The main problem facing a no-budget filmmaker is obviously the fact that he or she is trying to make a movie with extremely limited resources. This can be very difficult as the filmmaker is usually relying on a cast and crew that is not being paid and is restricted to locations that can be secured for free. They are also extremely confined by time as they are they are trying to maximize the use of rented gear and also trying to work around everyone's schedules. The result is a lot of frustration, lack of funds to complete the project, and a market that is flooded with crap from companies like The Asylum which makes it is very difficult to get noticed.

To make a go of it as an independent horror filmmaker, you need to take things into your own hands. Writer/director Christopher Alan Broadstone is clearly aware of this as he obviously wants to make horror movies but also understands the constraints that are facing him. Rather than create overambitious projects with big casts and multiple locations, Broadstone has opted for a more subtle approach by making short films that take place in a single location with only one or two cast members. This is an approach that I wish more indie filmmakers would take at this level of filmmaking. If producers were more realistic of what they could accomplish with limited resources, they may find that they have better and more interesting pictures. 3 Dead Girls! is a collection of Broadstone's short films that are all unique, interesting, and showcase what is possible when you are creative with your resources.

The first film in the set entitled "Scream For Me" opens with a man who strangling a young lady in an apartment. Just when he is completing the act, a nutcase named Madman shows up and lives up to his name. This guy is like a character out of a David Lynch movie who spews some crassly funny dialogue, does a weird naked dance, and takes over the screen. Think of a cross between Eric Bana in Chopper, Willem Dafoe in Wild At Heart, and the cop from the Village People. The character is played by an actor named Tony Simmons who is the star of all three films and is one of those actors that commands your attention whenever he is in the frame. This performance is his most over-the-top of the three and it serves him well. I found this to be the most enjoyable film on the DVD as it was straightforward, had some interesting camera work (especially when utilizing Madman's mirrored glasses), and made me laugh a few times.

The next film is entitled "My Skin" and is a film that I have seen before on an anthology called The Nightmare Collection Volume 1 that was released by Enigma Films a few years ago. My feelings have not changed on this film which has a clever premise that features the character of Death being angry when someone is murdered before her time. As we can imagine, Death does not approve of someone messing with his plans so he concocts his own revenge on the killer. Simmons is the only actor in this film which again takes place in one room as we see Death making the arrangements and putting his plan in action. As with "Scream For Me", Simmons is a commanding presence who bring some eccentric qualities to the character which makes him fun to watch.

The third film is entitled "Human No More" and shows a private detective milling around in a room preparing a testimony to his final act. This was my least favorite of the three as I ended up watching it a few times to try to figure out what was going on. I do not enjoy doing this and I felt like this suffered from the familiar problem of when a filmmaker forgets that his audience may not always understand what is going on in his head. There are too many unanswered questions and although Simmons is again fantastic as the one and only actor, the writing left me scratching my head. It is too bad because technically it is the best of the three with some voyeuristic camerawork, detailed set design, and an intense score. This is not a bad film but any stretch, it just contains subject matter that I don't relate to and it may be too intellectual for its own good.

Overall, this a great set showing how a team of filmmakers can accomplish some excellent work on their own terms with proper leadership and planning. The quality is evident and I look forward to seeing a feature film that hopefully involves both Broadstone and Simmons as they have a good thing going. (Josh Pasnak, 2/11/09)

Directed By: Christopher Alan Broadstone.
Written By: Christopher Alan Broadstone.

Starring: Tony Simmons, Gabriel Sigal, Lora Cunningham, Cole Adam Buisson.

Picture Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen.

Picture Quality: While the picture here is non-anamorphic, all three films look quite good and get progressively better from oldest to newest.

Extras: There is a lot of stuff on this disc and most of it is very worthwhile. That being said, there is a bit of commentary overkill as the first two films have four commentaries each and the last film has three. Broadstone does a solo commentary on all three which is very informative in all cases as he is both prepared and easy to listen to. Next, they all have a commentary with Broadstone, Simmons, and a female cast member on "Scream for Me" and "My Skin". There is a bit of repetition here but the participants obviously enjoy being together so they still make for a fun listen (even though I am a "sorry Canadian"). "Scream for Me" and "My Skin" also include a alternate take of the director/cast commentary and anecdotes begin to repeat themselves although Lisa Montague has a voice that makes it worthwhile in a cute college radio DJ kind of way. Finally, all four have a critics commentary that I thought was useless and puzzling. Broadstone has made some good flicks here and I almost felt like these commentaries were trying to convince me of that. A strange inclusion from a seemingly down-to-earth director.

There are a smattering of other goodies over the three films including photo galleries, trailers, and behind the scenes footage. On "Human No More", we are given seven featurettes that cover various parts of the production and are put together quite well. Overall, this DVD has a decent set of extras but sometimes less is more. After the first two commentaries, one becomes a little burnt out.

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