Movie Review: "Danny. Legend. God." (2021)
Danny. Legend. God. Movie Review
Written by Stuart D. Monroe
Released by Hewes Pictures
Written and Directed by Yavor Petkov
2021, 106 minutes, Not Rated
Released on July 20th, 2021
Starring:
Dimo Alexiev as Danny
James Ryan Babson as Jaime
Kate Nichols as Susan
Borislav Markovski as Godson
Iliana Lazarova as Danny’s Wife
Emil Kamenov as Tanko
Suzanitta as Maria-Magdalena-Jenna
Valentina Aleksandrova as Vicky
Review:
Films like Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, Borat, and District 9 are among the best mockumentaries you can ask for. Each manages to provide as much comedy as they do horror and graphic ugliness. With his directorial feature debut, Danny. Legend. God., Yavor Petkov makes it clear that he’s done his homework in adding to the mockumentary catalog with a sublime outing that’s more akin to one of my favorites- the French masterpiece, Man Bites Dog.
Susan (Kate Nichols; The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard) and Jaime (James Ryan Babson) are shooting a documentary in Bulgaria about a small-time mafioso named Danny (Dimo Alexiev; I Spit On Your Grave 2). He soon absorbs and then overtakes the entire production, even causing Susan to quit the project. Now soundman Jaime and the cameraman are trapped with the despicable thug. Danny operates at a level of general boorishness and cocaine-fueled stupidity that leaves his hostages of fortune struggling through a series of increasingly uncomfortable and violent incidents. There’s nothing Danny won’t say or do…literally nothing. He’s the kind of man who makes it a ritual to come along and piss on the same front door every day.
Danny. Legend. God. is an unnerving and auspicious debut thanks to unblinking and honest cinematography, unapologetic writing, and one of the more convincing performances of a true piece of shit that you’re likely to ever see. Dimo Alexiev isn’t just strong here; he’s downright vicious in his portrayal of banal stupidity mixed with almost clueless malice. He leers, he prances, he glares, he carries on conversations while having blowjobs filmed. It’s safe to say that Mom and Dad wouldn’t approve of him at all.
There is some drag in the 106-minute runtime, but it’s relatively minor thanks to offsetting effectiveness of the disorientation produced by the coke-bender style of filming. I must confess to a couple such benders in my wild-ass youth, and the feeling in Danny. Legend. God. is authentic as hell. There’s an intimacy to the proceedings because it feels like that terrible experience many of us had in our younger days where the scoring of party favors turned into an extended vacation with a douchebag that wouldn’t shut up about himself. He even tells everyone how awful he is, saying things like, “I’m like this sometimes. I scare people, horses.” and “I’m equally intolerant to everyone.”
In other words, he’s “that guy” but on some black market, neo-capitalist steroids.
While the style of Danny. Legend. God. is pure Man Bites Dog with some Borat seasoning on top, don’t expect the outright violence of its progenitor. Instead you get a level of deep discomfort and revulsion at Danny’s sleazy and overly macho presentation and antics that’ll leave you wanting a shower. By the time you get to the bloodletting, you’ll be properly numbed to an ending that you really won’t see coming (but probably should).
The jury’s still out on whether Danny is worthy of anything more than the title of World Class Asshole, but the jury isn’t out on Yavor Petkov. He has my full attention.
Grade:
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
