Nefarious Films Reviews

"The Realm of Never: Moratorium" 2002

Director:  Christopher Del Gaudio

Writer:  Christopher Del Gaudio

Starring:  Darren O' Hare, Jaqueline Muro, Joanne Antonucci, Jason Murphy

The Realm of Never is a real curiosity. On one hand it is a Sci-fi/ horror television series in the style of shows like The Outer Limits or The Twilight Zone while on the other hand it is a series of low budget independent films, while on another hand (yes, I realise that means I have three hands but this is Sci-Fi okay, I can have as many hands as I feel are necessary) it is a collection of filmed stage plays. It is a genuinely intriguing concept which harks back to both the early days of television as well as the early days of Science Fiction itself. Screening on public access television channels, each episode of The Realm of Never has a budget of no more than $500 and is filmed live with no re-takes. So what does all of this add up to? Well, despite (and sometimes because of) the obvious limitations and restrictions of such a concept The Realm of Never: Moratorium is a fascinating piece of work with a refreshingly unique style, feel and character.

Set in a future society where humanity is under attack from shadowy alien intelligences Moratorium tells the story of Myles Goddard, a young man who having been exposed to a biological agent is showing the symptoms associated with a new and mysterious disease being investigated by the government. As the man is observed and questioned by the military doctors we learn that the disease is both deadly and has the interesting side effect of giving its sufferers omniscience – the knowledge of all things. As Goddard answers the doctors’ questions he reveals the truth about the nature of the world, humanity and where it all went wrong…

Shot in black and white and with an aged film effect added to the visual, Moratorium immediately creates a retro Sci-Fi atmosphere. An atmosphere which is sustained through pretty much every aspect of its 29 minute running time, from its portentous voice-over intro to its rather wonderful serenely melancholic score by Jack Walker. This atmosphere works fantastically well with The Realm of Never’s general operating concepts with the occasional lapses in acting quality and cameras occasionally drifting in and out of focus becoming an integral part of the film. The, at times, high melodrama of the dialogue also fulfils a similar function and though the film is dead serious in both tone and execution, there is a vein of affectionate parody hidden below the surface.

As might be expected there are no special effects on display here, in fact there is very little in the way of sets either. This is not a problem as it suits the stage play aesthetic well though a little more stage ‘action’ would perhaps have been desirable. The story is entirely told in dialogue and can at times become a little dense and overly-complicated though an excellent performance from lead actor, Darren O Hare combined with a compelling story written by director and series creator, Christopher Del Gaudio drive the narrative confidently through any sticky patches. The story, in outright defiance of the film’s budgetary constraints, endeavours to tell an epic tale, which encompasses basically the entirety of human existence. What is really surprising is that it manages to pull it off and even supply a twist or two at the end.

The Realm of Never: Moratorium is a solidly engaging film/play/episode/whatever which pushes new boundaries whilst simultaneously harking back to old ones. It is encouraging to know that there are people like The Power of Cohesion (The Realm of Never’s production company) out there making such unique and innovative films with so little money. The Realm of Never is surely destined for cult success – expect a DVD box set release some time in the next few years when the money-men will surely take notice of this peculiar little gem.

Rating: 8/10