Directed by Shane Ryan
Review by Jason Tosta


Released by: Cinema Epoch
Running Time: 115 Minutes
Rating: NR
Color format: Color
Audio/Subtitles: English Audio/No Subtitles
Region Code: 0, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1:78:1 Widescreen
16:9 Enhanced: Yes
Special Features: Trailers
Trailer Online: Yes

A film title like WARNING!!! PEDOPHILE RELEASED conjures up many unsavory thoughts in one’s mind. Exploitive images of the most controversial and disgusting kind dance like sugar plums in the brain. Add to the fact that this is an extremely low budget film, and it might stand to reason that a director would ratchet up the shock value a few notches in a desperate attempt to offend more people and create hype that could lead to higher DVD sales. Ironically, WARNING!!! PEDOPHILE RELEASED is actually a love story that defies this expectation.

Echo (Kai Lanette) is a twelve year old girl in love with eighteen year old Malachi (Shane Ryan.) The relationship ends up leading to a six year prison stint for Malachi. During this time, Echo goes through many terrible experiences. She is gang raped and impregnated by a group of men, kicked out of her house, and wanders the streets homeless and broke.

As the years pass, she gets hooked on drugs and prostitutes herself to survive in a world that seemingly doesn’t want her. After the six years, Malachi is released from prison and Echo is there waiting for him. Their relationship has survived, but even though she is now 18, the community and Malachi’s six years of hell challenge the couple to their very core.

WARNING!!! PEDOPHILE RELEASED is not your typical narrative film. It’s more a hybrid of experimental piece and extended music video. There is virtually no dialogue for the first 25 minutes. In terms of performances, co-writer/star Kai Lanette gives a raw and brave performance as Echo. She is violated and exposed throughout the piece, but never seems a victim, more a survivor. That’s a credit to her physical performance, as dialogue is minimal. Co-writer/Director Shane Ryan also turns in an impressive performance. Malachi is a damaged human being that has been through hell. Ryan makes him believable and, more importantly, sympathetic. These two throw their all into the performances and it shows. Visually, the film contains a somewhat frantic style. No two shots are quite the same. A black and white shot may be followed by one with oversaturated color or one with loads of grain. This aspect adds to the extended music video feel that reigns over much of the piece. On the upside, many shots are interesting and quite striking. However, this post production visual tweaking becomes overused after the first hour. And, the excessively shaky camerawork might leave some people sea sick. It’s like NYPD BLUE on crystal meth. Here is another instance where sometimes less would be best.

The major issue with WARNING!!! PEDOPHILE RELEASED is its runtime. At 115 minutes, it runs way too long. Long stretches of the film consist of Echo or Malachi walking around aimlessly with music playing in the background. While I do commend Shane Ryan, as director, for not feeling the need to rush things, these sequences start to feel like padding after awhile. The sparse storyline often gets lost in the midst of all of these wandering montages. Also, besides the two leads, the other performances in the film leave a lot to be desired. An especially out of place and unsuccessful scene involves a naked woman (porn star Joanna Angel) screaming at her jailbird brother to leave her house. This scene seems to go on forever and is poorly improv’d. It is an unnecessary excursion and adds nothing to the film, except an excuse to showcase some exploitive nudity.

WARNING!!! PEDOPHILE RELEASED ends up being a no budget, overly long, experimental drama that features two great performances and a ton of empty space in between. If it had been heavily trimmed and made leaner, this flick would come recommended. As executed, however, the two lead performances drown in all the tedious running time surrounding them. For very patient and adventurous viewers who are able to respect the art of experimentation, this film may be worth a casual look. All others should beware of this pedophile.