The History of Future Folk

source: The History of Future Folk

Considering that this film is about two men from the planet Hondo who both love music and are carrying a virus bomb that could wipe out the planet, you know it's NOT a normal movie for normal folks! Add to that Dee Snider (of Twister Sister fame) and the film is sure to raise a few eyebrows! It's weird, it's cheaply made and it's well worth seeing IF you are the sort of person that is looking for something different and can look past the film's shortcomings. After all, it was apparently made on a shoestring budget with actors you've probably never seen before this film. Nils d'Aulaire plays Bill--a seemingly normal guy. However, as the camera follows him during a typical day, you can see the guy isn't 100% typical. First, he travels an hour and a half from Brooklyn to Long Island to work as a janitor at the Cradle of Aviation Center (an air and space museum). Second, he plays music in a small club dressed in some sort of cheesy space suit--with a helmet that looks like a bucket! And, during this act he refers to himself as 'General Titus' and talks of coming from the planet Hondo!! And, you wonder WHICH of the two personas is the real guy--or, perhaps, neither. I could say a lot more about the movie but I think it would spoil it. Needless to say, it is very strange yet quite enjoyable--particularly when his new friend, Kevin, arrives. This is one of the more difficult to explain films I have ever seen. It practically defied words and is not a film that you've seen before--and this is, to me, what I really liked about the film. Too often, movies have the same old themes repeated again and again--but this one manages to be quite different and fun even with a micro-budget.

Great, great concept here. Terrible, terrible movie. I think IMDb movie watchers might have collectively lost their minds giving this film a 7.2 rating as I write this. If this were a 1940's sci-fi flick I could understand the appreciation for it but this was just so dumb I expected the over all attitude toward the picture to be the same as mine. But I get it, different strokes for different folks, and boy, this was different. Now I don't mind the quirky and bizarre, but when General Trius (Nils d'Aulaire) and the Mighty Kevin (Jay Klaitz) brought their act to the stage, I thought their singing was eye-rolling at best. Kevin's wailing whenever he soloed was like nails on chalkboard, just very hard to take. What boggles my mind even more than the film is the fact that these two guys actually did put this act together using the planet Hondo schtick as far back as 2004 in New York City. When this movie came out in 2012, the Los Angeles Times praised their sweet harmonies, but I don't think they watched the same one I just did. About the only thing I liked here was the stand up routine Trius/Bill did early in the picture, it was actually pretty funny. And the tango with Kevin and Carmen (April Hernandez Castillo) was entertaining, even if the chemistry was lost on me. Only one way I could have rated this movie higher, and that's if by my earlier reference to B movies of the 1940's, it had been completely filmed in black and white.

Not sure why I like this film so much. The comedy was fun and entertaining especially with all the music. I enjoyed the level of sencerity I felt with the film. I really felt like the actors and directors really wanted to make something fun and enjoyable and I believe that they did. It was a lot like watching a long and well thought out skit at a comedy show.

You just gotta love a funny, little, musical sci fi film like The History of Future Folk on Netflix. The setup reads: An Alien ordered to colonize earth abandons his mission when he hears music for the first time and is determined to save his adopted planet. Being an avid fan of sci fi, I've endured, even suffered through many a low budget attempt at science fiction where the all the very slooow action takes place in a dark and claustrophobic soundstage masquerading as a spaceship or a warehouse impersonating a lab/outpost on another planet. What makes The History of Future Folk so good is that it makes no attempt to hide its small budget and wears its cheesy costumes and props right there on its sleeve. And that's what makes it so funny. The film never takes itself seriously, but backed by a clever and tight screenplay, the cast of talented actor/musical performers never play it for laughs and are always deadly serious in spite of the ridiculous props, costumes - something crucial to every good comedy. And unlike most indie films, THOFF is never slow. The story and action are a fast-moving train that keep you amused and delighted until the very end. It's a real gem.

"History of Future Folk" was obviously on a smaller budget it had some very corny parts but I was patient and open-minded enough to stick it out. Boy am I glad I did! There have been very few movies that I've started out this skeptical about and been this excited about by the end. Movies like this make believe there might still be some creative people out there that don't want to sell out and make movies that appeal to the largest audience, and instead they truly care about their story and the message they want to tell and will do bold risky things to preserve their vision for the movie. The movie does an amazing job of portraying the value of art and music in our culture. Its easy (especially in the U.S. I think) to forget the miracle of music. It gave me the feeling that I remembered something really important (maybe how I felt when I learned to play a song on the guitar for the first time, or how it felt to hear the Beatles for the first time). I'd like to personally thank the creators of the film because now instead of trying to explain how I feel about music and how important it is to me personally and humankind I can say, "You just need to watch 'History of Future Folk.'"

If the creators of this film haven't read Spider Robinson's premiere tale from the Callahan's Crosstime Saloon collection, The Guy With the Eyes, I will be very surprised. Such a wonderful, goofy surprise of a film. This isn't the first schlock/cult film to explain the alter egos of a musical group (ever see the KISS film?), but the hipster-chic is strong with this one.

... Clever and simple and heartfelt and good music and Julie Ann Emory. A great and simple and odd and touching story. I'm a cynic from cynicville and this movie caught me off guard. I was pretty much defenseless against its charms when I stumbled across it on Netflix. Quiet energy and high spirit. Great choice for a movie night. I don't want to scare anyone away but it is also family friendly with zero preaching. Except for the virtues of the power of music. You can put it on your watch list or just watch it.

This is a charming little indie feature about the two human look like aliens from the planet Hondo. They sent on the mission to find an alternate home to quit from their dying planet. But soon they fall in love with the greatest human invention, music. They forget about what they have come and adopt the Earth's atmosphere and human life style. Definitely a low budget movie and sometime scenes with no logic. A perfect entertainer to someone who familiar with a B movie. They used a minimal quantity of tools like cast, graphics and the locations including simple costumes but there were no limitation of the imagination. It is not suitable for who always look for a perfect sense, other than that it is very enjoyable. The movie was short and sweet . No surprise twists, the end was very plain but somehow it satisfies. As I said 'The History of Future Folk' is not a crowd puller, there are few people who know well second stream movies will enjoy it. 7/10

I haven't laughed this hard watching a film for a long time. Not only are the musical performances incredible, but the story of love for music and family is incredibly touching. John Mitchell, thank you for putting time and effort into making a brilliant and humorous film. Nils d'Alaire your skills on the banjo are inspirational. When I can finally play I will cover your songs and smile with every note. Thanks for your sense of humour and your brilliant acting. Jay Klaitz your voice is incredible, so was that mustache. I'm sure you're a great assassin. HONDO!