The Downfall of Mr. Difford

The Downfall of Mr. Difford has been in the sights of us here at Extreme Horror Cinema for quite a while. Meeting it’s writer / director Matt Jefferson on Face Book he invited me to join in this journey to the release at the end of December 2015. Loving what I was seeing, hearing, my experiences fuelled my fire of needing this adventure of a psycho in my Underground / Indie library. When the time came I naturally jumped right to this, visited Matt’s storenvy, and grab a copy (link can be found at the bottom)! Have to say here Matt is very generous with the postage fee. When I brought it up with him he stated he just wants people to experience his film. I love this attitude as it shows a lot of passion for what Matt does!

 

The Downfall of Mr. Difford is the debut feature length film for above mentioned  writer / director, Ohio based filmmaker Matt Jefferson. Along with this Matt also does 99% of the special effects and stars as Mr. Difford.

 

Matt’s first foray into the adventures of filmmaking was with his 2007 short Love Thy Zombie (2007) that Matt freely shares on Youtube. 

 

Aside from filmmaking Matt has acted in a number of short and feature films as well. Matt started acting with a small role in Travis Bowen‘s Shadows in the Woods (2006), then Travis‘ The Girl (2011), Doll Nazis Must Die (2011 ~ Matt co-wrote and was a main actor here), and the upcoming feature Midnight Massacre (2016) that is currently in production. Also Matt as acted in Joe Mohn‘s Night of the Cannibals (2012) and William Victor Schotten‘s Wormwood’s End (2014) which appears to be unreleased at this time. 

 

Most importantly is Matt is a serious fan of this horror genre we all love and it shows in this experience that is…

 

The Downfall of Mr. Difford

 

Thomas Difford collects the blood of his murder victims for his studies.

 

Once in custody he also enjoys tell tales of his exploits to his two interrogators, Detectives Gordon and Vick. 

 

Are these tales of a delusional madman or something far more disturbing?

 

PLEASE, call me Mr. Difford….

 

GORE SICKNESS INSANITY FILTH DEPRAVITY

The Downfall of Mr. Difford falls into the category of Insanity with luvly touches splitter-splattered Gore here and there when it is called for. Matt tells a tail of a man and his stories of murder and mayhem. Are they true or the ramblings of a maniac who has gone over the edge? Our journey is of Mr Difford being interrogated by two detectives after he has been arrested covered in blood. Through this interrogation he tells these tails to shock and disturbed his listeners. 

 

Negatives?

 

I would like to think by now most of my readership, if they are out there naturally, would know I seriously dig low budget filmmaking. Of being able to take the least and make the most out of it through creativity, passion and talent. But then there are those who still have the “underground films sux dude!“attitude for whatever reasons.Maybe the low budget and it’s restrictions on gore or talent may be an issue? 

 

Honestly, I have no idea what others like. I do know that here with The Downfall of Mr. Difford there was nothing I disliked! 

 

Positives?

 

Matt Jefferson becomes Mr. Difford, or perhaps, he is the dark side of Matt’s id. Portraying his character perfectly with an insane side then a truly disturbing aspect that is nasty pops up when aspects of his character is exposed. His glee in telling his demented tales. Then when the door closes you get a peak through the window of a more sinister aspect of Mr Difford’s character. Also along on this ride are a group of actors who were able to bring something worthwhile with their portrayals of each character. Especially the two detectives, Officer Gordon aka Jason Fuller and Officer Vick aka Eric Prestley. 

 

Matt brought something a little different and interesting out of the Underground. As mentioned in the above of  a man in custody telling some tales during his interrogation. Each story is shown in flash back. Just maybe looking back on this The Downfall of Mr. Difford could be viewed as a anthology of sorts with a very solid wrap around story. But no, it is a straight forwards film with these tales to show the demented mind of the lead character. Again, are these the demented mutterings of someone telling tales or someone more deeply disturbing? I would say the later with some of the moments during interrogation and afterwards!

 

No blood and gore CGI effects to be had here!

 

I simply love low budget gore effects! I felt what Matt brought to us here with his financial restrictions were damned great and showed a lot of skill and creativity! Matt has an artistic bent we get to experience throughout The Downfall of Mr. Difford. We get slashed throats, gunshots to the head, visions of skinned corpses, amputation of body parts and other such delights to be beheld! A disturbing drug fuelled adventure in Mr. Difford’s mind; monsters, a syringe stabbed brain, visions of himself and the victims of his exploits tormenting him as zombies! Insane stuff! Inter-coursed throughout the story are drawings by Mr. Difford displaying his warped mind and imagination! Fantastical stuff!

 

As mentioned visions are interspersed into the storyline along with the more straight forwards events of the interrogation and the stories. Of the pre-mentioned drawings along with other visions from the mind of this madman. Loved how The Downfall of Mr. Difford was all shot! Would love to go into the technical aspects but alas I am a fan and not a skilled or knowledgable technician own this subject.

 

Matt Jefferson set out to give us a different experience with his debut feature The Downfall of Mr. Difford. With a minimal budget an event falls into place that speaks loads on passion, creativity and talent. Matt remarked to me he was influenced here by Silence of the Lambs and naturally Hannibal Lecter. Of a character who has these tales to tell that in this case may or may not be true. Raving diatribes of a madman or something more sinister? But whatever the possibility is Matt succeeded in my eyes and hopefully yours, the reader, as well if and when you give The Downfall of Mr. Difford the chance it deserves!

 

Thanks Matt for inviting me on this journey to the release of The Downfall of ….. Please count me in on any farther adventures that may occur with Mr. Difford! A MASSIVE THANKS for mentioning extremehorrorcinema.com, wooden and myself, Splat, in the credits! It was a serious great time to watch the spawning of a very promising film that lived up to its promise!

 

If my review of Matt Jefferson‘s The Downfall of Mr. Difford has cast a need to learn more and take the next step of making a purchase please check out the following links ~ would love to see fellow fans of Underground Horror opinions so come visit the thread in the below.

 

 

 

EHC Indie Films: http://extremehorrorcinema.com/index.php?topic=3532.0

Purchase: http://ndsjefferson.storenvy.com/

Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/NDSJefferson