REVIEWS
(please scroll down for articles)


Three and a half stars.
"I praise 'Firecracker' because...."
(Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES)  read full review


"Remember the first time you saw 'Blood Simple' or 'Blue Velvet' and were blown away? Same thing. ...stunningly rendered. Everything from the cinematography to the music to the acting is nothing less than perfect. If you can catch this anywhere RUN to the screening. It’s literally one of the best films I’ve seen ever."
(Jeremy Knox, FILM THREAT)  read full review


“Sensational... Karen Black gives two of the finest performances of her career in Firecracker.”
(THE STAR TRIBUNE) read full review

“Firecracker is a mind-blower. A technical marvel.”
(ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH )  read full review

"Visually Arresting... The film is the mutant love child of Tod Browning's Freaks and David Lynch's Blue Velvet."
(THE BOSTON GLOBE)

"Forget the David Lynch comparisons."
(SEATTLE WEEKLY) read full review

"Firecracker is a true American original"
(E-INSIDERS)   read full review

"At the heart of this densely allusive parable is a standoff between feminine nurturing and creativity, and repressive masculine sadomasochism and commerce."
(Michael Truscello) read full essay

"Poetically cinematic. FIRECRACKER excels in visual style"
(MICRO-FILM MAGAZINE) read full review

"One of the most visually stunning, emotionally heavy films of this decade..."
(ICON MAGAZINE) read full review

"Firecracker is a psychotic masterpiece... This is the film David Lynch wishes he was still capable of making..."
(RAINDANCE MAGAZINE) read full review

"Scenes and sequences that are nothing short of becoming classic film moments… This is a film that is unlike anything seen in recent memory."
(AFTERTASTE MAGAZINE) read full review

"Visuals are so extremely vibrant that they will remain in your head for weeks and months to come... 'Firecracker' is without a doubt, the new standard in filmmaking, feeling, and human emotion."
(Trevor Erb, DECOY) read full review

"A visually stunning film that is equal parts Truman Capote and Todd Browning."
(Pierre-Alexandre Despatis, IONCINEMA) read full review

Karen Black "steals the show with two performances of such magnitude that she should at least receive a nomination for Best (Actress) at the next Academy Awards. They could feasibly nominate her for Best Supporting Actress as well... Visually it's also breathtaking."
(Jeremy Allen, PLAYLOUDER)

"Highly expressive… Sublime visual style.”
(THE CHICAGO READER)

"one of the most visually arresting films I've seen this year."
(DETROIT FREE PRESS)

"Kendall is stellar as the tormented and awkward Jimmy. His mannerisms are so quietly striking, his awkwardness so palpable, that at times it’s almost heartbreaking to watch his angelic face twist into a grimace. Increasingly dark and disturbing... Wholly creepy... There are flashes of near brilliance and delightful ingenuity. It’s the sort of film that will get under your skin and spark spirited conversations and arguments over post-viewing drinks. It’s definitely worth a look, whether you love it, hate it or both.”
(METRO TIMES DETROIT)

Balderson is “the cornbread-fed lovechild of David Lynch and Gus Van Sant” the film is “strangely beautiful.”
(MONTREAL MIRROR)

“Truly bizarre… Magnificent!”
(AUSTIN CHRONICLE)



IN THE NEWS // ETC
Lawrence Journal-World LOOK HERE
Raindance Film Magazine LOOK HERE
Offscreen: True Indie Spirit LOOK HERE
GIANT: Mike Patton Explodes in Firecracker LOOK HERE
Echo Weekly: Steve Balderson LOOK HERE
INDEX magazine: Karen Black LOOK HERE
BIZARRE magazine: Selene Luna LOOK HERE
DROME magazine: Dikenga LOOK HERE
Film Fever's 20Q with Steve Balderson LOOK HERE
The New Yorker: Bjork & Mike Patton LOOK HERE
BIZARRE Magazine LOOK HERE
Mike Patton: Filter Magazine LOOK HERE
Showreel Magazine (Summer 2004) LOOK HERE
Film Threat "Deadly Firecracker" LOOK HERE
PLAYLOUDER "Game of 20Q" LOOK HERE
PBS "Sunflower Journeys" Transcript LOOK HERE
The Danny Canak Interview LOOK HERE
DROME (June 2004 issue; MEMENTO) LOOK HERE
LA Weekley: Dana Pfeffer, Coat Couture LOOK HERE
Ain't It Cool News Interview with Steve Balderson LOOK HERE
Murder Mystery LOOK HERE
The Enigma & Katzen LOOK HERE
EI Interview with Steve Balderson LOOK HERE
D-Filed Magazine: Interview with Pleasant Gehman LOOK HERE
Loudith Faire: Interview with Pleasant Gehman LOOK HERE
Time Out's Hot Seat: Karen Black LOOK HERE
"Living in Fear" A Report LOOK HERE
The Sundance Disease: A report LOOK HERE
Patton replaces Hopper: MSN LOOK HERE

"WAMEGO" IN THE NEWS // ETC
DVD-vitriini "WAMEGO" review LOOK HERE
  > English Translation HERE
Film Threat's "WAMEGO" review LOOK HERE
Hoftra's Mita Tate on "Wamego" LOOK HERE

Be sure to check out the monthly film column "Balderson Blvd." at www.E-insiders.com

Over the past three years, our movie has achieved substantial news coverage. Some of the information you will read was accurate at the time, but isn't any longer. After several contractual relationships which suggested the film would not be true to its fundamental story, we opted to become completely independent of third party producers. The result of this three year odyssey is that as we have moved forward, changes have occurred in cast and crew. To find articles not listed here, simply explore your favorite search engine. If you find a feature or interview about the film you think we should post, email us the url.

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