Dirties is a testament to the creativity of budding filmmakers like Matt Johnson and the trove of unexplored narratives that independent films often bring to light. It is a stark, powerful film that keeps viewers engaged, disturbed, and intrigued. The Dirties may be set in the corridors of a high school, but it leaves the audience with lessons valid for every avenue of life. To sum it up, a disturbingly relatable tale of friendship, fear, forced reality versus escapism captured in the retrospect of a seemingly non-threatening high-school drama.