- OTHER MEDIA
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- Underground Ammo
- SF Bay Guardian (Robert Avila)
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- Toting bible and AK-47, a shlubby but seemingly affable right-wing
libertarian (B. Warden Lawlor) has led his nuclear family down into the
survival pit beneath his ammo store just in time to escape the nuclear
disaster above ground. Months into this millennial camping trip, mom (Molly
Benson) dreams of starring in her own vaguely militant cooking show, while
restive older brother (James Tinsley) and dippy but nubile little sister
(Cassie Powell) turn their own hormonally charged dreams into a budding
daytime romance (well, one of them's adopted anyway). Can the center hold,
with mere anarchy loosed above? "Since when," asks mom of her
spouse, "have you resorted to lies and manipulation to maintain your
authority?" Good question. He'd balk at the comparison—and the
French—but basically, L'estat? C'est pah. The loathsome Bush years
inspired this first full-length comedy from writer-director Wiley Herman,
but its themes of fear mongering as social control, authoritarian excess,
apocalyptic doom, and brother-sister whoopee are evergreens. The pacing
can flag, the dramatic conventions can feel too familiar, but the writing
has merit and a fair amount of laughs, while the cast warm to their parts
with conviction and charm. All in all a promising debut from Herman, and
if the world doesn't end first we can expect better ammo down the line.
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