Asphalt Watches
Asphalt Watches

Movie spotlight

Asphalt Watches

2013
Movie
94 min
English

This hilarious, grotesque, and unique adult animated feature chronicles visual artists Seth Scriver and Shayne Ehman’s trans-Canadian road trip as they encounter dull violence, rampant consumerism and unbridled eccentricity in small towns all over this wide, weird country.

Insights

IMDb5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes35%
Metacritic49/100
Google Users70%
Director: Ruba NaddaGenres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

The film follows the intertwined lives of a seasoned detective and a young, ambitious individual navigating the gritty underbelly of a city. As their paths cross, they become entangled in a dangerous criminal enterprise that tests their loyalties and survival instincts. The narrative unfolds with suspense and reveals the complex moral choices faced by those living on the fringes of society.

Critical Reception

Asphalt Watches received a mixed to negative reception from critics, with some praising its atmospheric qualities and performances, while others found its plot convoluted and underdeveloped. Audience reactions were similarly divided, with many finding it a slow burn with an unsatisfying conclusion.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its moody atmosphere and strong lead performances.

  • Criticized for a disjointed narrative and lack of clear character motivations.

  • The film struggles to balance its noir ambitions with a coherent plot.

Google audience: Audience reviews indicate a divided opinion, with some appreciating the film's attempt at a dark, character-driven story and the performances of its cast. However, many viewers found the pacing too slow and the story's progression confusing, leading to a sense of unmet expectations.

Fun Fact

Director Ruba Nadda is known for her visually striking films, and 'Asphalt Watches' continues this trend with its distinctive cinematography that emphasizes the urban landscape as a character in itself.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
Simon Foster

Simon Foster

"Stylistically resembling an early 90s ‘side-scrolling’ video game and interspersed with groaning, industrial audio cues and repetitive musical interludes, this garish, grotesque work of flash-animated surrealism might best be described as ...