Population 436 world premiered earlier this year alongside Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon at the South by Southwest Film Festival back in March. Its basic plot wasnt exactly an attention grabber. Nor did I like, in particular, the fact that Fred Durst (lead singer of Limp Bizkit) was cast as one of the leading characters. I instantly hate it when a music star tries to branch out into a film I'm watching - and with Fred Durst being one that annoys me more than most right off the bat, I wasn't expecting anything. Dare I say that Fred Durst was accurately casted, and his acting far and above exceeded my expectations, and complimented this movie. I know, its hard to believe. But you'll hear and see as people get their hands on this. Population 436 is one of those movies that you just end up liking much more than you would have expected.
The story is original, yet simple. Federal census worker Steve Kady (Jeremy Sisto) has been given the task of investigating Rockwell Falls - a town that has reported a population of exactly 436 over the past 100 years. Located in the middle of America, 50 miles from civilization in any direction, Kady arrives and blows two tires just as he crosses the town line. A small-town cop (Fred Durst) comes to assist - leads him to town and introduces him to the mayor, who puts the census worker up in a neighbor's home. Little does he realize that his fate is already sealed.
As Kady meets people in Rockwell Falls, and begins to verify the oddity, he notices that things are too perfect. Everyone is religious and very happy. People have smiles plastered to their faces. Responses are sickeningly sweet, sugar coated, and evasive. The more Kady looks into the residents of the town, the more strange things he uncovers - some residents are locked away and treated for a fever that strikes some people - especially strangers new to the town. It starts with a look of discontent, confusion, and dissatisfaction. It ends with a frontal labotomy.
Kady discovers that this town is heavy into biblical numerology, and defintely has a close relationship with God. While uncovering more and more of the town's dirty secret underbelly, local policeman Durst shadows his every move, eventually befriending the census worker. With so much mystery in the air, its hard to know whether or not Durst's character is trustworthy - especially given the fact that the woman he wants to marry now has the hots for Kady. Kady also discovers a young 12 year old girl being locked away by the town doctor, accused of having "the fever". Now at this point, you find yourself entirely engrossed by a film you had no idea was going to hold your interest. Its one of those feelings where you've stumbled onto something good, and you kind of smile to yourself.
To give away any more of what happens would fall into the category of "spoilers" - and its really not necessary. The relationships between Kady and the mayor, Kady and the local cop and his finace, Kady and the 12 year old girl... all of these things play out and unravel in a nice unpredictable manner while adhering tightly to the confines of the plot. Durst was outstanding. He plays an unworldly, simple man with unforseen delicacy and poise. His likability (imagine that) shone through, accurate to the character he played. And when it all starts to fall apart - and Durst is confronted with an emotionally distraught situation - amazingly he nails it and skirts anything bad I was poised to say about his acting skills.
Everything is answered come the end of the film in a decisive manner, ending as you would think and expect, pulling no punches but sparing you the boredom of predictability. Director Michelle McLaren, who got her directorial start in The X-Files, takes whatever ingredients that made that television show so gripping and seamlessly injects the formula into an unstretched feature film that fills every minute of its playing time with intrigue and building tension. The mystery facet of this story has a lot of depth, and fits true when details are discovered.
Final Analysis: This movie, as appealing as a quaint small town, sneaks up on your senses until its locked in and takes you on a good ride storywise. No blood or shocks. Its a lot like Twilight Zone meets Dead & Buried meets 2000 Maniacs meets Little House on the Prairie. How about that for a combo? Dont let Fred Durst scare you away. I dont care for the man and he was good in this film. See for yourself. Like any other "unknown" film you stumble across, you wont know what to expect, you dont know what you'll get - but in the case of Population 436 - chances are better than not that you'll come out of it saying, "It was better than I thought it would be" - and thats all you can ask for from a film when you dont know what youre getting into.
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POPULATION/436
