James Rolfe, better known as the “Angry Video Game Nerd”, has made over two hundred films throughout his long career. Of course, most people know of the recent Angry Video Game Nerd movie, based on the character. Unfortunately, the reviews haven’t been great, and I agree: it’s just not that good.

The Deader The Better is a 2005 horror/comedy short film as well as Rolfe’s first post-graduation film.

As Rolfe’s favorite movie genres are comedy and classic horror, a majority of his films are horror/comedies. But for his graduating short film, he did something different. Jersey Odyssey: Legend of the Blue Hole was a more dramatic, character-driven story and was actually screened twice the first day. The Deader The Better was Rolfe’s return to horror/comedy.

The film follows two guys who work nights at a cemetery killing the dead. And that’s really about it in terms of plot. It’s just sixteen minutes of smashing, splattering, sawing, and other graphic acts of violence.

The idea was to make the film look like an old movie from the 30’s or 40’s. It didn’t entirely pan out. The black-and-white picture and style of dress for the characters doesn’t completely accomplish the desired look or feel it was trying to get. Even worse, the picture had no old-time grain quality to it. When you’re trying to capture the feel of a specific time, you’re going to have to make it look aged in order to give it some degree of authenticity.

The effects, though too obvious and cheap-looking, are actually quite impressive in combining the black and white footage with the spatters of red from the numerous gore scenes. They’re not entirely spectacular, but it’s still impressive for a movie filmed in one’s garage.

Overall, it’s not really the best film, but I’d give it 4.5/10.