SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: Approx. 17:32 Min.
Released by Kaotica Studios in 2022, this film’s writing, cinematography, editing, and directing are credited to ‘Johnny K.’ Per the closing credits, the production was evidently filmed in Petersburg, Virginia.
Heavily inspired by the 1989 Batman movie’s opening sequence, “The Oath” depicts two Gotham City cops investigating the demise of low-level hoodlum Johnny Gobs in a rain-drizzled alley. Ordering his subordinate to watch over Gobs’ remains, Sgt. Frank Kelly (Morgan) departs on foot for another call. Instead, Kelly goes to a clandestine meeting with one of mobster Carl Grissom’s most notorious players: Johnny Atlas (Keenum).
Pressured by his wife’s skyrocketing medical bills, Kelly faces a moral pendulum whether to accept bribe money and join the long list of others on Grissom’s illicit payroll. Watching from above is the Dark Knight, who then makes his own ultimatum.
GCPD Sgt. Frank Kelly: Jerry Morgan
Jimmy Atlas: Oz Keenum
GCPD Officer Joey Barnes: Chris Konke
Batman: Guillermo Mejía
Transient: Chris Konke
Mary Kelly (voiceover): Paula S. Morgan
GCPD Dispatcher (voiceover): Heather Stone
Peter McElroy/newscaster (voiceover): Dan K. Anderson
GCPD cops: Uncredited
Johnny Gobs (corpse): Uncredited
REVIEW:
Despite its pedestrian script, this short film’s production values are impressive. The movie’s running time, in that sense, exceeds the simple morality tale it is depicting. At least, nothing seems rushed for budgetary purposes.
Kaotica Studios can be commended for conjuring up what is effectively a test reel that rivals DC/Warner Bros.’ own TV programs, quality-wise. Case in point: in limited screen time, Guillermo Mejía (deliberately reminiscent of Michael Keaton’s Batman) is effective in the role. Though short on conveying emotional reactions, the other cast members still deliver some relatively good work.
“The Oath: A Batman Fan Film,” if anything, demonstrates how effective live-action Batman can be when it is in the right creative hands – even outside of big-league Hollywood.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
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